Bill Text: CT HB06335 | 2011 | General Assembly | Comm Sub

Connecticut House Bill 6335 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: An Act Concerning Revisions To Campaign Finance Laws.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-20 - File Number 588 [HB06335 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2011-HB06335-Comm_Sub.html

General Assembly		*Substitute Bill No. 6335*
*January Session, 2011*		_____HB06335GAE___040411____

AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (b) of section 9-601a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on and after said date):

(b) As used in this chapter and [sections 9-700 to 9-716, inclusive] chapter 157, "contribution" does not mean:

(1) A loan of money made in the ordinary course of business by a national or state bank;

(2) Any communication made by a corporation, organization or association to its members, owners, stockholders, executive or administrative personnel, or their families;

(3) Nonpartisan voter registration and get-out-the-vote campaigns by any corporation, organization or association aimed at its members, owners, stockholders, executive or administrative personnel, or their families;

(4) Uncompensated services provided by individuals volunteering their time on behalf of a party committee, political committee, slate committee or candidate committee, including any services provided for the benefit of participating and nonparticipating candidates under the Citizens' Election Program and any unreimbursed payment for travel expenses within the state made by an individual who, on the individual's own behalf, volunteers the individual's personal services to any single candidate;

(5) The use of real or personal property, and the cost of invitations, food or beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual to a candidate, including a participating or nonparticipating candidate under the Citizens' Election Program, or on behalf of [a state central or town committee] any single party or slate committee, in rendering voluntary personal services for candidate or party-related activities at the individual's [residence] residential premises or a community room in the individual's residence facility, to the extent that the cumulative value of the invitations, food or beverages provided for any single event by [the] an individual on behalf of any single candidate does not exceed [two] four hundred dollars with respect to any single election, and does not exceed eight hundred dollars for any single event hosted by two or more individuals who reside at the same residential premises or on behalf of [all state central and town committees] any single party or slate committee, provided the cumulative value of the invitations, food or beverages provided by an individual on behalf of any single candidate with respect to any single election, and on behalf of any single party or slate committee, does not exceed [four] eight hundred dollars in any calendar year or single election, as the case may be;

(6) The sale of food or beverage for use in a candidate's campaign or for use by a [state central or town] party or slate committee at a discount, if the charge is not less than the cost to the vendor, to the extent that the cumulative value of the discount given to or on behalf of any single candidate does not exceed two hundred dollars with respect to any single election, and on behalf of [all state central and town committees] any party or slate committee does not exceed four hundred dollars in a calendar year or single election, as the case may be;

[(7) Any unreimbursed payment for travel expenses made by an individual who on the individual's own behalf volunteers the individual's personal services to any single candidate to the extent the cumulative value does not exceed two hundred dollars with respect to any single election, and on behalf of all state central or town committees does not exceed four hundred dollars in a calendar year;]

[(8)] (7) The payment, by a party committee [, political committee or an individual,] or slate committee of the costs of preparation, display, mailing or other distribution incurred by the committee or individual with respect to any printed slate card, sample ballot or other printed list containing the names of three or more candidates;

[(9)] (8) The donation of any item of personal property by an individual to a committee for a fund-raising affair, including a tag sale or auction, or the purchase by an individual of any such item at such an affair, to the extent that the cumulative value donated or purchased does not exceed fifty dollars;

[(10)] (9) (A) The purchase of advertising space which clearly identifies the purchaser, in a program for a fund-raising affair sponsored by the candidate committee of a candidate for an office of a municipality, provided the cumulative purchase of such space does not exceed two hundred fifty dollars from any single such candidate or the candidate's committee with respect to any single election campaign if the purchaser is a business entity or fifty dollars for purchases by any other person;

(B) The purchase of advertising space which clearly identifies the purchaser, in a program for a fund-raising affair or on signs at a fund-raising affair sponsored by a town committee, provided the cumulative purchase of such space does not exceed two hundred fifty dollars from any single town committee in any calendar year if the purchaser is a business entity or fifty dollars for purchases by any other person. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subparagraph, the following may not purchase advertising space in a program for a fund-raising affair or on signs at a fund-raising affair sponsored by a town committee: (i) A communicator lobbyist, (ii) a member of the immediate family of a communicator lobbyist, (iii) a state contractor, (iv) a prospective state contractor, or (v) a principal of a state contractor or prospective state contractor. As used in this subparagraph, "state contractor", "prospective state contractor" and "principal of a state contractor or prospective state contractor" have the same meanings as provided in subsection (g) of section 9-612;

[(11)] (10) The payment of money by a candidate to the candidate's candidate committee;

[(12)] (11) The donation of goods or services by a business entity to a committee for a fund-raising affair, including a tag sale or auction, to the extent that the cumulative value donated does not exceed one hundred dollars;

[(13)] (12) The advance of a security deposit by an individual to a telephone company, as defined in section 16-1, for telecommunications service for a committee, provided the security deposit is refunded to the individual;

[(14)] (13) The provision of facilities, equipment, technical and managerial support, and broadcast time by a community antenna television company, as defined in section 16-1, for community access programming pursuant to section 16-331a, unless (A) the major purpose of providing such facilities, equipment, support and time is to influence the nomination or election of a candidate, or (B) such facilities, equipment, support and time are provided on behalf of a political party;

[(15)] (14) The sale of food or beverage by a town committee to an individual at a town fair, county fair or similar mass gathering held within the state, to the extent that the cumulative payment made by any one individual for such items does not exceed fifty dollars;

[(16)] (15) An organization expenditure by a party committee, legislative caucus committee or legislative leadership committee;

[(17)] (16) The donation of food or beverage by an individual for consumption at a slate, candidate, legislative caucus, legislative leadership or party committee meeting, event or activity that is not a fund-raising affair to the extent that the cumulative value of the food or beverages donated by an individual for a single meeting or event does not exceed fifty dollars;

[(18)] (17) The value associated with the de minimis campaign activity on behalf of a party committee, political committee, slate committee legislative caucus committee, legislative leadership committee, or candidate committee, including for activities undertaken for the benefit of participating and nonparticipating candidates under the Citizens' Election Program: [of] (A) The sending of electronic mail or messages from an individual's personal computer or cellular telephone when compensation is not remitted to such individual for the sending of such electronic mail or messages, (B) the posting or display of a candidate's name or group of candidates' names at a town fair, country fair or similar mass gathering by a party committee, or (C) the use of personal property or a service that is customarily attendant to the occupancy of a residential dwelling, or the donation of an item or items of personal property that are customarily used for campaign purposes, by an individual, to a candidate committee, provided the cumulative fair market value of such item or items of personal property does not exceed fifty dollars in the aggregate for any single election or calendar year, as the case may be; or

[(19)] (18) The display of a lawn sign by a human being or on real property.

Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 9-603 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) Statements filed by party committees, political committees formed to aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question proposing a constitutional convention, constitutional amendment or revision of the Constitution, individual lobbyists, and those political committees and candidate committees formed to aid or promote the success or defeat of any candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, State Comptroller, Attorney General, judge of probate and members of the General Assembly, shall be filed with the State Elections Enforcement Commission. [A copy of each statement filed by a town committee shall be filed at the same time with the town clerk of the municipality in which the committee is situated.] A political committee formed for a slate of candidates in a primary for the office of justice of the peace shall file statements with [both the State Elections Enforcement Commission and] the town clerk of the municipality in which the primary is to be held.

