This bill establishes provisions related to foreign financial influence in ballot propositions and elections.
This bill:
- defines terms;
- prohibits a foreign national from making or attempting to make a contribution or an independent expenditure for a political purpose;
- prohibits a candidate, officeholder, or entity subject to campaign finance reporting requirements from knowingly soliciting, accepting, or receiving a contribution from a foreign national;
- requires a candidate, officeholder, or entity that receives contributions to annually certify to the lieutenant governor that the candidate, officeholder, or entity did not knowingly accept a contribution from a foreign national;
- requires each corporation or labor organization subject to campaign finance reporting requirements to certify that the corporation or labor organization is not a foreign national;
- requires a candidate, officeholder, or entity that receives a contribution from a foreign national to:
immediately notify the lieutenant governor; return the contribution to the foreign national; andif the foreign national refuses to accept the return of the contribution, disperse the value of the contribution into the state's General Fund
- prohibits any person from aiding or facilitating a violation of the prohibitions described above;
- establishes a criminal penalty for a person who violates the provisions described above;
- requires the lieutenant governor to impose a civil penalty against a foreign national that makes a contribution or independent expenditure; and
- makes technical and conforming changes.Statutes affected:
Substitute #1: 20A-11-203, 20A-11-302, 20A-11-401, 20A-11-506, 20A-11-510, 20A-11-602, 20A-11-702, 20A-11-802, 20A-11-1302, 20A-11-1502