§ 24.2-947.3:1 Certain contributions received from federal political action and out-of-state political committees; campaign committee responsibilities
Overview of Statute
This section instructs campaign committees on the acceptance of certain contributions from any one federal political action committee or out-of-state political committee.
Statute
Prior to accepting contributions of $10,000 or more in the aggregate in any calendar year from any one federal political action committee or out-of-state political committee, the candidate campaign committee shall (i) request the federal political action committee’s or out-of-state political committee’s State Board of Elections registration number from the committee and (ii) verify that number with the State Board.
- Cross-References:
- Campaign Finance
1. Definition for State Board
The State Board of Elections.
See § 24.2-101.
2. Definition for Contribution
Money and services of any amount, in-kind contributions, and any other thing of value, given, advanced, loaned, or in any other way provided to a candidate, campaign committee, political committee, or person for the purpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate or to an inaugural committee for the purpose of defraying the costs of the inauguration of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General. “Contribution” includes money, services, or things of value in any way provided by a candidate to his own campaign and the payment by the candidate of a filing fee for any party nomination method.
See § 24.2-945.1.
3. Definition for Campaign committee
The committee designated by a candidate to receive all contributions and make all expenditures for him or on his behalf in connection with his nomination or election.
See § 24.2-945.1.
4. Definition for Political committee
Any political action committee, political party committee, referendum committee, or inaugural committee. The term shall not include: (i) a federal political action committee or out-of-state political committee; (ii) a campaign committee; (iii) a political party committee exempted pursuant to § 24.2-950.1; or (iv) a person who receives no contributions from any source and whose only expenditures are made solely from his own funds and are either contributions made by him which are reportable by the recipient pursuant to this chapter or independent expenditures which are reportable by him to the extent required by § 24.2-945.2, or a combination of such reportable contributions and independent expenditures.
For the purpose of applying the filing and reporting requirements of this chapter, the term “political committee” shall not include an organization holding tax-exempt status under § 501(c) (3), 501(c) (4), or 501(c) (6) of the United States Internal Revenue Code which, in providing information to voters, does not advocate or endorse the election or defeat of a particular candidate, group of candidates, or the candidates of a particular political party.
See § 24.2-945.1.
5. Definition for Political action committee
Any organization, person, or group of persons, established or maintained to receive and expend contributions for the primary purpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate. The term shall not include a campaign committee, federal political action committee, out-of-state political committee, political party committee, referendum committee, or inaugural committee.
See § 24.2-945.1.
6. Definition for Candidate campaign committee
The committee designated by a candidate to receive all contributions and make all expenditures for him or on his behalf in connection with his nomination or election.
See § 24.2-955.1.
7. Definition for Out-of-state political committee
An entity covered by § 527 of the United States Internal Revenue Code that is not registered as a political committee or candidate campaign committee in Virginia and that does not have as its primary purpose expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate. The term shall not include a federal political action committee.
See § 24.2-945.1.
8. Definition for Federal political action committee
Any political action committee registered with the Federal Election Commission that makes contributions to candidates or political committees registered in Virginia.
See § 24.2-945.1.
9. Definition for Board
The State Board of Elections.
See § 24.2-101.
10. Definition for State
A state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
See § 24.2-452.
11. Definition for Election
A general, primary, or special election.
See § 24.2-101.
12. Definition for Candidate
A person who seeks or campaigns for an office of the Commonwealth or one of its governmental units in a general, primary, or special election and who is qualified to have his name placed on the ballot for the office. “Candidate” shall include a person who seeks the nomination of a political party or who, by reason of receiving the nomination of a political party for election to an office, is referred to as its nominee. For the purposes of Chapters 8 (§ 24.2-800 et seq.), 9.3 (§ 24.2-945 et seq.), and 9.5 (§ 24.2-955 et seq.), “candidate” shall include any write-in candidate. However, no write-in candidate who has received less than 15 percent of the votes cast for the office shall be eligible to initiate an election contest pursuant to Article 2 (§ 24.2-803 et seq.) of Chapter 8. For the purposes of Chapters 9.3 (§ 24.2-945 et seq.) and 9.5 (§ 24.2-955 et seq.), “candidate” shall include any person who raises or spends funds in order to seek or campaign for an office of the Commonwealth, excluding federal offices, or one of its governmental units in a party nomination process or general, primary, or special election; and such person shall be considered a candidate until a final report is filed pursuant to Article 3 (§ 24.2-947 et seq.) of Chapter 9.3.
See § 24.2-101.
Additional Resources
Useful Links
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Summary of Laws & Policies Candidate Campaign Committees https://perma.cc/BGX3-AZMG
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Summary of Laws & Policies Out of State Political Committees https://perma.cc/SU57-GGVP