SB 197 Summary

• Increases the maximum administrative fine for noncandidate committees making only independent expenditures from $1,000 to $5,000 per occurrence if the committee received at least one contribution exceeding $10,000 or made aggregate expenditures exceeding $10,000 in an election period.

• Allows the Campaign Spending Commission to assess fines up to three times the amount of unlawful contributions or expenditures for both individual violators and qualifying noncandidate committees.

• Permits the Commission to order noncandidate committees to pay assessed fines from committee funds, and if the committee cannot pay, from the personal funds of the candidate or officers of the noncandidate committee.

• Removes the reference to section 281-22 from the Commission's authority to make decisions or issue orders affecting persons violating campaign finance law provisions.

• Takes effect upon approval with no retroactive application to rights, duties, or proceedings that existed before the effective date.