This bill amends West Virginia's election laws, specifically section 3-8-7, to require that political committees receive written notice of any filing violations before civil penalties are imposed. The Secretary of State is mandated to notify any person, candidate, financial agent, or treasurer of a political committee who fails to file a required sworn statement or submits a grossly incomplete or inaccurate statement within 14 days of the deadline. If the required report is filed within seven days of receiving this notice, no penalty will be assessed. Additionally, the Secretary of State has the discretion to grant an extra compliance period of up to 14 days for good cause shown.

The bill also includes provisions for the Secretary of State to publish a list of individuals who file statements late and allows for the negotiation of settlement agreements regarding civil penalties. It clarifies that candidates who fail to file the necessary statements by the specified deadline will be disqualified from appearing on the general election ballot. The bill aims to enhance transparency and fairness in the election process by ensuring that political committees are informed of their filing obligations before facing penalties.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-8-7