PRINTER'S NO. 1414
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
1020
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY WILLIAMS AND RESCHENTHALER, JANUARY 19, 2018
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 19, 2018
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
"An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
and defining membership of county boards of elections;
imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
elections," providing for disclosure of Federal income tax
returns by certain candidates.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known
as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is amended by adding an
article to read:
ARTICLE XIV-A
CANDIDATE DISCLOSURE OF FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURNS
Section 1401-A. Mandatory disclosure.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this act to the
contrary, the name of a candidate for the General Assembly,
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Auditor
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General, Treasurer, Judge of the Commonwealth or Superior Courts
or Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania may not be
printed on an official ballot in this Commonwealth for a general
election unless the candidate submits the following to the
Secretary of the Commonwealth no later than 90 days before the
general election:
(1) A complete copy of the candidate's Federal income
tax return, as defined under section 6103(b)(1) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Public Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. ยง
6103(b)(1)), for at least the five most recent taxable years.
(2) A written consent, in the form prescribed by the
Secretary of the Commonwealth, for the public disclosure of
the Federal income tax returns under paragraph (1).
Section 1402-A. Posting.
Subject to section 1403-A, if the written consent under
section 1401-A(2) has been submitted, the Secretary of the
Commonwealth shall post the Federal income tax returns under
section 1401-A(1) on the publicly accessible Internet website of
the Department of State no later than seven days after the
Federal income tax returns have been submitted to the Secretary
of the Commonwealth.
Section 1403-A. Redaction.
Prior to the disclosure of a Federal income tax return under
section 1401-A and following any necessary consultation with
other governmental authorities, the Secretary of the
Commonwealth shall redact information from the Federal income
tax returns as appropriate.
Section 1404-A. Certification of election results.
Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the Secretary
of the Commonwealth shall not certify the election of a
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candidate who has failed to comply with the requirements under
this article.
Section 1405-A. Rules and regulations.
The Department of State shall promulgate rules and
regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this
article.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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