sb243_As_introduced_LC_29_2763

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07 LC 29 2763

Senate Bill 243

By: Senator Unterman of the 45th

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and ethics, so as to substantially revise Chapter 5, the "Ethics in Government Act"; to change numerous provisions relating to the State Ethics Commission, campaign contributions and campaign finance disclosure, public official and candidate personal financial disclosures, and lobbyist regulation and disclosure; to define and redefine terms; to change provisions relating to the composition and operations of the commission; to provide for annual ethics training by the commission and require completion of training by certain elected officials and public officers; to change provisions relating to permissible and impermissible campaign contributions and expenditure and the reporting thereof; to provide for centralized electronic filing of reports; to provide for enforcement matters, including provisions relating to venue and additional fees for late filings; to make conforming amendments to other provisions of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated; to provide for other matters related to the foregoing; to provide an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and ethics, is amended by revising Chapter 5, the "Ethics in Government Act," as follows:

"CHAPTER 5
ARTICLE 1

21-5-1.

This chapter shall be known as and may be cited as the 'Ethics in Government Act.'

21-5-2.

It is declared to be the policy of this state, in furtherance of its responsibility to protect the integrity of the democratic process and to ensure fair elections for constitutional offices; state offices; district attorneys; members of the Georgia House of Representatives and Georgia Senate; all constitutional judicial officers; and all county and municipal elected officials, to institute and establish a requirement of public disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures relative to the seeking of such offices, to the recall of public officers holding elective office, and to the influencing of voter approval or rejection of a proposed constitutional amendment, a state-wide referendum, or a proposed question which is to appear on the ballot in any county or municipal election. Further, it is the policy of this state that the state´s public affairs will be best served by disclosures of significant private interests of public officers and officials which may influence the discharge of their public duties and responsibilities. The General Assembly further finds that it is for the public to determine whether significant private interests of public officers have influenced the state´s public officers to the detriment of their public duties and responsibilities and, in order to make that determination and hold the public officers accountable, the public must have reasonable access to the disclosure of the significant private interests of the public officers of this state.

21-5-3.

As used in this chapter, the term:

(1) 'Affiliated committees' means any two or more political committees (including a separate segregated fund) established, financed, maintained, or controlled by the same business entity, labor organization, person, or group of persons, including any parent, subsidiary, branch, division, department, or local unit thereof.

(2) 'Affiliated corporation' means with respect to any business entity any other business entity related thereto: as a parent business entity; as a subsidiary business entity; as a sister business entity; by common ownership or control; or by control of one business entity by the other.

(3) 'Agency' means:

(A) Every state department, agency, board, bureau, commission, and authority;

(B) Every county, municipal corporation, school district, or other political subdivision of this state;

(C) Every department, agency, board, bureau, commission, authority, or similar body of each such county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of this state; and

(D) Every city, county, regional, or other authority established pursuant to the laws of this state.

(1)(4) 'Business entity' means any corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, professional corporation, enterprise, franchise, association, trust, joint venture, or other entity, whether profit or nonprofit.

(2) 'Campaign committee' means the candidate, person, or committee which accepts contributions or makes expenditures designed to bring about the nomination or election of an individual to any elected office. The term 'campaign committee' also means any person or committee which accepts contributions or makes expenditures designed to bring about the recall of a public officer holding elective office or to oppose the recall of a public officer holding elective office or any person or any committee which accepts contributions or makes expenditures designed to bring about the approval or rejection by the voters of any proposed constitutional amendment, a state-wide referendum, or a proposed question which is to appear on the ballot in this state or in a county or a municipal election in this state.

(5) 'Campaign committee' incorporates the following definitions:

(A) 'Ballot measure committee' means any person or any committee which accepts contributions or makes expenditures designed to bring about the approval or rejection by the voters of any proposed constitutional amendment, a state-wide referendum, or a proposed question which is to appear on the ballot in this state or in a county or a municipal election in this state.

(B) 'Candidate campaign committee' means the candidate, person, or candidate's campaign committee which accepts contributions or makes expenditures designed to bring about the nomination or election of said candidate to any elected office.

(C) 'Independent committee' means any committee, club, association, partnership, corporation, labor union, or other group of persons, other than a political party or political action committee, which receives donations during a calendar year from persons who are members or supporters of the committee and which expends such funds without the knowledge, consent, direction, or control of any candidate or any other campaign committee either for the purpose of affecting the outcome of an election for any elected office or to advocate the election or defeat of any particular candidate.

(D) 'Noncandidate campaign committee' means any individual, business, partnership, committee, association, corporation, labor organization, political action committee, political party, or any other organization, group, or person, whether located inside or outside the State of Georgia, who accepts contributions for, makes contributions to, or makes expenditures:

(i) On behalf of candidates seeking to be elected to municipal, county, or state office in Georgia;

(ii) Seeking or opposing the recall of a public officer holding such elective office in Georgia;

(iii) Designed to bring about voter approval or rejection of a proposed constitutional amendment, a state-wide referendum, or a proposed ballot question in any county or municipal election; or

(iv) For any combination of the foregoing items.

(E)(i) 'Political action committee' means any committee, club, association, partnership, corporation, labor union, or other group of persons which receives donations aggregating in excess of $1,000.00 during a calendar year from persons who are members or supporters of the committee and which contributes funds to one or more candidates for public office or campaign committees of candidates for public office or which maintains a separate segregated fund.

(ii) 'Political action committee' does not include a candidate campaign committee.

(F) 'Recall committee' means any person or committee which accepts contributions or makes expenditures designed to bring about the recall of a public officer holding elective office or to oppose the recall of a public officer holding elective office.

(3)(6) 'Campaign contribution disclosure report' means a report filed with the appropriate filing officer commission by a candidate or the chairperson or treasurer of a campaign committee setting forth all expenditures of $101.00 or more and all contributions of $101.00 or more, including contributions and expenditures of lesser amounts when the aggregate amount thereof by or to a person is $101.00 or more for the calendar year in which the report is filed. Such report shall also include the total amount of all individual contributions received or expenditures made of less than $101.00 each. The first report required in the calendar year of the election shall contain all such expenditures made and all such contributions received by the candidate or the committee in prior years in support of the campaign in question.

(4)(7) 'Candidate' means an individual who seeks nomination for election or election to any public office, whether or not such an individual is elected; and a person shall be deemed to seek nomination or election if such person has taken necessary action under the laws of this state to qualify such person for nomination for election or election or has received any contributions or made any expenditures in pursuit of such nomination or election or has given such person´s consent for such person´s candidate campaign committee to receive contributions or make expenditures with a view to bringing about such person´s nomination for election or election to such office.

