CT SB01517

Creates a new legal definition for "independent expenditure political committee" as a political committee that makes only independent expenditures to support or defeat candidates, referendum questions, or political parties, and may contribute only to other independent expenditure political committees

Allows independent expenditure political committees to coordinate with each other and accept unlimited contributions from individuals, business entities, and organizations, while prohibiting them from making contributions to candidate committees, party committees, or non-independent expenditure political committees

Requires 24-hour reporting of independent expenditures exceeding $1,000 in aggregate during the period from June 1st of an election year through the day after the primary or election, including disclosure of covered transfers of $5,000 or more

Establishes enhanced civil penalties for failure to file independent expenditure reports: up to $10,000 for violations more than 90 days before an election, and up to $20,000 or twice the expenditure amount for violations within 90 days; knowing and willful violations may result in penalties up to $50,000 or ten times the expenditure amount

Modifies State Elections Enforcement Commission procedures by replacing "probable cause" standard with "reason to believe" standard for complaint determinations, and requires dismissal of complaints if the commission does not find reason to believe a violation occurred within one year of receipt