Sec. 3. Subsection (b) of section 9-606 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on and after said date):

(b) A contribution in the form of a check drawn on a joint bank account shall, for the purpose of allocation, be deemed to be a contribution made by the individual who signed the check. If a check is signed by more than one individual, the total amount of the check shall be divided equally among the cosigners for the purpose of allocation, except such contribution shall be allocated in accordance with the provisions of a written statement, if any, from the holders of such joint bank account that indicates how such contribution should be differently allocated. If a committee receives an anonymous contribution, [of more than fifteen dollars] the campaign treasurer shall immediately remit the contribution to the [State Treasurer] State Elections Enforcement Commission for deposit in the General Fund. [The State Treasurer shall deposit the contribution in the General Fund.]

Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 9-608 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date):

(a) (1) Each campaign treasurer of a committee [, other than a state central committee,] shall file a statement, sworn under penalty of false statement with the proper authority in accordance with the provisions of section 9-603, as amended by this act, (A) on the tenth calendar day in the months of January, April, July and October, provided, if such tenth calendar day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the statement shall be filed on the next business day, (B) on the seventh day preceding each regular state election, except that (i) in the case of a candidate or exploratory committee established for an office to be elected at a municipal election, the statement shall be filed on the seventh day preceding a regular municipal election in lieu of such date, [and] (ii) in the case of a town committee, the statement shall be filed on the seventh day preceding each municipal election in addition to such date, and (iii) in the case of a candidate committee in a state election that is required to file any supplemental campaign finance statements pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of section 9-712, as amended by this act, such supplemental campaign finance statements shall satisfy the filing requirement under this subdivision, and (C) if the committee has made or received a contribution, organization expenditure or expenditure in connection with any other election, a primary or a referendum, on the seventh day preceding the election, primary or referendum, except that in the case of a candidate committee in a primary that is required to file statements pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of section 9-712, as amended by this act, such statements shall satisfy filing requirement under this subdivision. The statement shall be complete as of eleven fifty-nine o'clock p.m. of the last day of the month preceding the month in which the statement is required to be filed, except that for the statement required to be filed on the seventh day preceding the election, primary or referendum, the statement shall be complete as of [seven days] eleven fifty-nine o'clock p.m. of the second day immediately preceding the required filing day. The statement shall cover a period to begin with the first day not included in the last filed statement. In the case of a candidate committee, the statement required to be filed in January shall be in lieu of the statement formerly required to be filed within forty-five days following an election.

(2) Each campaign treasurer of a candidate committee, within thirty days following any primary, and each campaign treasurer of a political committee formed for a single primary, election or referendum, within forty-five days after any election or referendum not held in November, shall file statements in the same manner as is required of them under subdivision (1) of this subsection. If the campaign treasurer of a candidate committee established by a candidate, who is unsuccessful in the primary or has terminated his candidacy prior to the primary, distributes all surplus funds within thirty days following the scheduled primary and discloses the distribution on the postprimary statement, such campaign treasurer shall not be required to file any subsequent statement unless the committee has a deficit, in which case he shall file any required statements in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection (e) of this section.

[(3) In the case of state central committees, (A) on the tenth calendar day in the months of January, April and July, provided, if such tenth calendar day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, on the next business day, and (B) on the twelfth day preceding any election, the campaign treasurer of each such committee shall file with the proper authority, a statement, sworn under penalty of false statement, complete as of the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which such statement is to be filed in the case of statements required to be filed in January, April and July, and complete as of the nineteenth day preceding an election, in the case of the statement required to be filed on the twelfth day preceding an election, and in each case covering a period to begin with the first day not included in the last filed statement.]

Sec. 5. Subsections (c) to (e), inclusive, of section 9-608 of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on and after said date):

(c) (1) Each statement filed under subsection (a), (e) or (f) of this section shall include, but not be limited to: (A) An itemized accounting of each contribution, if any, including the full name and complete address of each contributor and the amount of the contribution and, for a candidate or exploratory committee for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, state senator or state representative, any political committee authorized to make contributions to such candidates or committees, any political committee established or controlled by any such candidate, or any party committee, the full name and complete address of any person, other than the campaign treasurer, chairperson or candidate, who bundled contributions; (B) [in the case of anonymous contributions, the total amount received and the denomination of the bills; (C)] an itemized accounting of each expenditure, if any, including the full name and complete address of each payee, including secondary payees whenever the primary or principal payee is known to include charges which the primary payee has already paid or will pay directly to another person, vendor or entity, the amount and the purpose of the expenditure, the candidate supported or opposed by the expenditure, whether the expenditure is made independently of the candidate supported or is an in-kind contribution to the candidate, and a statement of the balance on hand or deficit, as the case may be; [(D)] (C) an itemized accounting of each expense incurred but not paid, provided if the expense is incurred by use of a credit card, the accounting shall include secondary payees, and the amount owed to each such payee; [(E)] (D) the name and address of any person who is the guarantor of a loan to, or the cosigner of a note with, the candidate on whose behalf the committee was formed, or the campaign treasurer in the case of a party committee or a political committee or who has advanced a security deposit to a telephone company, as defined in section 16-1, for telecommunications service for a committee; [(F)] (E) for each business entity or person purchasing advertising space in a program for a fund-raising affair or on signs at a fund-raising affair, the name and address of the business entity or the name and address of the person, and the amount and aggregate amounts of such purchases; [(G)] (F) for each individual who contributes in excess of one hundred dollars but not more than one thousand dollars, in the aggregate, to the extent known, the principal occupation of such individual and the name of the individual's employer, if any; [(H)] (G) for each individual who contributes in excess of one thousand dollars in the aggregate, the principal occupation of such individual [,] and the name of the individual's employer, if any; [(I)] (H) for each itemized contribution made by a lobbyist, the spouse of a lobbyist or any dependent child of a lobbyist who resides in the lobbyist's household, a statement to that effect; and [(J)] (I) for each individual who contributes in excess of four hundred dollars in the aggregate to or for the benefit of any candidate's campaign for nomination at a primary or election to the office of chief executive officer or a slate or town committee financing the nomination or election or a candidate for chief executive officer of a town, city or borough, a statement indicating whether the individual or a business with which he is associated has a contract with said municipality that is valued at more than five thousand dollars. Each campaign treasurer shall include in such statement (i) an itemized accounting of the receipts and expenditures relative to any testimonial affair held under the provisions of section 9-609 or any other fund-raising affair, which is referred to in subsection (b) of section 9-601a, and (ii) the date, location and a description of the affair, except that a campaign treasurer shall not be required to include the name of any individual who has purchased items at a fund-raising affair, if the cumulative value of items purchased by such individual does not exceed fifty dollars, or the name of any individual who has donated food or beverages for a meeting. A campaign treasurer shall not be required to report any receipts or expenditures related to any de minimis donations described in subdivision (17) of subsection (b) of section 9-601a.

(2) Each contributor described in subparagraph [(G), (H), (I) or (J)] (F), (G), (H) or (I) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall, at the time the contributor makes such a contribution, provide the information [which] that the campaign treasurer is required to include under said subparagraph in the statement filed under subsection (a), (e) or (f) of this section. Notwithstanding any provision of subdivision (2) of section 9-7b, any contributor described in subparagraph [(G)] (F) of subdivision (1) of this subsection who does not provide such information at the time the contributor makes such a contribution and any treasurer shall not be subject to the provisions of subdivision (2) of section 9-7b. If a campaign treasurer receives a contribution from an individual which separately, or in the aggregate, is in excess of one thousand dollars and the contributor has not provided the information required by said subparagraph [(H)] (G) or if a campaign treasurer receives a contribution from an individual to or for the benefit of any candidate's campaign for nomination at a primary or election to the office of chief executive officer of a town, city or borough, which separately, or in the aggregate, is in excess of four hundred dollars and the contributor has not provided the information required by said subparagraph [(J)] (I), the campaign treasurer: (i) [Within] Not later than three business days after receiving the contribution, shall send a request for such information to the contributor by certified mail, return receipt requested; (ii) shall not deposit the contribution until the campaign treasurer obtains such information from the contributor, notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-606, as amended by this act; and (iii) shall return the contribution to the contributor if the contributor does not provide the required information [within] not later than fourteen days after the treasurer's written request or the end of the reporting period in which the contribution was received, whichever is later. Any failure of a contributor to provide the information which the campaign treasurer is required to include under said subparagraph [(G) or (I)] (F) or (H), which results in noncompliance by the campaign treasurer with the provisions of said subparagraph [(G) or (I)] (F) or (H), shall be a complete defense to any action against the campaign treasurer for failure to disclose such information.

