This bill amends West Virginia's election regulations, specifically section 3-8-7 of the Code of West Virginia, to increase civil penalties for political committees that fail to file required campaign finance reports or submit grossly incomplete or inaccurate reports. The penalties are raised from $10 per day to a maximum of $500 for the first violation and $1,000 for each subsequent violation. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Secretary of State provide notice to political committees before imposing fines and grants the Secretary the authority to extend compliance deadlines by up to 14 days. It also allows for the negotiation of settlement agreements for civil penalties, including installment payment plans.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that any civil penalties that remain unpaid for over 30 days will be referred to a debt collection agency. The Secretary of State is required to publish a list of late filers online and is given the power to review and audit sworn statements. The bill aims to enhance compliance with campaign finance reporting requirements and ensure timely filing, thereby promoting transparency in the electoral process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-8-7