Councilmember Kathy Patterson
A BILL IN
THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Councilmember Kathy Patterson introduced the following legislation, which was referred
to the Committee on Government Operations.
To amend the District of Columbia Campaign Finance Reform and Conflict of Interest Act
of 1974 to increase from $50 to $150 the maximum civil penalty that the Board of Elections
and Ethics can impose for each campaign finance violation, and to increase from $500 to
$2,500 the fine that the Director of Campaign Finance can impose on his or her own
authority; to amend the District of Columbia Campaign Contribution Limitation Initiative
of 1992 to ban campaign contributions to candidates for nomination or election to public
office by corporations, partnerships, or labor organizations; and to amend the Initiative,
Referendum, and Recall Procedures Act of 1979 to make a conforming amendment.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as
the "Campaign Finance Enforcement and Contribution Limitation Amendment Act of
1999".
Sec. 2. Section 306 of the District of Columbia Campaign Finance Reform and Conflict of
Interest Act of 1974 (88 Stat. 458; D.C. Code §1-1435), effective August 14, 1974, is
amended as follows:
(a) Paragraph (b)( l ) is amended by striking the phrase "$50" and inserting
the phrase "$150" in its place.
(b) Paragraph (b)(3) is amended by replacing the phrase "$500" and inserting
the phrase "$2,500" in its place.
Sec. 3. Section 3 of the District of Columbia Campaign Contribution Limitation
Initiative of 1992 (D.C. Law 9-204; D.C. Code §1-1441.1 et seq.), effective March 17,
1993, is amended by adding new subsections (j) and (k) to read as follows:
"(j) It shall be unlawful for a corporation, partnership, or labor organization to
make any contribution relating to a campaign for nomination as a candidate or election to
public office, including both the primary and general elections and special
elections.".
"(k) For the purposes of subsections (a). (b] and (c), ‘person’ is defined to m-an
an individual or committee.".
Sec. 4. Section 4 of the Initiative, Referendum.., and Recall Procedures Act of 1979,
effective June 7, 1979 (D.C. Law 3-1; D.C. Code §1-1441.2), is repealed.
Sec. S. Fiscal impact statement.
This act shall have a positive fiscal impact. Section 2 increases the civil penalties
for campaign finance violations, and the fines collected are deposited in the D.C.
Treasury. Sections 3 and 4 shall not have a fiscal impact, because these sections only
affect private contributions to election campaigns.
Sec. 6. This act shall take effect after a 30-day period of Congressional review
following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the
Council of the District of Columbia to override the veto), approval by the Financial
Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority as provided in section 203(a) of the
District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995,
approved April 17, 1995 (109 Stat. 116; D.C. Code §47-392.3(a)), a 30-day period of
Congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home
Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code §1-233(c)(1)), and
publication in the District of Columbia Register.