(3) In addition to the requirements of subdivision (2) of this subsection, each contributor who makes a contribution to a candidate or exploratory committee for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, state senator or state representative, any political committee authorized to make contributions to such candidates or committees, and any party committee that separately, or in the aggregate, exceeds fifty dollars shall provide with the contribution: [a certification that the contributor is not a principal of a state contractor or prospective state contractor, as defined in subsection (g) of section 9-612, nor a communicator lobbyist or a member of the immediate family of a communicator lobbyist and shall provide the name of the employer of the contributor] (A) The name of the contributor's employer, if any; (B) the contributor's status as a communicator lobbyist, as defined in section 1-91, a member of the immediate family of a communicator lobbyist, a state contractor, a prospective state contractor or a principal of a state contractor or prospective state contractor, as defined in section 9-612; and (C) a certification that the contributor is not prohibited from making a contribution to such candidate or committee. The State Elections Enforcement Commission shall prepare a sample form for such certification by the contributor and shall make it available to campaign treasurers and contributors. Such sample form shall include an explanation of the terms "communicator lobbyist", [and] "principal of a state contractor or [principal of a] prospective state contractor", "immediate family", "state contractor" and "prospective state contractor". The information on such sample form shall be included in any written solicitation conducted by any such committee. If a campaign treasurer receives such a contribution and the contributor has not provided such certification, the campaign treasurer shall: [(A)] (i) Not later than three business days after receiving the contribution, send a request for the certification to the contributor by certified mail, return receipt requested; [(B)] (ii) not deposit the contribution until the campaign treasurer obtains the certification from the contributor, notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-606, as amended by this act; and [(C)] (iii) return the contribution to the contributor if the contributor does not provide the certification not later than fourteen days after the treasurer's written request or at the end of the reporting period in which the contribution was received, whichever is later. No treasurer shall be required to obtain and keep more than one certification from each contributor, unless information certified to by the contributor, other than the amount contributed, changes. If a campaign treasurer deposits a contribution based on a certification that is later determined to be false, the treasurer shall [not be in violation of this subdivision] have a complete defense to any action against such campaign treasurer for the receipt of such contribution. Such defense shall not be available to a campaign treasurer who knew or had reason to know that the certification was false prior to depositing such contribution.

(4) Contributions from a single individual to a campaign treasurer in the aggregate totaling fifty dollars or less need not be individually identified in the statement, but a sum representing the total amount of all such contributions made by all such individuals during the period to be covered by such statement shall be a separate entry, identified only by the words "total contributions from small contributors".

(5) Each statement filed by the campaign treasurer of a party committee, a legislative caucus committee or a legislative leadership committee shall include an itemized accounting of each organization expenditure made by the committee. Concomitant with the filing of any such statement containing an accounting of an organization expenditure made by the committee for the benefit of [a participating] any candidate for the office of state senator, [or] state representative, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of the State, State Comptroller or State Treasurer such campaign treasurer shall provide notice of [the amount and purpose of] the organization expenditure to the candidate committee of such candidate.

(6) In addition to the other applicable requirements of this section, the campaign treasurer of a candidate committee of [a participating] any candidate for the office of state senator, [or] state representative, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of the State, State Comptroller or State Treasurer who has received the benefit of any organization expenditure shall, not later than the time of dissolving such committee, file a statement with the State Elections Enforcement Commission that lists, if known to such candidate committee, the committee which made such organization expenditure for such candidate's behalf and the amount and purpose of such organization expenditure.

(7) Statements filed in accordance with this section shall remain public records of the state for five years from the date such statements are filed.

(d) At the time of filing statements required under this section, the campaign treasurer of each candidate committee shall send to the candidate a duplicate statement and the campaign treasurer of each party committee and each political committee other than an exploratory committee shall send to the chairman of the committee a duplicate statement. Each statement required to be filed with the commission under this section, [and subsection (g) of section 9-610,] subsection (e) of section 9-612, section 9-706, as amended by this act, or section 9-712, as amended by this act, shall be deemed to be filed in a timely manner if: (1) For a statement filed as a hard copy, including, but not limited to, a statement delivered by the United States Postal Service, courier service, parcel service or hand delivery, the statement is received by the commission by five o'clock p.m. on the day the statement is required to be filed, (2) for a statement authorized by the commission to be filed electronically, including, but not limited to, a statement filed via dedicated electronic mail, facsimile machine, a web-based program created by the commission or other electronic means, the statement is transmitted to the commission not later than eleven fifty-nine o'clock p.m. on the day the statement is required to be filed, or (3) for a statement required to be filed pursuant to subsection (e) of section 9-612, section 9-706, as amended by this act, or section 9-712, as amended by this act, by the deadline specified in each such section. Any other filing required to be filed with a town clerk pursuant to this section shall be deemed to be filed in a timely manner if it is delivered by hand to the office of the [proper authority] town clerk in accordance with the provisions of section 9-603, as amended by this act, before four-thirty o'clock p.m. or postmarked by the United States Postal Service before midnight on the required filing day. If the day for any [such] filing falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the statement shall be filed on the next business day thereafter.

(e) (1) Notwithstanding any provisions of this chapter, in the event of a surplus the campaign treasurer of a candidate committee or of a political committee, other than a political committee formed for ongoing political activities or an exploratory committee, shall distribute or expend such surplus not later than ninety days, or for the purposes of subparagraph (H) of this subdivision, one hundred twenty days after a primary which results in the defeat of the candidate, an election or referendum not held in November or by [January] March thirty-first following an election or referendum held in November, or for the purposes of subparagraph (H) of this subdivision, June thirtieth following an election or referendum held in November, in the following manner:

(A) Such committees may distribute their surplus to a party committee, or a political committee organized for ongoing political activities, return such surplus to all contributors to the committee on a prorated basis of contribution, distribute all or any part of such surplus to the Citizens' Election Fund established in section 9-701 or distribute such surplus to any charitable organization which is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended, provided (i) no candidate committee may distribute such surplus to a committee which has been established to finance future political campaigns of the candidate, (ii) a candidate committee which received moneys from the Citizens' Election Fund shall distribute such surplus to such fund, and (iii) a candidate committee for a nonparticipating candidate, as described in subsection (b) of section 9-703, may only distribute any such surplus to the Citizens' Election Fund or to a charitable organization;

(B) Each such political committee established by an organization which received its funds from the organization's treasury shall return its surplus to its sponsoring organization;

