The bill amends West Virginia's election laws, specifically section 3-8-7, to enhance the process for addressing violations of filing requirements by political committees. It introduces a requirement for the Secretary of State to provide written notice to any individual or committee that fails to file a required sworn statement or submits a grossly incomplete or inaccurate statement. This notice must be sent within 14 days after the filing deadline and must specify the omissions. If the required report is submitted within seven days of receiving the notice, no civil penalty will be assessed. Additionally, the Secretary of State is granted the authority to extend the compliance period by an additional 14 days for good cause.

The bill also includes provisions for the assessment of civil penalties, which are set at $10 per day for each day a statement remains delinquent or incomplete. It mandates that the Secretary of State publish a list of individuals who file statements late, maintain this list for at least five years, and allows for the negotiation of settlement agreements regarding civil penalties. Furthermore, the Secretary of State and county clerks are empowered to review and audit sworn statements, and the State Election Commission is tasked with proposing rules for the assessment of these penalties.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-8-7
Engrossed Version: 3-8-7