The proposed bill introduces new regulations on campaign contributions and expenses related to corporation commission candidates in Arizona. It prohibits public service corporations, their affiliates, and principals from contributing directly or indirectly to corporation commission candidates or their committees. Additionally, it forbids corporation commission candidates from accepting or soliciting contributions from these entities. The bill defines terms such as "affiliate," "control," "principal," and "public service corporation" to clarify the entities and individuals subject to these restrictions.

The bill also addresses expenditures by public service corporations and related entities, stipulating that certain types of expenditures are not considered independent if they are coordinated with a corporation commission candidate. These coordinated expenditures are treated as in-kind contributions. The bill outlines what constitutes coordination, including payments for communications that republish campaign material, expenditures made in cooperation with a candidate, and expenditures based on nonpublic campaign information. It also sets conditions under which expenditures are not considered coordinated, such as those for candidate debates or forums, and establishes requirements for maintaining a firewall to prevent coordination. Definitions for "corporation commission candidate" and "covered expenditure" are provided to ensure clarity in the application of these rules.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-916.01, 16-923