This bill proposes the addition of a new section, 3-8-5h, to the Code of West Virginia, which aims to extend the deadlines for filing campaign finance reports for members of the Legislature during legislative sessions. The bill outlines several legislative findings that highlight the challenges faced by legislators, such as the requirement to be physically present at the Capitol during sessions, the distance many members travel from their homes, and the impracticality of returning home to prepare reports. It emphasizes that the current deadlines can create conflicts between compliance obligations and legislative responsibilities.

Under the new provisions, if a campaign finance reporting deadline falls during a regular, extraordinary, or special session of the Legislature, the due date for that report will be extended to seven days after the final adjournment of the session. Reports filed within this timeframe will not be considered late, and no penalties will be imposed based solely on the original due date. The bill specifies that these extensions apply only to members of the Legislature and allows the Secretary of State to provide guidance on the adjusted filing deadlines, ensuring that the extensions cannot be reduced or negated.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-8-5h