PRINTER'S NO. 821
No. 765 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, MOWERY AND O'PAKE, APRIL 1, 1997
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, APRIL 1, 1997
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," providing for public disclosure of contributions
12 to judicial campaigns.
13 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
14 hereby enacts as follows:
15 Section 1. The act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known
16 as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is amended by adding a
17 section to read:
18 Section 1843.1. Public Disclosure of Contributions to
19 Judicial Campaigns.--(a) Within one week prior to any judicial
20 election, the county election authority shall publish in a
21 newspaper of general circulation in the judicial district a list
22 of all contributors to each judicial candidate, as reported in
1 the filing of campaign contributions required under Article XVI,
2 including the name and address of the contributor and the amount
3 of the contribution as required by Article XVI. The list shall
4 include, but not be limited to, political committees and law
5 firms, including individual partners and individuals. An
6 identical contribution list shall be maintained at the office of
7 the election authority of the judicial district and made
8 available for public inspection. In the case of a State-wide
9 judicial retention election, the Department of State shall
10 publish the information in five (5) newspapers of general
11 circulation on a geographical basis and make the information
12 available at its primary office.
13 (b) No contribution shall be made, following the date of the
14 election, to a judge or judge elect by any member of the bar of
15 the Supreme Court who may reasonably expect to appear before
16 that judge following the date of election, except for the
17 purpose of redeeming a written pledge for a contribution to the
18 campaign of the judge made and disclosed prior to the election.
19 (c) No less than two (2) weeks prior to any judicial
20 election, there shall be mailed or delivered to the residence of
21 each registered voter in the judicial district a written
22 statement containing biographical information and a brief
23 statement by the candidate regarding his qualifications for the
24 office sought, as submitted by the candidate. The statement
25 shall be prepared and delivered at the expense of the county
26 election authority or, in the event of a State-wide judicial
27 retention election, at the expense of the Department of State.
28 The Department of State shall promulgate reasonable rules and
29 regulations regarding the length and format of submissions by
30 candidates.
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1 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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