(5)(8) 'Commission' means the State Ethics Commission created under Code Section 21-5-4.

(6)(9) 'Connected organization' means any organization, including any business entity, labor organization, membership organization, or cooperative, which is not a political action committee, as defined in this Code section, but which, directly or indirectly, establishes or administers a political action committee or which provides more than 40 percent of the funds of the political action committee for a calendar year.

(7)(10) 'Contribution' means a gift, subscription, membership, loan, forgiveness of debt, advance or deposit of money or anything of value any in-kind contribution conveyed or transferred for the purpose of influencing the nomination for election or election of any person for office, bringing about the recall of a public officer holding elective office or opposing the recall of a public officer holding elective office, or the influencing of voter approval or rejection of a proposed constitutional amendment, a state-wide referendum, or a proposed question which is to appear on the ballot in this state or in a county or a municipal election in this state. The term specifically shall not include the value of personal services performed by persons who serve without compensation from any source and on a voluntary basis. The term 'contribution' shall include other forms of payment made to candidates for office or who hold office when such fees and compensation made can be reasonably construed as a campaign contribution designed to encourage or influence a candidate or public officer holding elective office. The term 'contribution' shall also encompass transactions wherein a qualifying fee required of the candidate is furnished or paid by anyone other than the candidate.

(8)(11) 'Direct ownership interest' means the holding or possession of good legal or rightful title of property or the holding or enjoyment of real or beneficial use of the property by any person and includes any interest owned or held by a spouse of such person if such interest is held jointly or as tenants in common between the person and spouse.

(12) 'Elected executive officer' means the Secretary of State, Attorney General, State School Superintendent, Commissioner of Insurance, Commissioner of Agriculture, and Commissioner of Labor.

(9)(13) 'Election' means a primary election; run-off election, either primary or general; special election; or general election. The term 'election' also means a recall election.

(10)(14) 'Election cycle' means the period from the day following the date of an election or appointment of a person to elective public office through and including the date of the next such election of a person to the same public office and shall be construed and applied separately for each elective office.

(15) 'Election year' shall be construed and applied separately for each elective office and means for each elective office the calendar year during which a regular or special election to fill such office is held.

(16) 'Elector' means any person who shall possess all of the qualifications for voting now or hereafter prescribed by the laws of this state and who shall have registered in accordance with Chapter 2 of this title.

(11)(17) 'Expenditure' means a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit, or any transfer of money or anything of value made for the purpose of influencing the nomination for election or election of any person, bringing about the recall of a public officer holding elective office or opposing the recall of a public officer holding elective office, or the influencing of voter approval or rejection of a proposed constitutional amendment, a state-wide referendum, or a proposed question which is to appear on the ballot in this state or in a county or a municipal election in this state. The term specifically shall not include the value of personal services performed by persons who serve without compensation from any source and on a voluntary basis. The term 'expenditure' shall also include the payment of a qualifying fee for and in behalf of a candidate.

(12)(18) 'Fiduciary position' means any position imposing a duty to act primarily for the benefit of another person as an officer, director, manager, partner, guardian, or other designation of general responsibility of a business entity.

(13) 'Filing officer' means that official or commission that is designated in Code Section 21-5-34 to receive campaign contribution disclosure reports.

(19) 'Financial statement' means a statement of a candidate's financial affairs in a form substantially equivalent to the short form financial statement required for bank directors under the rules of the Department of Banking and Finance.

(14)(20) 'Gift' means any gratuitous transfer to a public officer or any member of the family of the public officer or a loan of property or services which is not a contribution as defined in paragraph (7)(10) of this Code section and which is in the amount of $101.00 or more.

(15) 'Independent committee' means any committee, club, association, partnership, corporation, labor union, or other group of persons, other than a campaign committee, political party, or political action committee, which receives donations during a calendar year from persons who are members or supporters of the committee and which expends such funds either for the purpose of affecting the outcome of an election for any elected office or to advocate the election or defeat of any particular candidate.

(21) 'In-kind contribution' means anything of value other than money.

(16)(22) 'Intangible property' means property which is not real property and which is held for profit and includes stocks, bonds, interest in partnerships, choses in action, and other investments but shall not include any ownership interest in any public or private retirement or pension fund, account, or system and shall not include any ownership interest in any public or private life insurance contract or any benefit, value, or proceeds of such life insurance contract.

(17)(23) 'Member of the family' or 'family member' means a spouse and all dependent children.

(24) 'Nonelection year' shall be construed and applied separately for each elective office and means for each elective office any calendar year during which there is no regular or special election to fill such office.

(18)(25) 'Ordinary and necessary expenses' shall include, but shall not be limited to, expenditures made during the reporting period for office costs and rent, lodging, equipment, travel, advertising, postage, staff salaries, consultants, files storage, polling, special events, volunteers, reimbursements to volunteers, repayment of any loans received except as restricted in subsection (i) of Code Section 21-5-41, contributions to nonprofit organizations, and flowers for special occasions, which shall include, but are not limited to, birthdays and funerals, and all other expenditures contemplated in Code Section 21-5-33.

(19)(26) 'Person' means an individual, partnership, committee, association, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, trust, professional corporation, or other business entity recognized in the State of Georgia, labor organization, or any other organization or group of persons.

(27) 'Personal financial disclosure statement' means a statement containing financial information on a public officer or candidate including but not limited to business, fiduciary, and property interests, fees and honorariums received, employment information, and certain payments received from a state agency, department, commission, or authority as further described in Code Section 21-5-50.

(20) 'Political action committee' means:

(A) Any committee, club, association, partnership, corporation, labor union, or other group of persons which receives donations during a calendar year from persons who are members or supporters of the committee and which contributes funds to one or more candidates for public office or campaign committees of candidates for public office; and

(B) A 'separate segregated fund' as defined in Code Section 21-5-40.

Such term does not include a candidate campaign committee.

(28) 'Political committee' means: (A) any partnership, committee, club, association, organization, party caucus of the House of Representatives or the Senate, or similar entity (other than a business entity) or any other group of persons or entities which makes a contribution; or (B) any separate segregated fund.

(29) 'Political organization' means an affiliation of electors organized for the purpose of influencing or controlling the policies and conduct of government through the nomination of candidates for public office and, if possible, the election of its candidates to public office.

(30) 'Political party' means any political party as that term is defined in paragraph (25) of Code Section 21-2-2, as amended; provided, however, that for purposes of this chapter, local, state, and national committees shall be separate political parties.