(C) (i) Each political committee formed solely to aid or promote the success or defeat of any referendum question, which does not receive contributions from a business entity or an organization, shall distribute its surplus to a party committee, to a political committee organized for ongoing political activities, to a national committee of a political party, to all contributors to the committee on a prorated basis of contribution, to state or municipal governments or agencies or to any organization which is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended. (ii) Each political committee formed solely to aid or promote the success or defeat of any referendum question, which receives contributions from a business entity or an organization, shall distribute its surplus to all contributors to the committee on a prorated basis of contribution, to state or municipal governments or agencies, or to any organization which is tax-exempt under said provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, a committee formed for a single referendum shall not be required to expend its surplus not later than ninety days after the referendum and may continue in existence if a substantially similar referendum question on the same issue will be submitted to the electorate within six months after the first referendum. If two or more substantially similar referenda on the same issue are submitted to the electorate, each no more than six months apart, the committee shall expend such surplus within ninety days following the date of the last such referendum;

(D) The campaign treasurer of the candidate committee of a candidate who is elected to office may, upon the authorization of such candidate, expend surplus campaign funds to pay for the cost of clerical, secretarial or other office expenses necessarily incurred by such candidate in preparation for taking office; except such surplus shall not be distributed for the personal benefit of any individual or to any organization; [and]

(E) The campaign treasurer of a candidate committee, or of a political committee, other than a political committee formed for ongoing political activities or an exploratory committee, shall, prior to the dissolution of such committee, either (i) distribute any equipment purchased, including, but not limited to, computer equipment, to any recipient as set forth in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, or (ii) sell any equipment purchased, including but not limited to computer equipment, to any person for fair market value and then distribute the proceeds of such sale to any recipient as set forth in said subparagraph (A);

(F) The campaign treasurer of a qualified candidate committee may, following an election or unsuccessful primary, provide a post-primary thank you meal or a post-election thank you meal for committee workers, provided such meal (i) occurs not later than fourteen days after the applicable election or primary day, and (ii) the cost for such meal does not exceed the limits established by the commission pursuant to regulation;

(G) The campaign treasurer of a qualified candidate committee may, following an election or unsuccessful primary, make payment to a campaign treasurer for services rendered to the candidate committee, provided such payment does not exceed one thousand dollars; and

(H) The campaign treasurer of a qualified candidate committee may, following an election or unsuccessful primary, utilize grant funds received by such candidate committee from the Citizens' Election Fund for the purpose of complying with any audit conducted by the State Elections Enforcement Commission pursuant to subdivision (5) of subsection (a) of section 9-7b.

(2) Notwithstanding any [provisions] provision of this chapter, the campaign treasurer of the candidate committee of a candidate who has withdrawn from a primary or election may, prior to the primary or election, distribute its surplus to any organization which is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended, or return such surplus to all contributors to the committee on a prorated basis of contribution.

(3) Not later than seven days after such distribution or not later than seven days after all funds have been expended in accordance with subparagraph (D) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the campaign treasurer shall file a supplemental statement, sworn under penalty of false statement, with the proper authority, identifying all further contributions received since the previous statement and explaining how any surplus has been distributed or expended in accordance with this section. No surplus may be distributed or expended until after the election, primary or referendum.

(4) In the event of a deficit, the campaign treasurer shall file a supplemental statement ninety days after an election, primary or referendum not held in November or on the seventh calendar day in February, or the next business day if such day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, after an election or referendum held in November, with the proper authority and, thereafter, on the seventh day of each month following if on the last day of the previous month there was an increase or decrease in the deficit in excess of five hundred dollars from that reported on the last statement filed. The campaign treasurer shall file such supplemental statements as required until the deficit is eliminated. If any such committee does not have a surplus or a deficit, the statement required to be filed not later than forty-five days following any election or referendum not held in November or on the seventh calendar day in January, or the next business day if such day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, following an election or referendum held in November, or not later than thirty days following any primary shall be the last required statement.

Sec. 6. Subsection (a) of section 9-703 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date):

(a) Each candidate for nomination or election to the office of state senator or state representative in 2008, or thereafter, or the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer in 2010, or thereafter, shall file an affidavit with the State Elections Enforcement Commission. The affidavit shall include a written certification that the candidate either intends to abide by the expenditure limits under the Citizens' Election Program set forth in subsection (c) of section 9-702, as amended by this act, or does not intend to abide by said limits. If the candidate intends to abide by said limits, the affidavit shall also include written certifications (1) that the campaign treasurer of the candidate committee for said candidate shall expend any moneys received from the Citizens' Election Fund in accordance with the provisions of subsection (g) of section 9-607 and regulations adopted by the State Elections Enforcement Commission under subsection (e) of section 9-706, (2) that the candidate shall repay to the fund any such moneys that are not expended in accordance with subsection (g) of [said] section 9-607 and said regulations, (3) that the candidate and the campaign treasurer shall comply with the provisions of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 9-711, and (4) stating the candidate's status as a major party, minor party or petitioning party candidate and, in the case of a major party or minor party candidate, the name of such party. The written certification described in subdivision (3) of this subsection shall be made by both the candidate and the campaign treasurer of the candidate committee for said candidate. A candidate for nomination or election to any such office shall file such affidavit not later than four o'clock p.m. on the twenty-fifth day before the day of a primary, if applicable, or on the fortieth day before the day of the election for such office, except that in the case of a special election for the office of state senator or state representative, the candidate shall file such affidavit not later than four o'clock p.m. on the twenty-fifth day before the day of such special election. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, a candidate who is not required to form a candidate committee pursuant to subdivision (3) or (4) of subsection (b) of section 9-604, files a certification with the commission pursuant to subsection (c) of section 9-603 and does not intend to participate in the Citizens' Election Program shall not be required to file such affidavit of intent not to abide by the expenditure limits of said program. Any such candidate shall be referred to as a nonparticipating candidate, in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.

Sec. 7. Subsections (c) to (e), inclusive, of section 9-704 of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date):

(c) The following shall not be deemed to be qualifying contributions under subsection (a) of this section and shall be returned by the campaign treasurer of the candidate committee to the contributor or transmitted to the State Elections Enforcement Commission for deposit in the Citizens' Election Fund:

(1) A contribution from a principal of a state contractor or prospective state contractor;

(2) A contribution of less than five dollars, and a contribution of five dollars or more from an individual who does not provide the full name and complete address of the individual; [and]

(3) A contribution under subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this section from an individual who does not reside in the state, in excess of the applicable limit on contributions from out-of-state individuals in subsection (a) of this section; and

(4) A contribution made by an individual who is less than twelve years of age.

(d) After a candidate committee receives the applicable aggregate amount of qualifying contributions under subsection (a) of this section, the candidate committee shall transmit any additional contributions that it receives to the State Treasurer for deposit in the Citizens' Election Fund.

(e) As used in this section, "principal of a state contractor or prospective state contractor" has the same meaning as provided in subsection (g) of section 9-612, and "individual" shall include sole proprietorships.

Sec. 8. Subsection (c) of section 9-706 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date):

(c) The application shall be accompanied by a cumulative itemized accounting of all funds received, expenditures made and expenses incurred but not yet paid by the candidate committee as of three days [before the applicable application deadline contained in subsection (g) of this section] preceding the day the application is filed. Such accounting shall be sworn to under penalty of false statement by the campaign treasurer of the candidate committee. The commission shall prescribe the form of the application and the cumulative itemized accounting. The form for such accounting shall conform to the requirements of section 9-608, as amended by this act. Both the candidate and the campaign treasurer of the candidate committee shall sign the application.

