Georgia SB 423: City of Berkeley Lake; change number of councilmembers required for a quorum with the mayor

Bill Text

26 LC 47 4314S
The House Committee on Governmental Affairs offers the following substitute to SB 423:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 5 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1
government transparency and campaign finance, so as to revise registration and reporting2
requirements for certain political action committees; to revise certain disclosure requirements3
for independent committees; to provide for violations and penalties; to prohibit candidates4
or campaign committees from accepting contributions or donations from non-Georgia5
persons that exceed 50 percent of all contributions received; to provide definitions; to6
provide for the return of such excess contributions; to provide for the escheatment of excess7
contributions that are not returned; to provide for exceptions; to provide for injunctive relief;8
to prohibit and provide penalties for strawman transactions seeking to avoid the contribution9
cap provided herein; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other10
purposes.11
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:12
SECTION 1.13
Chapter 5 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to government14
transparency and campaign finance, is amended in Code Section 21-5-34, relating to15
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26 LC 47 4314S
campaign contribution disclosure reports and committee registration, by revising subsections16
(e.1) and (f) as follows:17
"(e.1) Any political action committee which makes contributions to, accepts contributions18
for, or makes expenditures on behalf of candidates shall file a registration in the same19
manner as is required of campaign committees prior to accepting or making contributions20
or expenditures. Prior to such registration, such political action committee shall open a21
bank account in the name of such political action committee and shall maintain such bank22
account until the political action committee is terminated. Such political action committee23
shall also file campaign contribution disclosure reports on January 31, April 30, July 31,24
and October 20 of each year until the bank account required by this subsection has been25
zeroed out and the political action committee has been terminated. Political action26
committees making aggregate expenditures on behalf of candidates of $25,000.00 or less27
in one calendar year shall be exempt from the foregoing registration and reporting28
requirements.29
(f)(1) Any independent committee which accepts contributions or makes expenditures30
for the purpose of affecting the outcome of an election or advocates the election or defeat31
of any candidate shall register with the commission prior to accepting contributions or32
making expenditures and shall file disclosure reports as follows:33
(A) On the first day of each of the two calendar months preceding any such election;34
(B) Two weeks prior to the date of such election; and35
(C) Within the two-week period prior to the date of such election the independent36
committee shall report within two business days any contributions or expenditure of37
more than $1,000.00.38
The independent committee shall file a final report prior to December 31 of the election39
year and shall file supplemental reports on June 30 and December 31 of each year that40
such independent committee continues to accept contributions or make expenditures.41
(2) Reports filed by independent committees shall list the following:42
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(A) The amount and date of receipt, along with the name, mailing address, occupation,43
and employer of any person making a contribution of more than $100.00;44
(B) The name, mailing address, occupation, and employer of any person to whom an45
expenditure or provision of goods or services of the value of more than $100.00 is made46
and the amount, date, and general purpose thereof, including the name of the candidate47
or candidates, if any, on behalf of whom, or in support of or in opposition to whom, the48
expenditure or provision was made;49
(C) Total expenditures made as follows:50
(i) Expenditures shall be reported for the applicable reporting year;51
(ii) The first report of a reporting year shall list the total expenditures made during52
the period covered by the report; and53
(iii) Subsequent reports shall list the total expenditures made during the period54
covered by the report, the cumulative total of expenditures made during the reporting55
year, and net balance on hand; and56
(D) The corporate, labor union, or other affiliation of any political action committee,57
candidate, campaign committee, or independent committee making a contribution of58
the value of more than $100.00.59
(3) Whenever any independent committee makes an expenditure for the purpose of60
financing any communication intended to affect the outcome of an election, such61
communication shall clearly state that it has been financed by such independent62
committee.63
(4) A