Chapter 220 |
2019 -- H 6241 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 07/15/2019 |
A N A C T |
RELATING TO ELECTIONS - DECLARATIONS OF CANDIDACY |
Introduced By: Representative Arthur J. Corvese |
Date Introduced: June 21, 2019 |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
SECTION 1. Section 17-25-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-25 entitled "Rhode |
Island Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting" is hereby amended to read as |
follows: |
17-25-8. Appointment of campaign treasurer by candidate -- Filings. |
(a) Each candidate in an election shall file a "notice of organization" with the board of |
elections and appoint one campaign treasurer before receiving any contribution or expending any |
money in furtherance or aid of the candidate's candidacy. The "notice of organization" shall |
include the name and address of the candidate, the campaign treasurer, and the committee being |
established. The candidate shall declare the office being sought and shall comply with the |
financial statement requirement of § 36-14-16(c). |
(b) A candidate may appoint deputy campaign treasurers as required. The candidate shall |
file the names and addresses of deputy campaign treasurers with the board of elections. |
(c) A candidate may remove a campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer. In the |
case of the death, resignation, or removal of a campaign treasurer, the candidate shall appoint a |
successor as soon as practicable and shall file his or her name and address with the board of |
elections within ten (10) days. A candidate may serve as his or her own campaign treasurer, and |
upon failure to designate a treasurer, the candidate shall be designated his or her own treasurer by |
the board of elections. |
SECTION 2. Section 36-14-16 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-14 entitled "Code of |
Ethics" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
36-14-16. Financial statement to be filed. |
(a) On or before the last Friday in April of each year, the following officials and |
employees subject to this code of ethics shall file with the commission a financial statement |
complying with the requirements of this chapter.: |
(1) All state elected officials; |
(2) All state-appointed officials; |
(3) All state-appointed officials and employees who hold a major decision-making |
position in a state agency; |
(4) All municipal elected officials; and |
(5) All municipal-appointed officials whose official duties and responsibilities include |
exercising decision-making authority over the expenditure of more than fifty thousand dollars |
($50,000) in public funds in any fiscal or calendar year, and expressly including solicitors and |
assistant solicitors, police chiefs, fire chiefs, superintendents of schools, principals, |
superintendents and administrators of charter schools, board members of charter schools, |
principals, superintendents and administrators of state schools, board members of state schools, |
building inspectors, members of planning boards, zoning boards, licensing boards and tax appeal |
boards. This subsection shall also include all municipal-appointed officials whose official duties |
and responsibilities include nominating, appointing, or hiring any persons that who will receive |
compensation of more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) in public funds in any fiscal or |
calendar year. |
(b) In the case of state- and municipal-appointed officials on and after January 1, 1988, |
the appointee shall file the financial statement within thirty (30) days after the date of his or her |
appointment or the date he or she qualifies for the office; provided, however, that in the case of |
the appointment of officials that who require senate confirmation, the appointee shall file the |
financial statement with the appropriate senate committee prior to the institution of those |
confirmation proceedings. |
(c) Within thirty (30) days after the filing deadline, or within thirty (30) days after filing a |
notice of organization or compliance with § 17-25-8, every person who is a candidate for an |
office as an elected officer, except those candidates for moderator and clerk of a voting district of |
the cities and towns, shall file the financial statement as required by this chapter. Filings of |
candidates for general office shall include information as required in subdivision § 36-14- |
17(b)(2). The commission shall grant an extension for good cause shown of not more than fifteen |
(15) days, provided a request for the extension is received prior to the filing deadline for the |
financial statement. |
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, at least thirty (30) days before the |
deadline date for the filing of a financial statement by each individual required to file, the |
commission shall mail to the individual a copy of the financial statement form. In the case of |
candidates other than those covered by subsection (f) of this section, the forms shall be mailed |
within ten (10) days after the filing deadline date. In the case of appointed officers covered by this |
section, the forms shall be mailed within seven (7) days after the date of the appointment. |
(e) If a person has filed a financial statement as required by one subsection of this section |
covering the preceding calendar year, he or she is not required to file a financial statement as |
required by another subsection if, before the deadline for filing under the other subsection, he or |
she notifies the commission in writing that he or she has already filed a financial statement under |
the subsection specified. |
(f) A person required to file a financial statement under subsection (a) of this section may |
request the commission to grant an extension of time of not more than sixty (60) days for filing |
the statement. The commission shall grant the extension of not more than sixty (60) days if the |
request is received prior to the filing deadline or if a timely filing or request for extension is |
prevented because of physical or mental incapacity. Not more than one extension may be given to |
a person in one year except for good cause shown. |
(g) The deadline for filing any statement required by this section is 5:00 P.M. of the last |
day designated in the pertinent subsection of this section for filing the statement. When the last |
day of filing falls on a Saturday or Sunday or an official state holiday, the deadline for filing is |
extended to 5:00 P.M. of the next day which is not a Saturday or Sunday or holiday. Any |
statement required by any provision of this section to be filed within a specified time period shall |
be deemed to be timely filed if it is placed in the United States post office or in the hands of a |
common or contract carrier properly addressed to the appropriate authority within the time limits |
applicable to the statement. The postmark or receipt mark (if received by a common or contract |
carrier) will be prima facie evidence of the date that the statement was deposited with the post |
office or carrier. The person filing the statement may show by competent evidence that the actual |
date of posting was to the contrary. |
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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LC002890/SUB A |
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