Sec. 9. Subsection (g) of section 9-706 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date):

(g) (1) Any application submitted pursuant to this section for a primary or general election shall be submitted in accordance with the following schedule: (A) By five o'clock p.m. on the third Thursday in May of the year that the primary or election will be held at which such participating candidate will seek nomination or election, or (B) by five o'clock p.m. on any subsequent Thursday of such year, provided no application shall be accepted by the commission after five o'clock p.m. on or after the fourth to last Friday prior to the primary or election at which such participating candidate will seek nomination or election. Not later than four business days following any such Thursday or Friday, as applicable, for participating candidates seeking nomination or election to the office of state senator or state representative, or ten business days following any such Thursday or Friday, as applicable, for participating candidates seeking nomination or election to the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, State Treasurer or Secretary of the State or, in the event of a national, regional or local emergency or local natural disaster, as soon thereafter as is practicable, the commission shall review any application received by such Thursday or Friday, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, and determine whether such application shall be approved or disapproved, except if an application for a general election grant is received during the seven calendar days preceding the last primary application deadline, as set forth in this subsection, such application shall be reviewed not later than four business days or ten business days, as applicable, after the first general election application deadline following the last primary application deadline. For any such application that is approved, any disbursement of funds shall be made not later than twelve business days prior to any such primary or general election. From the third week of June in even-numbered years until the third week in July, the commission shall meet twice weekly to determine whether or not to approve applications for grants if there are pending grant applications.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, no application for a special election shall be accepted by the commission after five o'clock p.m. on or after ten business days prior to the special election at which such participating candidate will seek election. Not later than three business days following such deadline, or, in the event of a national, regional or local emergency or local natural disaster, as soon thereafter as practicable, the commission shall review any such application received by such deadline, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, and determine whether such application shall be approved or disapproved. For any such application that is approved, any disbursement of funds shall be made not later than seven business days prior to any such special election.

(3) The commission shall publish such application review schedules and meeting schedules on the commission's web site and with the Secretary of the State.

Sec. 10. Subsection (a) of section 9-712 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date):

[(a) (1) If a candidate committee in a primary campaign or a general election campaign in which there is at least one participating candidate initially receives contributions, loans or other funds or makes or incurs an obligation to make, an expenditure that, in the aggregate, exceeds ninety per cent of the applicable expenditure limit for the applicable primary or general election period, the campaign treasurer of the candidate committee receiving such contributions, loans or other funds or making or incurring the obligation to make the excess expenditure shall file a supplemental campaign finance statement with the State Elections Enforcement Commission in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection.

(2) If a candidate committee receives contributions, loans or other funds, or makes or incurs an obligation to make an expenditure that, in the aggregate, exceeds ninety per cent of the applicable expenditure limit for the applicable primary or general election campaign period more than twenty days before the day of such primary or election, the campaign treasurer of said candidate shall file an initial supplemental campaign finance disclosure statement with the commission not later than forty-eight hours after receiving such contributions, loans or other funds, or making or incurring such expenditure. If said candidate committee receives contributions, loans or other funds, or makes or incurs an obligation to make expenditures, that, in the aggregate, exceed ninety per cent of the applicable expenditure limit for the applicable primary or general election campaign period twenty days or less before the day of such primary or election, the campaign treasurer of such candidate shall file such statement with the commission not later than twenty-four hours after receiving such contributions, loans or funds, or making or incurring such expenditure.

(3) After the initial filing of a statement under subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, the campaign treasurer of the candidate filing the statement and the campaign treasurer of all of the opposing candidates shall file periodic supplemental campaign finance statements with the commission on the following schedule: (A) If the date of the applicable primary or general election is more than five weeks after the date the initial supplemental campaign finance disclosure statement is due to be filed in accordance with subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, periodic supplemental campaign finance statements shall be filed bi-weekly on every other Thursday, beginning the second Thursday after the initial statement is filed; and (B) if the date of the applicable primary election or general election is five weeks or less away, periodic supplemental campaign finance statements shall be filed: (i) In the case of a primary campaign, on the first Thursday following the date in July on which candidates are required to file campaign finance statements pursuant to subsection (a) of section 9-608, or the first Thursday following the supplemental campaign finance statement filed under subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, whichever is later, and each Thursday thereafter until the Thursday before the day of the primary, inclusive, and (ii) in the case of a general election campaign, on the first Thursday following the date in October on which candidates are required to file campaign finance statements pursuant to subsection (a) of section 9-608, or the first Thursday following the supplemental campaign finance statement filed under subdivision (1) of this subsection, whichever is later, and each Thursday thereafter until the Thursday after the day of the election, inclusive.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (1), (2) and (3) of this subsection, if a candidate committee in a primary campaign or a general election campaign in which there is at least one participating candidate receives contributions, loans or other funds, or makes or incurs an obligation to make expenditures that, in the aggregate, exceed one hundred per cent, one hundred twenty-five per cent, one hundred fifty per cent, or one hundred seventy-five per cent of the applicable expenditure limit for the applicable primary or general election campaign period, the campaign treasurer of the candidate committee receiving the contributions, incurring the loans or raising the funds, or making or incurring the obligation to make the excess expenditure or expenditures shall file a declaration of excess receipts or expenditures statement with the commission, within the deadlines set forth in subdivision (2) of this subsection.]

(a) (1) The campaign treasurer of each candidate committee in a primary campaign or a general election campaign in which there is at least one participating candidate shall file weekly supplemental campaign finance statements with the commission in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection. Such weekly statements shall be in lieu of the campaign finance statements due pursuant to subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 9-608, as amended by this act.

(2) Each such campaign treasurer shall file weekly supplemental campaign finance statements with the commission pursuant to the following schedule: (A) In the case of a primary campaign, on the next Thursday following the date in July on which treasurers are required to file campaign finance statements pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 9-608, as amended by this act, and each Thursday thereafter up to and including the Thursday before the day of the primary, and (B) in the case of a general election campaign, on the next Thursday following the date in October on which candidates are required to file campaign finance statements pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 9-608, as amended by this act, and each Thursday thereafter up to and including the Thursday before the day of the election. The statement shall be complete as of eleven fifty-nine o'clock p.m. of the second day immediately preceding the required filing day. The statement shall cover the period beginning with the first day not included in the last filed statement.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, if a participating candidate committee in a primary campaign or a general election campaign in which there is at least one participating candidate makes expenditures or incurs an obligation to make expenditures that, in the aggregate, exceed one hundred per cent of the applicable expenditure limit for the applicable primary or general election campaign period, the campaign treasurer of any such candidate committee shall file a declaration of excess expenditures statement with the commission, pursuant to the following schedule: (A) If a candidate committee makes expenditures or incurs an obligation to make such expenditures more than twenty days before the day of such primary or election, the campaign treasurer of such candidate shall file such statement with the commission not later than forty-eight hours after making such expenditures or incurring an obligation to make such expenditures, and (B) if a candidate committee makes such expenditures or incurs an obligation to make such expenditures twenty days or less before the day of such primary or election, the campaign treasurer of such candidate shall file such statement with the commission not later than twenty-four hours after making such expenditures or incurring an obligation to make such expenditures. The statement shall be complete as of eleven fifty-nine o'clock p.m. of the first day immediately preceding the required filing day. The statement shall cover a period beginning with the first day not included in the last filed statement.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, the statements required to be filed pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection shall not be required to be filed by (A) a candidate committee of a nonparticipating candidate that is exempt from filing campaign finance statements pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-608, as amended by this act, unless or until such a candidate committee receives or expends an amount in excess of one thousand dollars for purposes of the primary or election for which such committee was formed, or (B) a candidate committee of a participating candidate that is unopposed, except that such candidate committee shall file a supplemental statement on the last Thursday before the applicable primary or general election. Such statement shall be complete as of eleven fifty-nine o'clock p.m. of the second day immediately preceding the required filing day. The statement shall cover a period beginning with the first day not included in the last filed statement.