(21)(31) 'Public employee' means every person employed by the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of state government, or any department, board, bureau, agency, commission, or authority thereof.

(32) 'Public meeting place' means any county, municipal, or other public building suitable and ordinarily used for public gatherings.

(33) 'Public office' means the office of each elected public officer as specified in paragraph (34) of this Code section.

(22)(34) 'Public officer' means:

(A) Every constitutional officer;

(B) Every elected state official;

(D) Each member of the General Assembly;

(E) The executive director of each state board, commission, or authority and the members thereof;

(F) Every elected county official and every elected member of a local board of education; and

(G) Every elected municipal official.

(35) 'Qualifying officer' means a person who qualifies a candidate for an election.

(36) 'Regulated entity' means any person who is required by law to be licensed by an elected executive officer or a board under the jurisdiction of an elected executive officer, any person who leases property owned by or for a state department, or any person who engages in a business or profession which is regulated by an elected executive officer or by a board under the jurisdiction of an elected executive officer.

(37) 'Reporting period' means that period of time beginning the day after the last report due date and ending on the due date of the next report.

(38) 'Separate segregated fund' means a fund which is established, administered, and used for political purposes by a business entity, labor organization, membership organization, or cooperative and to which the business entity, labor organization, membership organization, or cooperative solicits contributions.

(39) 'Substantial interest' means the direct or indirect ownership of 10 percent or more of the assets or stock of any business.

21-5-4.

(a) Those members serving on the State Campaign and Financial Disclosure Commission prior to March 1, 1987, shall serve for a term of office which expires March 1, 1987.

(b)(a) There is created the State Ethics Commission, with such duties and powers as are set forth in this chapter. The commission shall be a successor to the State Campaign and Financial Disclosure Commission in all matters pending before the State Campaign and Financial Disclosure Commission on March 1, 1987, and may continue to investigate, prosecute, and act upon all such matters. The commission shall be governed by five members appointed as follows: three members, not more than two of whom shall be from the same political party, shall be appointed by the Governor, two for terms of three years and one for a term of two years; one member shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on Assignments, for a term of four years; and one member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives for a term of four years. The initial members shall take office on March 2, 1987. Upon the expiration of a member´s term of office, a new member, appointed in the same manner as the member whose term of office expired as provided in this subsection, shall become a member of the commission and shall serve for a term of not to exceed four years and until such member´s successor is duly appointed and qualified. If a vacancy occurs in the membership of the commission, a new member shall be appointed to the unexpired a term of office by the state official who or the committee that appointed the vacating member. Members of the commission shall not serve for more than one complete term of office; provided, however, that the members of the State Campaign and Financial Disclosure Commission serving on March 1, 1987, shall be eligible for appointment as initial members of the State Ethics Commission.

(c)(b) All members of the commission shall be residents of this state.

(d)(c) Any person who:

(1) Has qualified to run for any federal, state, or local public office within a period of five years prior to such person´s appointment;

(2) Has held any federal, state, or local public office within a period of five years prior to such person´s appointment; or

(3) Serves as an officer of any political party, whether such office is elective or appointive and whether such office exists on a local, state, or national level shall be ineligible to serve as a member of the commission.

(e)(d) The commission shall elect a chairperson, a vice chairperson, and other officers as it deems necessary. The members shall not be compensated for their services but they shall be reimbursed in an amount equal to the per diem received by the General Assembly for each day or portion thereof spent in serving as members of the commission. They shall be paid their necessary traveling expenses while engaged in the business of the commission.

(f)(e) A majority of the members of the commission constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. The vote of at least a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present is necessary for any action to be taken by the commission. No vacancy in the membership of the commission impairs the right of a quorum to exercise all rights and perform all duties of the commission.

(g)(f) Meetings of the members of the commission shall be held at the call of the chairperson or whenever any two members so request.

21-5-5.

The funds necessary to carry out this chapter shall come from the funds appropriated to and available to the State Ethics Commission and from any other available funds. The commission shall be a budget unit as defined in Part 1 of Article 4 of Chapter 12 of Title 45, the 'Budget Act'; provided, however, that the commission shall be assigned for administrative purposes only to the Secretary of State.

21-5-6.

(a) The commission is vested with the following powers:

(1) To meet at such times and places as it may deem necessary;

(2) To contract with other agencies, public or private, or persons as it deems necessary for the rendering and affording of such services, facilities, studies, and reports to the commission as will best assist it to carry out its duties and responsibilities;

(3) To cooperate with and secure the cooperation of every department, agency, or instrumentality in the state government or its political subdivisions in the furtherance of the purposes of this chapter;

(4) To employ an executive secretary and director who shall hire such additional staff as the commission deems necessary to carry out the powers delegated to the commission by this chapter;

(5) To issue subpoenas to compel any person to appear, give sworn testimony, or produce documentary or other evidence;

(6) To institute and prosecute actions in the superior courts, in its own name, seeking to enjoin or restrain any violation or threatened violation of this chapter;

(7) To adopt in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 50, the 'Georgia Administrative Procedure Act,' such rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter; and

(8) To designate certain employees for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter who shall meet all training requirements as peace officers as set forth in Code Section 35-8-8. Such designated peace officers employed by the commission shall have all the powers normally granted to a peace officer; and

(8)(9) To do any and all things necessary or convenient to enable it to perform wholly and adequately its duties and to exercise the powers granted to it.

(b) The commission shall have the following duties:

(1) To prescribe forms to be used in complying with this chapter;

(2) To prepare and publish a manual setting forth recommended uniform methods of accounting and reporting for use by persons required by this chapter to file statements and reports;

(3) To accept and file any information voluntarily supplied that exceeds the requirements of this chapter;

(4) To develop a filing, coding, and cross-indexing system consonant with the purposes of this chapter;

(5) To adopt a retention standard for records of the commission in accordance with Article 5 of Chapter 18 of Title 50, the 'Georgia Records Act';

(6) To prepare and publish such other reports and technical studies as in its judgment will tend to promote the purposes of this chapter;

(7) To provide for public dissemination of such summaries and reports;

(8) To determine whether the required statements and reports have been filed and, if so, whether they conform to the requirements of this chapter;

(9) To make investigations, subject to the limitations contained in Code Section 21-5-7.1, with respect to the statements and reports filed under this chapter and with respect to alleged failure to file any statements or reports required under this chapter and upon receipt of the written complaint of any person, verified under oath to the best information, knowledge, and belief by the person making such complaint with respect to an alleged violation of any provision of this chapter, provided that nothing in this Code section shall be construed to limit or encumber the right of the commission to initiate on probable cause an investigation on its own cognizance as it deems necessary to fulfill its obligations under this chapter;

(10)(A) To conduct a preliminary investigation, subject to the limitations contained in Code Section 21-5-7.1, of the merits of a written complaint by any person who believes that a violation of this chapter has occurred, verified under oath to the best information, knowledge, and belief by the person making such complaint. If there are found no reasonable grounds to believe that a violation has occurred, the complaint shall be dismissed, subject to being reopened upon discovery of additional evidence or relevant material. If the commission determines that there are such reasonable grounds to believe that a violation has occurred, it shall give notice by summoning the persons believed to have committed the violation to a hearing. The hearing shall be conducted in all respects in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 50, the 'Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.' The commission may file a complaint charging violations of this chapter, and any person aggrieved by the final decision of the commission is entitled to judicial review in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 50; provided, however, that nothing in this Code section shall be construed to limit or encumber the right of the commission to initiate on probable cause an investigation on its own cognizance as it deems necessary to fulfill its obligations under this chapter.

