Committee Bill No. 294 Summary

• Requires the State Elections Enforcement Commission to return non-qualifying contributions to candidate committee treasurers rather than depositing them into the Citizens' Election Fund, effective October 1, 2021.

• Specifies four categories of contributions that do not qualify: contributions from state contractor principals, contributions under $5 or $5+ without full name and address, out-of-state contributions exceeding applicable limits, and contributions from children under 12 years old.

• Mandates the Commission advise candidates of rejected contributions and cite the specific disqualifying reason when returning contributions to committees.

• Requires candidate committee treasurers to refund non-qualifying contributions to the original contributors upon receiving them back from the Commission.

• Allows the Commission to approve partial initial grants when timing of ballot status determination prevents full grant calculation, with remaining grant portions paid after ballot status circumstances become clear.