(5) Each supplemental statement required under subdivision (1), (2) [, (3) or (4)] or (3) of this subsection for a candidate shall disclose [the name of the candidate, the name of the candidate's campaign committee and the total amount of campaign contributions, loans or other funds received, or expenditures made or obligated to be made by such candidate committee during the primary campaign or the general election campaign, whichever is applicable, as of the day before the date on which such statement is required to be filed] the information required under subsection (c) of section 9-608, as amended by this act. The commission shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, specifying permissible media for the transmission of such statements to the commission, which shall include electronic mail.

Sec. 11. Section 9-718 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date):

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 155 or this chapter, no state central committee shall make an organization expenditure for the benefit of a candidate for the office of Governor in an amount that exceeds fifty thousand dollars for the general election campaign.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 155 or this chapter, no party committee, as defined in section 9-601, shall make an organization expenditure for the purposes described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (25) of section 9-601 for the benefit of a candidate for the office of Governor for the primary campaign.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 155 or this chapter, no state central committee shall make an organization expenditure for the benefit of a candidate for the office of Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer in an amount that exceeds thirty five thousand dollars per candidate for the general election campaign.

(d) Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 155 or this chapter, no party committee shall make an organization expenditure for the purposes described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (25) of section 9-601 for the benefit of a candidate for the office of Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer for the primary campaign.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 155 or this chapter, no town committee, shall make an organization expenditure for the benefit of a candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer in an amount that exceeds thirteen thousand five hundred dollars for the general election campaign.

[(a)] (f) Notwithstanding any provision of [the general statutes] chapter 155 or this chapter, no party committee, legislative caucus committee or legislative leadership committee shall make an organization expenditure for the benefit of a [participating candidate or the candidate committee of a participating candidate in the Citizens' Election Program] candidate for the office of state senator in an amount that exceeds ten thousand dollars for the general election campaign.

[(b)] (g) Notwithstanding any provision of [the general statutes] chapter 155 or this chapter, no party committee, legislative caucus committee or legislative leadership committee shall make an organization expenditure for the purposes described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (25) of section 9-601 for the benefit of a [participating candidate or the candidate committee of a participating candidate in the Citizens' Election Program] candidate for the office of state senator for the primary campaign.

[(c)] (h) Notwithstanding any provision of [the general statutes] chapter 155 or this chapter, no party committee, legislative caucus committee or legislative leadership committee shall make an organization expenditure for the benefit of a [participating candidate or the candidate committee of a participating candidate in the Citizens' Election Program] candidate for the office of state representative in an amount that exceeds three thousand five hundred dollars for the general election campaign.

[(d)] (i) Notwithstanding any provision of [the general statutes] chapter 155 or this chapter, no party committee, legislative caucus committee or legislative leadership committee shall make an organization expenditure for the purposes described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (25) of section 9-601 for the benefit of a [participating candidate or the candidate committee of a participating candidate in the Citizens' Election Program] candidate for the office of state representative for the primary campaign.

Sec. 12. Subsection (b) of section 9-609 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date):

(b) As used in this subsection, "testimonial affair" means an affair held in honor of an individual who holds, or who is or was a candidate for nomination or election to, an office subject to this chapter. No testimonial affair shall be held without the consent of such person. No testimonial affair shall be held for a candidate, or for an individual who holds any such office during the term of such office, except to raise funds on [his behalf] the candidate's behalf, or on behalf of a party committee, for purposes authorized in this chapter. A testimonial affair which is held by an organization duly organized for charitable purposes shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter. A testimonial affair which is held for an individual upon his retirement from public office shall also be exempt from the provisions of this chapter unless a deficit exists from any such individual's campaigns for election or nomination to an office subject to this chapter. Any fund-raising affair for any candidate or individual who holds any such office for any purposes other than those authorized in this chapter shall be prohibited. Any person who organizes such a fund-raising affair shall be in violation of this section.

Sec. 13. Subsection (c) of section 9-702 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date):

(c) A candidate participating in the Citizens' Election Program shall limit the expenditures of the candidate's candidate committee (A) before a primary campaign and a general election campaign, to the amount of qualifying contributions permitted in section 9-704, as amended by this act, and any personal funds provided by the candidate under subsection (c) of section 9-710, (B) for a primary campaign, to the sum of (i) the amount of such qualifying contributions and personal funds that have not been spent before the primary campaign, and (ii) the amount of the grant for the primary campaign authorized under section 9-705, as amended by this act, and (C) for a general election campaign, to the sum of (i) the amount of such qualifying contributions and personal funds that have not been spent before the general election campaign, (ii) any unexpended funds from any grant for a primary campaign authorized under section 9-705, as amended by this act, and (iii) the amount of the grant for the general election campaign authorized under section 9-705, as amended by this act. The candidate committee of a minor or petitioning party candidate who has received a general election campaign grant from the fund pursuant to section 9-705, as amended by this act, or an unopposed candidate who is ineligible to receive a general election grant pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (j) of section 9-705, as amended by this act, shall be permitted to receive contributions in addition to the qualifying contributions subject to the limitations and restrictions applicable to participating candidates for the same office, provided (I) such minor or petitioning party candidate shall limit the expenditures of the candidate committee for a general election campaign to the sum of the qualifying contributions and personal funds, the amount of the general election campaign grant received and the amount raised in additional contributions that is equivalent to the difference between the amount of the applicable general election campaign grant for a major party candidate for such office and the amount of the general election campaign grant received by such minor or petitioning party candidate, and (II) such unopposed candidate shall limit the expenditures of the candidate committee for a general election campaign to the sum of the qualifying contributions and personal funds and the amount raised in additional contributions that is equivalent to thirty per cent of the applicable general election campaign grant under subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of section 9-705, as amended by this act.

Sec. 14. Section 9-705 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date):

(a) (1) The qualified candidate committee of a major party candidate for the office of Governor who has a primary for nomination to said office shall be eligible to receive a grant from the Citizens' Election Fund for the primary campaign in the amount of one million two hundred fifty thousand dollars, provided, in the case of a primary held in [2014] 2018, or thereafter, said amount shall be adjusted under subsection (d) of this section.

(2) The qualified candidate committee of a candidate for the office of Governor who has been nominated, or who has qualified to appear on the election ballot in accordance with the provisions of subpart C of part III of chapter 153, shall be eligible to receive a grant from the fund for the general election campaign in the amount of six million dollars, provided in the case of an election held in [2014] 2018, or thereafter, said amount shall be adjusted under subsection (d) of this section.

(b) (1) The qualified candidate committee of a major party candidate for the office of Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer who has a primary for nomination to said office shall be eligible to receive a grant from the fund for the primary campaign in the amount of three hundred seventy-five thousand dollars, provided, in the case of a primary held in [2014] 2018, or thereafter, said amount shall be adjusted under subsection (d) of this section.

(2) The qualified candidate committee of a candidate for the office of Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer who has been nominated, or who has qualified to appear on the election ballot in accordance with the provisions of subpart C of part III of chapter 153, shall be eligible to receive a grant from the fund for the general election campaign in the amount of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars, provided in the case of an election held in [2014] 2018, or thereafter, said amount shall be adjusted under subsection (d) of this section.