(B) In any such preliminary investigation referenced in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, until such time as the commission determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation has occurred, it shall not be necessary to give the notice by summons nor to conduct a hearing in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 50, the 'Georgia Administrative Procedure Act';

(11) To report suspected violations of law to the appropriate law enforcement authority;

(12) To investigate upon a written complaint any illegal use of public employees in a political campaign by any candidate;

(13) To issue, upon written request, and publish written advisory opinions on the requirements of this chapter, based on a real or hypothetical set of circumstances; and each such written advisory opinion shall be issued within 60 days of the written request for the advisory opinion. The commission shall make all advisory opinions that were issued after January 9, 2006, publicly available for review and shall post these and all future opinions on the commission´s website and the commission shall make all advisory opinions that were issued prior to January 9, 2006, publicly available for review and shall post these opinions on the commission´s website. No liability shall be imposed under this chapter for any act or omission made in conformity with a written advisory opinion issued by the commission that is valid at the time of the act or omission;

(14) To issue orders, after the completion of appropriate proceedings, directing compliance with this chapter or prohibiting the actual or threatened commission of any conduct constituting a violation, which order may include a provision requiring the violator:

(A) To cease and desist from committing further violations;

(B) To make public complete statements, in corrected form, containing the information required by this chapter;

(C)(i) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of Code Section 21-5-7.1, to pay a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000.00 for each violation contained in any report required by this chapter or for each failure to comply with any other provision of this chapter or of any rule or regulation promulgated under this chapter; provided, however, that a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000.00 may be imposed for a second occurrence of a violation of the same provision and a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000.00 may be imposed for each third or subsequent occurrence of a violation of the same provision. For the purposes of the penalties imposed by this division, the same error, act, omission, or inaccurate entry shall be considered a single violation if the error, act, omission, or inaccurate entry appears multiple times on the same report or causes further errors, omissions, or inaccurate entries in that report or in any future reports or further violations in that report or in any future reports.

(ii) A civil penalty shall not be assessed except after notice and hearing as provided by Chapter 13 of Title 50, the 'Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.' The amount of any civil penalty finally assessed shall be recoverable by a civil action brought in the name of the commission. All moneys recovered pursuant to this Code section shall be deposited in the state treasury.

(iii) The Attorney General of this state shall, upon complaint by the commission, or may, upon the Attorney General´s own initiative if after examination of the complaint and evidence the Attorney General believes a violation has occurred, bring an action in the superior court in the name of the commission for a temporary restraining order or other injunctive relief or for civil penalties for a violation of any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation duly issued by the commission.

(iv) Any action brought by the Attorney General to enforce civil penalties for a violation of the provisions of this chapter or of any rule or regulation duly issued by the commission or any order issued by the commission ordering compliance or to cease and desist from further violations shall be brought in the superior court of the county of the residence of the party against whom relief is sought. Service of process shall lie in any jurisdiction within the state. In such actions, the superior court inquiry will be limited to whether notice was given by the commission to the violator in compliance with the Constitution and the rules of procedure of Chapter 13 of Title 50, the 'Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.' Upon satisfaction that notice was given and a hearing was held pursuant to Chapter 13 of Title 50, the 'Georgia Administrative Procedure Act,' the superior court shall enforce the orders of the commission and the civil penalties assessed under this chapter and the superior court shall not make independent inquiry as to whether the violations have occurred.

(v) In any action brought by the Attorney General to enforce any of the provisions of this chapter or of any rule or regulation issued by the commission, the judgment, if in favor of the commission, shall provide that the defendant pay to the commission the costs, including reasonable attorneys´ fees, incurred by the commission in the prosecution of such action.

The commission shall make all such orders that were issued after January 9, 2006, publicly available for review and shall post these and all future orders on the commission´s website and the commission shall make all advisory orders that were issued prior to January 9, 2006, publicly available for review and shall post these orders on the commission´s website. Such orders shall serve as precedent for all future orders and opinions of the commission;

(15) To make public its conclusion that a violation has occurred and the nature of such violation;

(16) To petition the superior court within the county where the hearing was or is being conducted for the enforcement of any order issued in connection with such hearing;

(17) To report to the General Assembly and the Governor at the close of each fiscal year concerning the action taken during that time, the names, salaries, and duties of all individuals employed, and the funds disbursed and to make such further report on the matters within its jurisdiction as may appear desirable;

(18) To carry out the procedures, duties, and obligations relative to the commission set forth in this chapter;

(19) On a quarterly basis, to prepare, update, and publish a report and post such report on its website, listing the name of each filer who has not filed the most recent campaign contribution disclosure report required by Code Sections 21-5-34 and 21-5-34.1, the personal financial disclosure statement required by Code Section 21-5-50, or the disclosure report required by Code Section 21-5-73 within 30 days of the date such report was due to be filed;

(20) To publish overall lobbyist spending by category. Such categories shall include gifts, meals, entertainment, office supplies, lodging, equipment, advertising, travel, and postage;

(21) To promulgate rules and regulations with respect to electronic filings; and

(22) To provide and conduct semiannual training on the mechanics of electronic filing and registration; and

(23) To periodically provide continuing education programs on this chapter and related laws, rules, and regulations for all elected officials, public officers, and filing officers. The program shall be provided at least twice annually and shall consist of continuing education units. At the commission´s discretion such training may be offered through an interactive web-based format. The commission shall provide participants with certificates showing the date and number of continuing education units completed. All elected officials, public officers, and filing officers shall complete at least eight continuing education units per year.

21-5-7.

