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 political contributions and political expenditures made to or by political committees or other persons. Under the provisions of the bill, a political committee would not be prohibited from making a political contribution or expenditure as outlined in the bill. The offense of unlawful contribution or expenditure by a committee 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.

Reducing the circumstances of a criminal offense 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 state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources.