101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB4326

 

Introduced 1/29/2020, by Rep. Grant Wehrli

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
10 ILCS 5/9-8.10

    Amends the Election Code. Prohibits a political committee from making expenditures for payments to attorneys, expert witnesses, investigators, or others to provide a defense in a criminal case.


LRB101 17723 SMS 67151 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4326LRB101 17723 SMS 67151 b

1    AN ACT concerning elections.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing Section
59-8.10 as follows:
 
6    (10 ILCS 5/9-8.10)
7    Sec. 9-8.10. Use of political committee and other reporting
8organization funds.
9    (a) A political committee shall not make expenditures:
10        (1) In violation of any law of the United States or of
11    this State.
12        (2) Clearly in excess of the fair market value of the
13    services, materials, facilities, or other things of value
14    received in exchange.
15        (3) For satisfaction or repayment of any debts other
16    than loans made to the committee or to the public official
17    or candidate on behalf of the committee or repayment of
18    goods and services purchased by the committee under a
19    credit agreement. Nothing in this Section authorizes the
20    use of campaign funds to repay personal loans. The
21    repayments shall be made by check written to the person who
22    made the loan or credit agreement. The terms and conditions
23    of any loan or credit agreement to a committee shall be set

 

 

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1    forth in a written agreement, including but not limited to
2    the method and amount of repayment, that shall be executed
3    by the chair or treasurer of the committee at the time of
4    the loan or credit agreement. The loan or agreement shall
5    also set forth the rate of interest for the loan, if any,
6    which may not substantially exceed the prevailing market
7    interest rate at the time the agreement is executed.
8        (4) For the satisfaction or repayment of any debts or
9    for the payment of any expenses relating to a personal
10    residence. Campaign funds may not be used as collateral for
11    home mortgages.
12        (5) For clothing or personal laundry expenses, except
13    clothing items rented by the public official or candidate
14    for his or her own use exclusively for a specific
15    campaign-related event, provided that committees may
16    purchase costumes, novelty items, or other accessories
17    worn primarily to advertise the candidacy.
18        (6) For the travel expenses of any person unless the
19    travel is necessary for fulfillment of political,
20    governmental, or public policy duties, activities, or
21    purposes.
22        (7) For membership or club dues charged by
23    organizations, clubs, or facilities that are primarily
24    engaged in providing health, exercise, or recreational
25    services; provided, however, that funds received under
26    this Article may be used to rent the clubs or facilities

 

 

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1    for a specific campaign-related event.
2        (8) In payment for anything of value or for
3    reimbursement of any expenditure for which any person has
4    been reimbursed by the State or any person. For purposes of
5    this item (8), a per diem allowance is not a reimbursement.
6        (9) For the purchase of or installment payment for a
7    motor vehicle unless the political committee can
8    demonstrate that purchase of a motor vehicle is more
9    cost-effective than leasing a motor vehicle as permitted
10    under this item (9). A political committee may lease or
11    purchase and insure, maintain, and repair a motor vehicle
12    if the vehicle will be used primarily for campaign purposes
13    or for the performance of governmental duties. A committee
14    shall not make expenditures for use of the vehicle for
15    non-campaign or non-governmental purposes. Persons using
16    vehicles not purchased or leased by a political committee
17    may be reimbursed for actual mileage for the use of the
18    vehicle for campaign purposes or for the performance of
19    governmental duties. The mileage reimbursements shall be
20    made at a rate not to exceed the standard mileage rate
21    method for computation of business expenses under the
22    Internal Revenue Code.
23        (10) Directly for an individual's tuition or other
24    educational expenses, except for governmental or political
25    purposes directly related to a candidate's or public
26    official's duties and responsibilities.

 

 

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1        (11) For payments to a public official or candidate or
2    his or her family member unless for compensation for
3    services actually rendered by that person. The provisions
4    of this item (11) do not apply to expenditures by a
5    political committee in an aggregate amount not exceeding
6    the amount of funds reported to and certified by the State
7    Board or county clerk as available as of June 30, 1998, in
8    the semi-annual report of contributions and expenditures
9    filed by the political committee for the period concluding
10    June 30, 1998.
11        (12) For payments to attorneys, expert witnesses,
12    investigators, or others to provide a defense in a criminal
13    case.
14    (b) The Board shall have the authority to investigate, upon
15receipt of a verified complaint, violations of the provisions
16of this Section. The Board may levy a fine on any person who
17knowingly makes expenditures in violation of this Section and
18on any person who knowingly makes a malicious and false
19accusation of a violation of this Section. The Board may act
20under this subsection only upon the affirmative vote of at
21least 5 of its members. The fine shall not exceed $500 for each
22expenditure of $500 or less and shall not exceed the amount of
23the expenditure plus $500 for each expenditure greater than
24$500. The Board shall also have the authority to render rulings
25and issue opinions relating to compliance with this Section.
26    (c) Nothing in this Section prohibits the expenditure of

 

 

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1funds of a political committee controlled by an officeholder or
2by a candidate to defray the customary and reasonable expenses
3of an officeholder in connection with the performance of
4governmental and public service functions.
5    (d) Nothing in this Section prohibits the funds of a
6political committee which is controlled by a person convicted
7of a violation of any of the offenses listed in subsection (a)
8of Section 10 of the Public Corruption Profit Forfeiture Act
9from being forfeited to the State under Section 15 of the
10Public Corruption Profit Forfeiture Act.
11(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)