The commission shall not initiate any investigation or inquiry into any matter under its jurisdiction based upon the complaint of any person unless that person shall produce the same in writing and verify the same under oath to the best information, knowledge, and belief of such person, the falsification of which shall be punishable as false swearing under Code Section 16-10-71. The person against whom any complaint is made shall be furnished by hand delivery or statutory overnight delivery or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy of the complaint by the commission within two business days of the commission´s receipt of such complaint and prior to any other public dissemination of such complaint. Nothing in this Code section, however, shall be construed to limit or encumber the right of the commission to initiate on probable cause an investigation on its own cognizance as it deems necessary to fulfill its obligations under this chapter.

21-5-7.1.

The commission shall adopt rules which shall provide that:

(1) Upon the commission´s receipt of a complaint, a determination shall be made as to whether the complaint relates to a technical defect in a filing. For this purpose, a technical defect shall include, but not be limited to, a defect such as a failure to include a date or an incorrect date, a failure to include a contributor´s occupation or an incorrect occupation, a failure to include an address or an incorrect address, a failure to include an employer or an incorrect employer, accounting errors, or any other similar defects;

(2) When the commission determines that a complaint relates to a technical defect in a filing, the subject of the complaint shall be issued a notice of the technical defect by certified mail, return receipt requested, or statutory overnight delivery and shall be given a period of 30 calendar days from the receipt of the notice to correct the technical defect. During the 30 day period the complaint shall be considered as received by the commission but not yet filed with the commission and shall not be considered a violation of this chapter. If during the 30 day period the technical defect is cured by an amended filing or otherwise, or if during the 30 day period the subject of the complaint demonstrates that there is no technical defect as alleged, the complaint shall be disposed of without filing or further proceedings and no penalty shall be imposed. If the subject of the complaint fails to respond to the notice of a technical defect, make an amended filing, or demonstrate that there is no technical defect as alleged by the thirty-first day, the commission shall impose and collect an administrative fee not to exceed $50.00 per technical defect. For the purposes of the penalties imposed by this paragraph, the same error or inaccurate entry shall be considered a single technical violation if the error or inaccurate entry appears multiple times on a single report or causes further errors or inaccurate entries in that report or in any future reports;

(3) If the subject of the complaint does not pay the administrative fee required by paragraph (2) of this Code section, if any, and does not otherwise also comply with paragraph (2) of this Code section by the sixtieth day from the receipt of the notice of a technical defect, the commission shall conduct further investigation and the complaint may proceed further in accordance with the provisions of this chapter; and

(4) When the commission determines in its discretion that best efforts have been made to complete a required filing, said filing shall be considered in compliance with this Code section and any complaint relative to said filing shall be dismissed.

21-5-8.

Venue for prosecution of civil violations of this chapter or for any other action by or on behalf of the commission shall be in the county of the residence of the candidate or public officer at the time of the alleged violation or action Fulton County, Georgia.

21-5-9.

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any person who knowingly fails to comply with or who knowingly violates this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

21-5-10.

The provisions of this chapter, so far as they are the same as those of existing laws, are intended as a continuation of such laws and not as new enactments. The repeal by this chapter of any Act of the General Assembly, or part thereof, shall not revive any Act, or part thereof, heretofore repealed or superseded. This chapter shall not affect any act done, liability or penalty incurred, or right accrued or vested prior to the taking effect of this chapter; nor shall this chapter affect any actions or prosecution then pending, or to be instituted, to enforce any right or penalty then accrued or to punish any offense theretofore committed.

21-5-11.

(a) No public officer other than a public officer elected state wide shall accept a monetary fee or honorarium in excess of $101.00 for a speaking engagement, participation in a seminar, discussion panel, or other activity which directly relates to the official duties of that public officer or the office of that public officer.

(b) No public officer elected state wide shall accept any monetary fee or honorarium for a speaking engagement, participation in a seminar, discussion panel, or other such activity.

(c) For purposes of this chapter, actual and reasonable expenses for food, beverages, travel, lodging, and registration for a meeting which are provided to permit participation in a panel or speaking engagement at the meeting shall not be monetary fees or honoraria.

21-5-12.

(a) The name of each political action committee, noncandidate campaign committee, or independent committee shall include the name of its connected organization.

(b) The name of any separate segregated fund, as defined in Code Section 21-5-40 21-5-3, shall include the name of its connected organization.

21-5-13.

Any action alleging a violation of this chapter shall be commenced within three years after the date of filing of the first report containing the alleged violation involving any person elected to serve for a term of two years, and any action alleging a violation of this chapter shall be commenced within five years after the date of filing of the first report containing the alleged violation involving any person elected to serve for a term of four or more years. For purposes of this Code section, an action shall be deemed to have commenced against a person only when either:

(1) A complaint has been accepted by the commission in compliance with Code Section 21-5-7; or

(2) The commission or Attorney General serves on such person a notice of summons or hearing, in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 50, the 'Georgia Administrative Procedure Act,' that alleges that such person has violated this chapter.

21-5-14.

Any person assessed a late fee or a late fine pursuant to this chapter may contest by petition such assessment to the executive director in writing under oath and shall document with sufficient proof the reason or reasons for failure to comply with the reporting requirements under this chapter. All petitions must be received within 30 days of the date of the invoice generated and mailed by the commission. The executive director shall grant or deny any petition within 30 days from the receipt of the petition.

ARTICLE 2

21-5-30.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (e)(d) of Code Section 21-5-34, no contributions to bring about the nomination or election of a candidate for any office shall be made or accepted except directly to or by a candidate or such candidate´s campaign committee which is organized for the purpose of bringing about the nomination or election of any such candidate; and no contributions to bring about the recall of a public officer or to oppose the recall of a public officer or to bring about the approval or rejection by the voters of a proposed constitutional amendment, state-wide referendum, or proposed question at the state, municipal, or county level shall be made or accepted except directly to or by a campaign committee organized for that purpose.

(b) Each candidate shall maintain records and file reports as required by this chapter or shall have a campaign committee for the purposes of maintaining records and filing reports as required by this chapter. Every campaign committee shall have a chairperson and a treasurer, except that the candidate may serve as the chairperson and treasurer. Before a campaign committee accepts contributions, the name and address of the chairperson and treasurer shall be filed with the commission. When a candidate has been elected to public office, the registration of that candidate´s campaign committee with the commission shall remain in effect so long as the candidate remains in office until and unless the registration is canceled by the campaign committee or the candidate. The same person may serve as chairperson and treasurer. No contributions shall be accepted by or on behalf of the campaign committee at a time when there is a vacancy in the office of chairperson or treasurer of the campaign committee.

