PRINTER'S NO. 242
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
279
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, SIEGEL, MADDEN, HANBIDGE, KHAN,
D. WILLIAMS AND CERRATO, MARCH 10, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 10, 2023
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," in primary and election expenses, further
providing for definitions and providing for limitations on
campaign contributions.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1621 of the act of June 3, 1937
(P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is
amended by adding a subsection to read:
Section 1621. Definitions.--As used in this article, the
following words have the following meanings:
* * *
(n) The words "in-kind contribution" shall mean a
contribution of goods, services, property or a valuable thing
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offered for free or at less than the fair market value of the
goods, services, property or valuable thing. The words "in-kind
contribution" do not include legal or accounting services
rendered to or on behalf of a political committee of a political
party, an authorized committee of a candidate or another
political committee, if the legal or accounting services are
solely for the purpose of ensuring compliance with this article.
The legal or accounting services shall be reported under section
1626.
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 1627.1. Limitations on Campaign Contributions.--
Aggregate contribution limits, including in-kind contributions,
for a candidate may not exceed the levels established under 52
U.S.C. Ch. 301 (relating to Federal election campaigns) and
regulations promulgated by the Federal Election Commission in
accordance with 11 CFR 110 (relating to contribution and
expenditure limitations and prohibitions).
Section 3. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall certify
the calculation of the levels determined under section 1627.1 of
the act and shall transmit notice of the levels, including any
changes to the levels, to the Legislative Reference Bureau for
publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Section 4. This act shall take effect January 1, 2024, or
immediately, whichever is later.
20230HB0279PN0242 - 2 -
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