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House Bill 4060 |
House Author: Smith, Todd et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-09 |
Senate Sponsor: Wentworth |
House Bill 4060 amends the Election Code to set the ending date of the period during which a judicial candidate or officeholder, a specific-purpose committee supporting or opposing a judicial candidate, or a specific-purpose committee assisting a judicial officeholder may accept a political contribution at the 120th day after the date of the election in which the candidate or officeholder last appeared on the ballot, regardless of whether the candidate or officeholder has an opponent in that election. The bill removes provisions that fixed the 120th day in relation to the general election date, if the candidate or officeholder has an opponent in that election; the runoff primary election, if the candidate or officeholder has an opponent in the runoff primary election but not in the general election; or the primary election, if the candidate or officeholder is not involved in a runoff election and has no opponent in the general election. The bill clarifies that political contributions permitted after the 120-day postelection period above include the repayment of any debt that is incurred directly by making a campaign expenditure during the period beginning on the date the application for a place on the ballot or for nomination by convention was required to be filed for the election in which the candidate last appeared on the ballot and ending on the date of that election, and that is subject to statutory restrictions on the reimbursement of personal funds and payments on certain loans and contribution and reimbursement limits to certain candidates. The bill repeals a provision authorizing a judicial candidate who does not have an opponent listed on the ballot, or a specific-purpose committee for supporting such a candidate, to accept a political contribution after another person files a declaration of write-in candidacy opposing the candidate.