The provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions are the subject of this analysis. The bill would amend the Election Code as it relates to direct campaign expenditures by political committees. Under the provisions of the bill, the offense of unlawful contribution of expenditure by a committee would be repealed. Under current statute, this offense is punishable as a third degree felony.

A third degree felony is punishable by confinement in prison for a term from 2 to 10 years and, in addition to confinement, an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.

Eliminating a criminal penalty is expected to result in fewer demands upon the correctional resources of the counties or of the State due to a decrease in the number of individuals placed under supervision in the community or admitted into state correctional institutions. In fiscal year 2018, for the offense of unlawful contribution or expenditure by committee under current statute, fewer than ten people were arrested, placed under community supervision, or incarcerated within state correctional institutions. This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions would not result in a significant impact on the demand for state correctional resources.