DELAWARE STATE SENATE

149th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 30

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 15 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE, REPORTING, AND DISCLOSURE.

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

Section 1. Amend § 8030, Title 15 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 8030. Reports of political committees.

(a) Each candidate (except a candidate who is excused from filing a report under § 8004 of this title) and every treasurer (except of a candidate excused from filing a report under § 8004 of this title) shall be responsible for filing with the Commissioner reports of contributions and expenditures on forms prescribed by the Commissioner for every reporting period during which a political committee is in existence. A candidate shall be jointly responsible with the treasurer for the filing of the report of a candidate committee. When the candidate or treasurer of a political committee shows that best efforts have been used to obtain, maintain, and submit the information required by this chapter for the political committee, any report or any records of such committee shall be considered in compliance with this section.

(d) Each report under this section shall disclose all of the following information, for the entire reporting period:

(2) Full name and name, mailing address , occupation, and name of employer of each person who has made contributions to such political committee (including the purchase of tickets for events such as dinners, luncheons, rallies, and similar fund-raising events, whether or not the tickets were used by the person who paid for them) during the election period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $100, the total of all contributions from such person during the election period, and the amount and date of all contributions from such person during the reporting period. If the person who made the contribution is not an individual, and the total amount of contributions by such person during the election period exceeds $1,200, then the report shall also include the name and address of 1 responsible party for such person;

Section 2. Amend § 8031, Title 15 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 8031. Special reports — Third-party advertisements.

(a) Any person other than a candidate committee or political party who makes an expenditure for any third-party advertisement that causes the aggregate amount of expenditures for third-party advertisements made by such person to exceed $500 during an election period shall file a third-party advertisement report with the Commissioner. The report shall be filed under penalty of perjury and shall include the following:

(3) The full name and name, mailing address , occupation, and name of employer of each person who has made contributions to such person during the election period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $100; the total of all contributions from such person during the election period, and the amount and date of all contributions from such person during the reporting period;

Section 3. This Act takes effect on December 31, 2017.

SYNOPSIS

This Act requires political committees to report a contributor’s occupation and employment information. This is already a requirement in federal campaign finance law. If only a contributor’s name and address are disclosed (without occupation and employer), it is difficult to determine which industry, company, or group is funding a candidate. This will assist in furthering transparency and disclosure in the electoral process. It also addresses the obligation of the reporting candidate and treasurer.

Author: Senator Townsend