(c) Contributions of money received pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section shall be deposited in a single campaign depository account opened and maintained in the State of Georgia for campaign purposes by the candidate or the campaign committee. The account may be an interest-bearing account; provided, however, that any interest earned on such account shall be reported and may only be used for the purposes allowed for contributions under this chapter. Those who elect the separate accounting option as provided in Code Section 21-5-43 may also open, but are not required to open, a separate campaign depository account for each election for which contributions are accepted and allocated beyond their next upcoming election. Campaign expenditures shall not be made by a candidate or campaign committee except by or through such separate depository account.

(d) Unless otherwise reported individually, where separate contributions of less than $101.00 are knowingly received from a common source, such contributions shall be aggregated for reporting purposes. For purposes of fulfilling such aggregation requirement, members of the family, members of the same firm or partnership, or employees of the same person, as defined in paragraph (19)(26) of Code Section 21-5-3, shall be considered to be a common source; provided, however, that the purchase of tickets for not more than $25.00 each and for or attendance at a fundraising event by members of the family, members of the same firm or partnership, or employees of the same person shall not be considered to be contributions from a common source except to the extent that tickets are purchased as a block.

(e) The making and acceptance of anonymous contributions are prohibited. Any anonymous contributions received by a candidate or campaign committee shall be transmitted to the director of the Office of Treasury and Fiscal Services for deposit in the state treasury, and the fact of such contribution and transmittal shall be reported to the commission.

(f) A person acting on behalf of a public utility corporation regulated by the Public Service Commission shall not make, directly or indirectly, any contribution to a political campaign. This subsection shall not apply to motor carriers whose rates are not regulated by the Public Service Commission. Any person who knowingly violates this subsection with respect to a member of the Public Service Commission, a candidate for the Public Service Commission, or the campaign committee of a candidate for the Public Service Commission shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years or by a fine not to exceed $10,000.00, or both; and any person who knowingly violates this subsection with respect to any other public officer, a candidate for such other public office, or the campaign committee of a candidate for such other public office shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(g) Neither a candidate who is not a public officer nor his or her campaign committee may lawfully accept a campaign contribution until the candidate has filed with the commission or appropriate local filing officer a declaration of intention to accept campaign contributions which shall include the name and address of the candidate and the names and addresses of his or her campaign committee officers, if any.

21-5-30.1.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the definitions set forth in Code Section 21-5-3 shall be applicable to the provisions of this Code section. As used in this Code section, the term:

(1) 'Campaign committee' means the candidate, person, or committee which accepts contributions to bring about the nomination for election or election of an individual to the office of an elected executive officer.

(2) 'Contribution' means a gift, subscription, membership, loan, forgiveness of debt, advance or deposit of money, or anything of value conveyed or transferred for the purpose of influencing the nomination for election or election of an individual to the office of an elected executive officer or encouraging the holder of such office to seek reelection. The term 'contribution' shall include the payment of a qualifying fee for and on behalf of a candidate for the office of an elected executive officer and any other payment or purchase made for and on behalf of the holder of the office of an elected executive officer or for or on behalf of a candidate for that office when such payment or purchase is made for the purpose of influencing the nomination for election or election of the candidate and is made pursuant to the request or authority of the holder of such office, the candidate, the campaign committee of the candidate, or any other agent of the holder of such office or the candidate. The term 'contribution' shall not include the value of personal services performed by persons who serve on a voluntary basis without compensation from any source.

(3) 'Elected executive officer' means the Secretary of State, Attorney General, State School Superintendent, Commissioner of Insurance, Commissioner of Agriculture, and Commissioner of Labor.

(4) 'Political action committee' means any committee, club, association, partnership, corporation, labor union, or other group of persons which receives donations aggregating in excess of $1,000.00 during a calendar year from persons who are members or supporters of the committee and which distributes these funds as contributions to one or more campaign committees of candidates for public office. Such term does not mean a campaign committee.

(5) 'Regulated entity' means any person who is required by law to be licensed by an elected executive officer or a board under the jurisdiction of an elected executive officer, any person who leases property owned by or for a state department, or any person who engages in a business or profession which is regulated by an elected executive officer or by a board under the jurisdiction of an elected executive officer.

(b)(a) No regulated entity and no person or political action campaign committee acting on behalf of a regulated entity shall make a contribution to or on behalf of a person holding office as an elected executive officer regulating such entity or to or on behalf of a candidate for the office of an elected executive officer regulating such entity or to or on behalf of a campaign committee of any such candidate.

(c)(b) No person holding office as an elected executive officer and no candidate for the office of an elected executive officer and no campaign committee of a candidate for the office of an elected executive officer shall accept a contribution in violation of subsection (b)(a) of this Code section.

(d)(c) Nothing contained in this Code section shall be construed to prevent any person who may be employed by a regulated entity, including a person in whose name a license or lease is held, from voluntarily making a campaign contribution from that person´s personal funds to or on behalf of a person holding office as an elected executive officer regulating such entity or to or on behalf of a candidate for the office of an elected executive officer regulating such entity or to or on behalf of a campaign committee of any such candidate. It shall be unlawful and a violation of this Code section for any regulated entity or other person to require another by coercive action to make any such contribution.

21-5-30.2.

(1) 'Agency' means:

(A) Every state department, agency, board, bureau, commission, and authority;

(B) Every county, municipal corporation, school district, or other political subdivision of this state;

(C) Every department, agency, board, bureau, commission, authority, or similar body of each such county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of this state; and

(D) Every city, county, regional, or other authority established pursuant to the laws of this state.

(2) 'Contribution' means a gift, subscription, membership, loan, forgiveness of debt, advance or deposit of money, or anything of value conveyed or transferred by or on behalf of an agency, without receipt of payment therefor, to any campaign committee, political action committee, or political organization or to any candidate for campaign purposes.

(3) 'Elector' means any person who shall possess all of the qualifications for voting now or hereafter prescribed by the laws of this state and who shall have registered in accordance with Chapter 2 or 3 of this title.

(5) 'Political organization' means an affiliation of electors organized for the purpose of influencing or controlling the policies and conduct of government through the nomination of candidates for public office and, if possible, the election of its candidates to public office.

(6) 'Public meeting place' means any county, municipal, or other public building suitable and ordinarily used for public gatherings.

(b)(a) No agency and no person acting on behalf of an agency shall make, directly or indirectly, any contribution gift, subscription, membership, loan, forgiveness of debt, advance or deposit of money, or anything of value conveyed or transferred by or on behalf of an agency to any campaign committee, political action committee, or political organization or to any candidate; but nothing in this Code section shall prohibit the furnishing of office space, facilities, equipment, goods, or services to a public officer for use by the public officer in such officer´s fulfillment of such office.

