Delaware Senate Bill 176 - Summary

• Authorizes the State Elections Commissioner to issue citations for tardy or incomplete campaign finance reports, with administrative penalties of $50 per day up to a maximum of 100 days.

• Requires mandatory training on the Department of Elections' electronic campaign finance reporting system as a penalty condition, and permits the Commissioner to offer payment plans, waive penalties under $500, or negotiate penalty amounts if reports are filed or corrected.

• Allows political committees or political action committees to pay administrative penalties on behalf of responsible reporting parties, with retroactive application to fines assessed before the Act's effective date.

• Establishes a Reports Appeals Subcommittee process with a 30-day appeal window for cited parties, requiring the Subcommittee to hold hearings within 45 days and maintain records; permits Attorney General to file charges if reports remain unfiled 30 days after appeal determination or expiration.

• Increases Reports Appeals Subcommittee member stipends from $50 to $100 per meeting and annual cap from $250 to $500, and requires public disclosure of candidates who fail to file reports without reasonable cause or face administrative penalties.