Campaign Finance Enforcement and Contribution Limitation Amendment Act of 1999
Bill 13-283

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A BILL IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Councilmember Kathy Patterson introduced the following legislation, which was referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

To amend the District of Columbia Campaign Finance Reform and Conflict of Interest Act of 1974 to increase from $50 to $150 the maximum civil penalty that the Board of Elections and Ethics can impose for each campaign finance violation, and to increase from $500 to $2,500 the fine that the Director of Campaign Finance can impose on his or her own authority; to amend the District of Columbia Campaign Contribution Limitation Initiative of 1992 to ban campaign contributions to candidates for nomination or election to public office by corporations, partnerships, or labor organizations; and to amend the Initiative, Referendum, and Recall Procedures Act of 1979 to make a conforming amendment.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Campaign Finance Enforcement and Contribution Limitation Amendment Act of 1999".

Sec. 2. Section 306 of the District of Columbia Campaign Finance Reform and Conflict of Interest Act of 1974 (88 Stat. 458; D.C. Code §1-1435), effective August 14, 1974, is amended as follows:

(a) Paragraph (b)( l ) is amended by striking the phrase "$50" and inserting the phrase "$150" in its place.

(b) Paragraph (b)(3) is amended by replacing the phrase "$500" and inserting the phrase "$2,500" in its place.

Sec. 3. Section 3 of the District of Columbia Campaign Contribution Limitation Initiative of 1992 (D.C. Law 9-204; D.C. Code §1-1441.1 et seq.), effective March 17, 1993, is amended by adding new subsections (j) and (k) to read as follows:

"(j) It shall be unlawful for a corporation, partnership, or labor organization to make any contribution relating to a campaign for nomination as a candidate or election to public office, including both the primary and general elections and special elections.".

"(k) For the purposes of subsections (a). (b] and (c), 'person' is defined to m-an an individual or committee.".

Sec. 4. Section 4 of the Initiative, Referendum.., and Recall Procedures Act of 1979, effective June 7, 1979 (D.C. Law 3-1; D.C. Code §1-1441.2), is repealed.

Sec. S. Fiscal impact statement.

This act shall have a positive fiscal impact. Section 2 increases the civil penalties for campaign finance violations, and the fines collected are deposited in the D.C. Treasury. Sections 3 and 4 shall not have a fiscal impact, because these sections only affect private contributions to election campaigns.

Sec. 6. This act shall take effect after a 30-day period of Congressional review following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council of the District of Columbia to override the veto), approval by the Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority as provided in section 203(a) of the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995, approved April 17, 1995 (109 Stat. 116; D.C. Code §47-392.3(a)), a 30-day period of Congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code §1-233(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.