(c)(b) No campaign committee, political action committee, or political organization or candidate shall accept a contribution in violation of subsection (b)(a) of this Code section.

(d)(c) Nothing contained in this Code section shall be construed to:

(1) Affect the authority of the State Personnel Board regarding the regulation of certain political activities of public employees in the classified service of the state merit system;

(2) Affect the authority of any agency regarding the regulation of the political activities of such agency´s employees;

(3) Affect the use of the capitol building and grounds as specified in Code Section 50-16-4; or

(4) Prohibit the use of public meeting places by political organizations when such meeting places are made available to different political organizations on an equal basis; provided, however, this paragraph shall not be construed to create a right for a political organization to use a public meeting place.

21-5-31.

Reserved.

21-5-32.

(a) The candidate or treasurer of each campaign committee shall keep detailed accounts, current within not more than five business days after the date of receiving a contribution or making an expenditure, of all contributions received and all expenditures made by or on behalf of the candidate or committee. The candidate or treasurer shall also keep detailed accounts of all deposits and of all withdrawals made to the separate campaign depository and of all interest earned on any such deposits.

(b) Accounts kept by the candidate or treasurer of a campaign committee pursuant to this Code section may be inspected under reasonable circumstances before, during, or after the election to which the accounts refer by any authorized representative of the commission. The right of inspection may be enforced by appropriate writ issued by any court of competent jurisdiction.

(c) Records of such accounts kept by the a candidate or any campaign committee shall be preserved for three years from the filing of a termination date of the campaign for elective office conducted by the candidate or of the campaign committee for any candidate or for three years from the election to bring about the approval or rejection by the voters of any proposed constitutional amendment, referendum, or local issue or of any recall vote statement.

21-5-33.

(a) Contributions to a candidate, a any campaign committee, candidate, or a public officer holding elective office and any proceeds from investing such contributions shall be utilized only to defray ordinary and necessary expenses, which may include any loan of money from a candidate or public officer holding elective office to the campaign committee of such candidate or such public officer, incurred in connection with such candidate´s campaign for elective office or such public officer´s fulfillment or retention of such office.

(b)(1) All contributions received by a any campaign committee, candidate, or such candidate´s campaign committee or a public officer holding elective office in excess of those necessary to defray expenses pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section and as determined by such candidate or such public officer may only be used as follows:

(A) As contributions to any charitable organization described in 26 U.S.C. 170(c) as said federal statute exists on March 1, 1986, and which additionally shall include educational, eleemosynary, and nonprofit organizations;

(B) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (D) of this paragraph, for transferral without limitation to any national, state, or local committee of any political party or to any candidate;

(C) For transferral without limitation to persons making such contributions, not to exceed the total amount cumulatively contributed by each such transferee;

(D) For use in future campaigns for only that elective office for which those contributions were received. With respect to contributions held on January 1, 1992, or received thereafter, in the event the candidate, campaign committee, or public officer holding elective office has not designated, prior to receiving contributions to which this Code section is applicable, the office for which campaign contributions are received thereby, those contributions shall be deemed to have been received for the elective office which the candidate held at the time the contributions were received or, if the candidate did not then hold elective office, those contributions shall be deemed to have been received for that elective office for which that person was a candidate most recently following the receipt of such contributions; or

(E) For repayment of any prior campaign obligations incurred as a candidate.

(2) Any candidate or public officer holding elective office may provide in the will of such candidate or such public officer that the contributions shall be spent in any of the authorized manners upon the death of such candidate or such public officer; and, in the absence of any such direction in the probated will of such candidate or such public officer, the contributions shall be paid to the treasury of the state party with which such candidate or such public officer was affiliated in such candidate´s or such public officer´s last election or elective office after the payment of any expenses pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this paragraph, the personal representative or executor of the estate shall be allowed to use or pay out funds in the campaign account in any manner authorized in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(c) Contributions and interest thereon, if any, shall not constitute personal assets of such candidate or such public officer.

(d)(1) Contributions received by a campaign committee designed to bring about the recall of a public officer holding elective office or to oppose the recall of a public officer holding elective office or any person or to bring about the approval or rejection by the voters of any proposed constitutional amendment, a state-wide referendum, or a proposed question which is to appear on the ballot in any county or municipal election and any proceeds derived from investing such contributions shall be utilized only to defray ordinary and necessary expenses associated with influencing the voters on such issue.

(2) All contributions received by a campaign committee as provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection in excess of those necessary to defray expenses relative to the influencing of voters on such issue or support or opposition of candidates as determined by the campaign committee may only be used as follows:

(A) Contributions to any charitable organization described in 26 U.S.C. 170(c) as such federal statute exists on March 1, 1986, and which additionally shall include educational, eleemosynary, and nonprofit organizations; or

(B) For repayment on a pro rata basis to persons making such contributions.

21-5-34.

(a)(1)(A) The candidate or the chairperson or treasurer of each campaign committee organized to bring about the nomination or election of a candidate for any office except county and municipal offices or the General Assembly and the chairperson or treasurer of every campaign committee designed to bring about the recall of a public officer or to oppose the recall of a public officer or designed to bring about the approval or rejection by the voters of any proposed constitutional amendment, state-wide proposed question, or state-wide referendum shall sign and file with the commission the required campaign contribution disclosure reports. A candidate for membership in the General Assembly or the chairperson or treasurer of such candidate´s campaign committee shall file such candidate´s reports with the commission and a copy of such report with the election superintendent of the county of such candidate´s residence.

(B) The chairperson or treasurer of each independent committee as defined in Code Section 21-5-3 shall file the required disclosure reports with the commission.

(2)(A) Any campaign committee which accepts contributions or makes expenditures designed to bring about the approval or rejection by the voters of any proposed question which is to appear on the ballot in this state or in a county or a municipal election in this state shall register and file a campaign contribution disclosure report reports as prescribed by this chapter; provided, however, that such report reports shall only be required if such campaign committee has received contributions which total more than $500.00 or if such campaign committee has made expenditures which total more than $500.00. All advertising pertaining to referendums shall identify the principal officer of such campaign committee by listing or stating the name and title of the principal officer.

(B) If a campaign committee is required to file a report under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, such report shall be filed with the commission for a state election or with the election superintendent of the county in the case of a county election or with the municipal clerk in the case of a municipal election. Any such report shall be filed 15 days prior to the date of the election; and a final report shall be filed prior to December 31 of the year in which the election is held.

(3) A candidate for county office or the chairperson or treasurer of such candidate´s campaign committee shall sign and file the required campaign contribution disclosure reports with the election superintendent in the respective county of election.