(c) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the qualified candidate committee of an eligible minor party candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer shall be eligible to receive a grant from the fund for the general election campaign if the candidate of the same minor party for the same office at the last preceding regular election received at least ten per cent of the whole number of votes cast for all candidates for said office at said election. The amount of the grant shall be one-third of the amount of the general election campaign grant under subsection (a) or (b) of this section for a candidate for the same office, provided (A) if the candidate of the same minor party for the same office at the last preceding regular election received at least fifteen per cent of the whole number of votes cast for all candidates for said office at said election, the amount of the grant shall be two-thirds of the amount of the general election campaign grant under subsection (a) or (b) of this section for a candidate for the same office, (B) if the candidate of the same minor party for the same office at the last preceding regular election received at least twenty per cent of the whole number of votes cast for all candidates for said office at said election, the amount of the grant shall be the same as the amount of the general election campaign grant under subsection (a) or (b) of this section for a candidate for the same office, and (C) in the case of an election held in [2014] 2018, or thereafter, said amounts shall be adjusted under subsection (d) of this section.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the qualified candidate committee of an eligible petitioning party candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer shall be eligible to receive a grant from the fund for the general election campaign if said candidate's nominating petition has been signed by a number of qualified electors equal to at least ten per cent of the whole number of votes cast for the same office at the last preceding regular election. The amount of the grant shall be one-third of the amount of the general election campaign grant under subsection (a) or (b) of this section for a candidate for the same office, provided (A) if said candidate's nominating petition has been signed by a number of qualified electors equal to at least fifteen per cent of the whole number of votes cast for the same office at the last preceding regular election, the amount of the grant shall be two-thirds of the amount of the general election campaign grant under subsection (a) or (b) of this section for a candidate for the same office, (B) if said candidate's nominating petition has been signed by a number of qualified electors equal to at least twenty per cent of the whole number of votes cast for the same office at the last preceding regular election, the amount of the grant shall be the same as the amount of the general election campaign grant under subsection (a) or (b) of this section for a candidate for the same office, and (C) in the case of an election held in [2014] 2018, or thereafter, said amounts shall be adjusted under subsection (d) of this section.

(3) In addition to the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, the qualified candidate committee of an eligible petitioning party candidate and the qualified candidate committee of an eligible minor party candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer shall be eligible to receive a supplemental grant from the fund after the general election if the treasurer of such candidate committee reports a deficit in the first statement filed after the general election, pursuant to section 9-608, as amended by this act, and such candidate received a greater percentage of the whole number of votes cast for all candidates for said office at said election than the percentage of votes utilized by such candidate to obtain a general election campaign grant described in subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection. The amount of such supplemental grant shall be calculated as follows:

(A) In the case of any such candidate who receives more than ten per cent, but not more than fifteen per cent, of the whole number of votes cast for all candidates for said office at said election, the grant shall be the product of (i) a fraction in which the numerator is the difference between the percentage of such whole number of votes received by such candidate and ten per cent and the denominator is ten, and (ii) two-thirds of the amount of the general election campaign grant under subsection (a) or (b) of this section for a major party candidate for the same office.

(B) In the case of any such candidate who receives more than fifteen per cent, but less than twenty per cent, of the whole number of votes cast for all candidates for said office at said election, the grant shall be the product of (i) a fraction in which the numerator is the difference between the percentage of such whole number of votes received by such candidate and fifteen per cent and the denominator is five, and (ii) one-third of the amount of the general election campaign grant under subsection (a) or (b) of this section for a major party candidate for the same office.

(C) The sum of the general election campaign grant received by any such candidate and a supplemental grant under this subdivision shall not exceed one hundred per cent of the amount of the general election campaign grant under subsection (a) or (b) of this section for a major party candidate for the same office.

(d) For elections held in [2014] 2018, and thereafter, the amount of the grants in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section shall be adjusted by the State Elections Enforcement Commission not later than January 15, [2014] 2018, and quadrennially thereafter, in accordance with any change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the period beginning on January 1, [2010] 2014, and ending on December thirty-first in the year preceding the year in which said adjustment is to be made.

(e) (1) The qualified candidate committee of a major party candidate for the office of state senator who has a primary for nomination to said office shall be eligible to receive a grant from the fund for the primary campaign in the amount of thirty-five thousand dollars, provided (A) if the percentage of the electors in the district served by said office who are enrolled in said major party exceeds the percentage of the electors in said district who are enrolled in another major party by at least twenty percentage points, the amount of said grant shall be seventy-five thousand dollars, and (B) in the case of a primary held in [2010] 2014, or thereafter, said amounts shall be adjusted under subsection (h) of this section. For the purposes of subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, the number of enrolled members of a major party and the number of electors in a district shall be determined by the latest enrollment and voter registration records in the office of the Secretary of the State submitted in accordance with the provisions of section 9-65. The names of electors on the inactive registry list compiled under section 9-35 shall not be counted for such purposes.

(2) The qualified candidate committee of a candidate for the office of state senator who has been nominated, or has qualified to appear on the election ballot in accordance with subpart C of part III of chapter 153, shall be eligible to receive a grant from the fund for the general election campaign in the amount of eighty-five thousand dollars, provided in the case of an election held in [2010] 2014, or thereafter, said amount shall be adjusted under subsection (h) of this section.

(f) (1) The qualified candidate committee of a major party candidate for the office of state representative who has a primary for nomination to said office shall be eligible to receive a grant from the fund for the primary campaign in the amount of ten thousand dollars, provided (A) if the percentage of the electors in the district served by said office who are enrolled in said major party exceeds the percentage of the electors in said district who are enrolled in another major party by at least twenty percentage points, the amount of said grant shall be twenty-five thousand dollars, and (B) in the case of a primary held in [2010] 2014, or thereafter, said amounts shall be adjusted under subsection (h) of this section. For the purposes of subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, the number of enrolled members of a major party and the number of electors in a district shall be determined by the latest enrollment and voter registration records in the office of the Secretary of the State submitted in accordance with the provisions of section 9-65. The names of electors on the inactive registry list compiled under section 9-35 shall not be counted for such purposes.

(2) The qualified candidate committee of a candidate for the office of state representative who has been nominated, or has qualified to appear on the election ballot in accordance with subpart C of part III of chapter 153, shall be eligible to receive a grant from the fund for the general election campaign in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars, provided in the case of an election held in [2010] 2014, or thereafter, said amount shall be adjusted under subsection (h) of this section.

(g) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (e) and (f) of this section, the qualified candidate committee of an eligible minor party candidate for the office of state senator or state representative shall be eligible to receive a grant from the fund for the general election campaign if the candidate of the same minor party for the same office at the last preceding regular election received at least ten per cent of the whole number of votes cast for all candidates for said office at said election. The amount of the grant shall be one-third of the amount of the general election campaign grant under subsection (e) or (f) of this section for a candidate for the same office, provided (A) if the candidate of the same minor party for the same office at the last preceding regular election received at least fifteen per cent of the whole number of votes cast for all candidates for said office at said election, the amount of the grant shall be two-thirds of the amount of the general election campaign grant under subsection (e) or (f) of this section for a candidate for the same office, (B) if the candidate of the same minor party for the same office at the last preceding regular election received at least twenty per cent of the whole number of votes cast for all candidates for said office at said election, the amount of the grant shall be the same as the amount of the general election campaign grant under subsection (e) or (f) of this section for a candidate for the same office, and (C) in the case of an election held in [2010] 2014, or thereafter, said amounts shall be adjusted under subsection (h) of this section.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (e) and (f) of this section, the qualified candidate committee of an eligible petitioning party candidate for the office of state senator or state representative shall be eligible to receive a grant from the fund for the general election campaign if said candidate's nominating petition has been signed by a number of qualified electors equal to at least ten per cent of the whole number of votes cast for the same office at the last preceding regular election. The amount of the grant shall be one-third of the amount of the general election campaign grant under subsection (e) or (f) of this section for a candidate for the same office, provided (A) if said candidate's nominating petition has been signed by a number of qualified electors equal to at least fifteen per cent of the whole number of votes cast for the same office at the last preceding regular election, the amount of the grant shall be two-thirds of the amount of the general election campaign grant under subsection (e) or (f) of this section for a candidate for the same office, (B) if said candidate's nominating petition has been signed by a number of qualified electors equal to at least twenty per cent of the whole number of votes cast for the same office at the last preceding regular election, the amount of the grant shall be the same as the amount of the general election campaign grant under subsection (e) or (f) of this section for a candidate for the same office, and (C) in the case of an election held in [2010] 2014, or thereafter, said amounts shall be adjusted under subsection (h) of this section.

