HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 153

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 15 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPEDITURES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 8020, Title 15 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike though and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 8020. Authorized campaign expenditures.

No political committee may make any expenditure except for the following purposes:

(1) Wages of full-time or part-time campaign staff (but no salary or wage for a candidate or a candidate’s spouse).

(2) Travel expenses of the candidate and campaign staff.

(3) Payment of fees or charges for placing the name of the candidate on the ballot, and for collecting the returns of the election.

(4) Costs of telephone and other communications services.

(5) Costs of postage and other delivery services.

(6) Printing and stationery.

(7) Food, refreshments and related supplies.

(8) Purchase and preparation of lists of voters.

(9) Taking polls and making canvasses of voters.

(10) Payment for election watchers.

(11) Rental of office and rental and purchase of equipment.

(12) Advertising and publicity.

(13) In the case of a candidate committee, purchase of tickets to permit the candidate’s attendance at civic or political events; and in the case of a political action committee, contributions within authorized limits, to any other political committee.

(14) Holding, promoting and furnishing meetings, demonstrations, conventions, and paying musicians and others rendering services in connection with those activities.

(15) Employing attorneys, accountants and other professional advisors.

(16) In the case of a candidate committee, contributions, within the limits set forth in § 8010(a) of this title, to another candidate committee, or as otherwise provided in § 8022 of this title.

(17) In the case of a political party or a political action committee, contributions, within authorized limits, to a candidate committee.

(18) In the case of any political action committee, in addition to any other expenditure authorized by this chapter, contributions to a political party within the limits set forth in § 8011 of this title.

(19) Returning any donor’s contribution up to the amount donated.

(20) Reasonable and necessary expenses for the care of the candidate’s child or children incurred in connection with the candidate’s campaign activities.

(21) Donation to any religious, charitable, educational, or scientific organization exempt from Delaware income tax under § 1902(b)(2) of Title 30 or to any volunteer fire company.

SYNOPSIS

This bill permits political committees to make donations to any religious, charitable, educations or scientific organization exempt from Delaware income tax under Delaware tax laws or to any volunteer fire company.