(4) A candidate for municipal office or such candidate´s campaign committee shall file the reports with the municipal clerk in the respective municipality of election or, if there is no clerk, with the chief executive officer of the municipality.

(b)(1) All reports shall list the following:

(A) As to any contributions of $101.00 or more, its amount and date of receipt, the election for which the contribution has been accepted and allocated, along with the name and mailing address of the contributor, and, if the contributor is an individual, that individual´s occupation and the name of his or her employer. Such contributions shall include, but shall not be limited to, the purchase of tickets for events such as dinners, luncheons, rallies, and similar fundraising events coordinated for the purpose of raising campaign contributions for the reporting person;

(B) As to any expenditure of $101.00 or more, its amount and date of expenditure, the name and mailing address of the recipient receiving the expenditure, and, if that recipient is an individual, that individual´s occupation and the name of his or her employer and the general purpose of the expenditure;

(C) When a contribution consists of a loan, advance, or other extension of credit, the report shall also contain the name of the lending institution or party making the advance or extension of credit, and the rate of interest if any, the time frame in which to satisfy the financial obligation, and the names, mailing addresses, occupations, and places of employment of all persons having any liability for repayment of the loan, advance, or extension of credit; and, if any such persons shall have a fiduciary relationship to the lending institution or party making the advance or extension of credit, the report shall specify such relationship;

(D) Total contributions received and total expenditures made shall be reported for an election cycle as follows:

(i) Contributions and expenditures shall be reported for the applicable reporting cycle;

(ii) A reporting cycle shall commence on January 1 of the year in which an election is to be held for the public office to which a candidate seeks election and shall conclude:

(I) At the expiration of the term of office if such candidate is elected and does not seek reelection or election to some other office;

(II) On December 31 of the year in which such election was held if such candidate is unsuccessful; or

(III) If such candidate is successful and seeks reelection or seeks election to some other office the current reporting cycle shall end when the reporting cycle for reelection or for some other office begins;

(iii)(i) The first report of a reporting an election cycle shall list the net balance on hand cash on hand, total amount of investments held, and total indebtedness brought forward from the previous reporting election cycle, if any, and the total contributions received during the period covered by the report;

(iv)(ii) Subsequent reports shall list the total contributions received during the period covered by the report and the cumulative total of contributions received during the reporting election cycle;

(v)(iii) The first report of a reporting an election cycle shall list the total expenditures made during the period covered by the report;

(vi)(iv) Subsequent reports shall list the total expenditures made during the period covered by the report, the cumulative total of expenditures made during the reporting election cycle, and net balance on hand; and

(vii)(v) If a public officer seeks reelection to the same public office, or if the public officer is a member of the General Assembly seeking reelection in another district as a result of redistricting, the net balance on hand cash on hand, total amount of investments held, and total indebtedness at the end of the current reporting election cycle shall be carried forward to the first report of the applicable new reporting election cycle; and

(E) The corporate, labor union, or other affiliation of any campaign committee, political action committee, or independent committee making a contribution of $101.00 or more.; and

(F) A detailed listing of all investments held outside of the committee´s official depository account at any time during a reporting period shall be disclosed by description, amount, any identifying numbers, and the name and address of any institution or person in which it is held. Proceeds from an investment such as interest, dividends, or proceeds from its sale shall be reported by date and amount. Any interest, dividends, or proceeds earned on such investments shall only be used for the purposes allowed for contributions under this chapter. In the case of the sale of an investment, the names and addresses of the persons involved in the transaction shall also be stated.

(2) Each report shall be in such form as will allow for the separate identification of a contribution or contributions which are less than $101.00 but which become reportable due to the receipt of an additional contribution or contributions which when combined with such previously received contribution or contributions cumulatively equal or exceed $101.00.

(c) Candidates or campaign committees which accept contributions, make expenditures designed to bring about the nomination or election of a candidate, or have filed a declaration of intention to accept campaign contributions pursuant to subsection (g) of Code Section 21-5-30 and an incumbent or his or her committee that has not filed a termination statement shall file campaign contribution disclosure reports in compliance with the following schedule:

(1) In each nonelection year on June 30 and December 31;

(2) In each election year in which the candidate qualifies to run for public office:

(A) On March 31, June 30, September 30, October 25, and December 31;

(B) Six days before any run-off primary or election in which the candidate is listed on the ballot; and

(C) During the period of time between the last report due prior to the date of any election for which the candidate is qualified and the date of such election, all contributions of $1,000.00 or more shall be reported within two business days of receipt to the location where the original disclosure report for such candidate or committee was filed commission and also reported on the next succeeding regularly scheduled campaign contribution disclosure report;

(3) If the candidate is candidate in a special primary or special primary runoff, 15 days prior to the special primary and six days prior to the special primary runoff; and

(4) If the candidate is candidate in a special election or special election runoff, 15 days prior to the special election and six days prior to the special election runoff.

All persons or entities required to file reports shall have a five-day grace period in filing the required reports, except that the grace period shall be two days for required reports prior to run-off primaries or run-off elections, and no grace period shall apply to contributions required to be reported within two business days. Except as provided for electronic filing, the mailing of such reports by United States mail with adequate postage affixed, within the required filing time as determined by the official United States postage date cancellation, shall be prima-facie evidence of filing but reports Reports required to be filed within two business days of a contribution shall also be reported by facsimile, electronic transmission, or otherwise within those two business days to the location where the original disclosure report for such candidate or committee was filed to the commission. A report or statement required to be filed by this Code section other than a report of contributions required to be reported within two business days shall be verified by the oath or affirmation of the person filing such report or statement taken before an officer authorized to administer oaths. Each report required in the calendar year of the election shall contain cumulative totals of all contributions which have been received and all expenditures which have been made in support of the campaign in question and which are required, or previously have been required, to be reported.

(d) In the event any candidate covered by this chapter has no opposition in either a primary or a general election and receives no contribution of $101.00 or more, such candidate shall only be required to make the initial and final report as required under this chapter.

(e)(d) Any person who makes contributions to, accepts contributions for, or makes expenditures on behalf of candidates, and any independent committee, shall file a registration with the commission in the same manner as is required of campaign committees prior to accepting or making contributions or expenditures. Such persons, other than independent committees, shall also file campaign contribution disclosure reports in the same places and at the same times as required of the candidates they are supporting, but such persons shall not be required to file copies of campaign contribution disclosure reports with local election superintendents as is required of candidates for membership in the General Assembly. The following persons shall be exempt from the foregoing registration and reporting requirements: