PRINTER'S NO. 433
No. 404 Session of 1993
INTRODUCED BY GODSHALL, DEMPSEY, ARGALL, SCHEETZ, CLARK, BUNT,
SAURMAN, FLICK, LEE, ARMSTRONG, FAIRCHILD, HANNA, CORNELL,
CAWLEY AND MASLAND, FEBRUARY 10, 1993
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 10, 1993
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
2 "An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
3 special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
4 primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
5 and defining membership of county boards of elections;
6 imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
7 courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
8 imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
9 revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
10 repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
11 elections," restricting campaign fundraising for certain
12 candidates.
13 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
14 hereby enacts as follows:
15 Section 1. Section 1621 of the act of June 3, 1937
16 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is
17 amended by adding subsections to read:
18 Section 1621. Definitions.--As used in this article, the
19 following words have the following meanings:
20 * * *
21 (n) The words "election cycle" shall mean, in the case of a
22 candidate for office of Senator, from January 1 through December
1 31 of the year in which the senatorial primary and general
2 elections occur; in the case of a candidate for office of
3 Representative, from January 1 through December 31 of each even-
4 numbered year; and in the case of a special election, from the
5 date a vacancy is declared to the end of the year in which the
6 special election occurs.
7 (o) The words "local individual resident" shall mean an
8 individual who resides in a candidate's senatorial or
9 legislative district.
10 Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
11 Section 1633.1. Limitations on Contributions.--(a) During
12 an election cycle, a candidate for the office of Senator or
13 Representative in the General Assembly may not accept
14 contributions from persons, other than local individual
15 residents and political party organizations, the total of which
16 exceeds the total of contributions accepted from local
17 individual residents and political party organizations.
18 (b) (1) A candidate who accepts a contribution that exceeds
19 the limitations under subsection (a) by five (5) per cent or
20 less shall refund any excess contribution to the person who made
21 the contribution.
22 (2) A candidate who accepts a contribution that exceeds the
23 limitation under subsection (a) by more than five (5) per cent,
24 but less than ten (10) per cent, shall pay to the Secretary of
25 the Commonwealth, for deposit in the General Fund, an amount
26 equal to three (3) times the amount of any excess contribution.
27 (3) A candidate who accepts a contribution that exceeds the
28 limitation under subsection (a) by ten (10) per cent or more
29 shall pay to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, for deposit in
30 the General Fund, an amount equal to three (3) times the amount
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1 of any excess contribution plus a civil penalty in an amount not
2 to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), as determined by the
3 Secretary of the Commonwealth.
4 Section 3. This act shall take effect January 1, 1994, or
5 immediately, whichever is later.
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