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H0416......................................................by STATE AFFAIRS CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS - Repeals and adds to existing law to enumerate permitted and nonpermitted uses of a contribution accepted by a candidate for public office. 01/19 House intro - 1st rdg - to printing 01/20 Rpt prt - to St Aff
]]]] LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ]]]] Fifty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2006IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE BILL NO. 416 BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE 1 AN ACT 2 RELATING TO MONEYS CONTRIBUTED TO A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN; REPEALING SECTION 3 67-6610C, IDAHO CODE, RELATING TO USE OF CONTRIBUTIONS FOR CERTAIN PUR- 4 POSES BY A CANDIDATE OR OFFICEHOLDER; AMENDING CHAPTER 66, TITLE 67, IDAHO 5 CODE, BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION 67-6610C, IDAHO CODE, TO ENUMERATE 6 PERMITTED AND NONPERMITTED USES OF A CONTRIBUTION ACCEPTED BY A CANDIDATE; 7 AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. 8 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho: 9 SECTION 1. That Section 67-6610C, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 10 repealed. 11 SECTION 2. That Chapter 66, Title 67, Idaho Code, be, and the same is 12 hereby amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and des- 13 ignated as Section 67-6610C, Idaho Code, and to read as follows: 14 67-6610C. USE OF CONTRIBUTED AMOUNTS FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES. (1) Permitted 15 uses. A contribution accepted by a candidate may be used by the candidate: 16 (a) For expenditures in connection with the campaign for public office of 17 the candidate; 18 (b) For ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in connection with 19 duties of the individual as a holder of public office; 20 (c) For contributions to an organization described in section 170(c) of 21 the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or 22 (d) For transfers, without limitation, to a national, state or local com- 23 mittee of a political party. 24 (2) Prohibited use. 25 (a) In general. A contribution shall not be converted by any person to 26 personal use. 27 (b) Conversion. For the purposes of subsection (2)(a) of this section, a 28 contribution shall be considered to be converted to personal use if the 29 contribution is used to fulfill any commitment, obligation or expense of a 30 person that would exist irrespective of the candidate's election campaign 31 or individual's duties as a holder of public office, including: 32 (i) A home mortgage, rent or utility payment; 33 (ii) A clothing purchase; 34 (iii) A noncampaign-related automobile expense; 35 (iv) A country club membership; 36 (v) A vacation or other noncampaign-related trip; 37 (vi) A household food item; 38 (vii) A tuition payment; 39 (viii) Admission to a sporting event, concert, theater or other form 40 of entertainment not associated with an election campaign; 41 (ix) Dues, fees and other payments to a health club or recreational 42 facility; and 2 1 (x) Meals, groceries or other food expense, except for tickets to 2 meals that the candidate attends solely for the purpose of enhancing 3 the candidacy of another person or meal expenses which are incurred 4 as part of a campaign activity or as part of a function that is 5 related to the candidate's or officeholder's responsibilities. 6 SECTION 3. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby 7 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after its 8 passage and approval.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE RS 15521 The purpose of this legislation is to amend the Sunshine Law to clarify what is a proper use of campaign contributions. Candidates and officeholders should have wide discretion in the use of campaign funds, however, some parameters must exist in regard to what constitutes an impermissible "personal use". This bill tracks the language of the Federal law and lists specific prohibitions pertaining to the use of campaign funds. FISCAL NOTE None Contact Name: Ben Ysursa Name: Tim Hurst Agency: Secretary of State, Office of Phone: 208-334-2300 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE H 416