(3) In addition to the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, the qualified candidate committee of an eligible petitioning party candidate and the qualified candidate committee of an eligible minor party candidate for the office of state senator or state representative shall be eligible to receive a supplemental grant from the fund after the general election if the treasurer of such candidate committee reports a deficit in the first statement filed after the general election, pursuant to section 9-608, as amended by this act, and such candidate received a greater percentage of the whole number of votes cast for all candidates for said office at said election than the percentage of votes utilized by such candidate to obtain a general election campaign grant described in subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection. The amount of such supplemental grant shall be calculated as follows:

(A) In the case of any such candidate who receives more than ten per cent, but less than fifteen per cent, of the whole number of votes cast for all candidates for said office at said election, the grant shall be the product of (i) a fraction in which the numerator is the difference between the percentage of such whole number of votes received by such candidate and ten per cent and the denominator is ten, and (ii) two-thirds of the amount of the general election campaign grant under subsection (e) or (f) of this section for a major party candidate for the same office.

(B) In the case of any such candidate who receives more than fifteen per cent, but less than twenty per cent, of the whole number of votes cast for all candidates for said office at said election, the grant shall be the product of (i) a fraction in which the numerator is the difference between the percentage of such whole number of votes received by such candidate and fifteen per cent and the denominator is five, and (ii) one-third of the amount of the general election campaign grant under subsection (e) or (f) of this section for a major party candidate for the same office.

(C) The sum of the general election campaign grant received by any such candidate and a supplemental grant under this subdivision shall not exceed one hundred per cent of the amount of the general election campaign grant under subsection (e) or (f) of this section for a major party candidate for the same office.

(h) For elections held in [2010] 2014, and thereafter, the amount of the grants in subsections (e), (f) and (g) of this section shall be adjusted by the State Elections Enforcement Commission not later than January 15, [2010] 2014, and biennially thereafter, in accordance with any change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the period beginning on January 1, [2008] 2012, and ending on December thirty-first in the year preceding the year in which said adjustment is to be made.

(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (e), (f) and (g) of this section, in the case of a special election for the office of state senator or state representative, the amount of the grant for a general election campaign shall be seventy-five per cent of the amount authorized under the applicable [said] subsection (e), (f) or (g) of this section.

(j) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this section:

(1) The initial grant that a qualified candidate committee for a candidate is eligible to receive under subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this section shall be reduced by the amount of any personal funds that the candidate provides for the candidate's campaign for nomination or election pursuant to subsection (c) of section 9-710;

(2) If a participating candidate is nominated at a primary and does not expend the entire grant for the primary campaign authorized under subsection (a), (b), (e) or (f) of this section, the amount of the grant for the general election campaign shall be reduced by the total amount of any such unexpended primary campaign grant and moneys;

(3) If a participating candidate who is nominated for election does not have [any] an opponent in the general election campaign, [the amount of the] such candidate shall not be eligible for a general election campaign grant. [for which the qualified candidate committee for said candidate shall be eligible shall be thirty per cent of the applicable amount set forth in subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this section.] For purposes of this subdivision, a participating candidate shall be deemed to have an opponent if (A) a major party has properly endorsed any other candidate and made the requisite filing with the Secretary of the State within the time specified in section 9-391 or 9-400, as applicable, (B) any candidate of any other major party has received not less than fifteen per cent of the vote of convention delegates and has complied with the filing requirements set forth in section 9-400, or (C) any candidate of any other major party has circulated a petition and obtained the required number of signatures for filing a candidacy for nomination and has either qualified for the primary or been deemed the party's nominee;

(4) If the only opponent or opponents of a participating candidate who is nominated for election to an office are eligible minor party candidates or eligible petitioning party candidates and no such eligible minor party candidate's or eligible petitioning party candidate's candidate committee has received a total amount of contributions of any type that is equal to or greater than the amount of the qualifying contributions that a candidate for such office is required to receive under section 9-704, as amended by this act, to be eligible for grants from the Citizens' Election Fund, the amount of the general election campaign grant for such participating candidate shall be sixty per cent of the applicable amount set forth in this section; [and]

(5) The amount of the primary grant or general election campaign grant for a qualified candidate committee shall be reduced, pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision, if such candidate committee has control and custody over lawn signs from any prior election or primary in the following applicable amount: (A) Five hundred or more lawn signs for the qualified candidate committee of a candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer, (B) one hundred or more lawn signs for the qualified candidate committee of a candidate for the office of state senator, or (C) fifty or more lawn signs for the qualified candidate committee of a candidate for the office of state representative. If such qualified candidate committee has custody and control over lawn signs in the applicable amount, as described in this subdivision, the grant from the fund for the primary campaign or general election campaign, as applicable, for such qualified candidate committee shall be reduced as follows: (i) Two thousand five hundred dollars for the qualified candidate committee of a candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer, (ii) five hundred dollars for the qualified candidate committee of a candidate for the office of state senator, or (iii) two hundred fifty dollars for the qualified candidate committee of a candidate for the office of state representative. In no event shall such a reduction be made both to a qualified candidate committee's primary campaign grant and to such candidate committee's general election grant. No reduction in either the primary campaign or general election campaign for a qualified candidate committee's grant shall be taken for any lawn sign that is not in the custody or control of the qualified candidate committee. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to apply to any item other than lawn signs; and

(6) The amount of a general election grant that a qualified candidate committee that was previously deemed to not have an opponent under subdivision (3) of this subsection is eligible to receive under subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this section, shall be reduced by the amount of any additional contributions raised pursuant to subsection (c) of section 9-702, as amended by this act, when such candidate was deemed to not have an opponent.

Sec. 15. Subsection (e) of section 9-607 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):

(e) (1) Any such payment shall be by check drawn by the campaign treasurer, on the designated depository. Any payment in satisfaction of any financial obligation incurred by a committee may also be made by debit card or credit card. In the case of payment made under a contract between a committee and a community antenna television company, as defined in section 16-1, for the purchase of advertisement space, the campaign treasurer of such committee may pay for such services using a bank or cashier's check, as defined in section 42a-3-104, if so required by the contract, provided the campaign treasurer maintains documentation substantiating that the funds used to pay for such advertising space were expended from the committee's funds. (2) The campaign treasurer of each committee may draw a check, not to exceed one hundred dollars, to establish a petty cash fund and may deposit additional funds to maintain it, but the fund shall not exceed one hundred dollars at any time. All expenditures from a petty cash fund shall be reported in the same manner as any other expenditure.


This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on and after said date	9-601a(b)
Sec. 2	from passage	9-603(a)
Sec. 3	January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on and after said date	9-606(b)
Sec. 4	January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date	9-608(a)
Sec. 5	January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on and after said date	9-608(c) to (e)
Sec. 6	January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date	9-703(a)
Sec. 7	January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date	9-704(c) to (e)
Sec. 8	January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date	9-706(c)
Sec. 9	January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date	9-706(g)
Sec. 10	January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date	9-712(a)
Sec. 11	January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date	9-718
Sec. 12	January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date	9-609(b)
Sec. 13	January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date	9-702(c)
Sec. 14	January 1, 2012, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after said date	9-705
Sec. 15	July 1, 2011	9-607(e)