Contribution Limits For County Offices

Current law regulating campaign finance does not set limits on contributions to candidates for a county office. Section 1 of the bill sets the maximum amount of aggregate contributions that certain persons may make to a candidate committee of a candidate for a county office, and that a candidate committee for such candidate may accept from such persons, as follows:

• In the case of any person other than a small donor committee or a political party, $1,250 for both the primary and general elections;
• In the case of a small donor committee, $12,500 for both the primary and general elections; and
• In the case of a political party, $22,125 for the applicable election cycle.

The bill defines 'county office' to mean a county commissioner, county clerk and recorder, sheriff, coroner, treasurer, assessor, or surveyor.

Section 1 also specifies that the contribution limits in the bill are required to be adjusted for inflation in the same manner as other contribution limits specified in the state constitution.

The bill also makes statutory requirements governing the disclosure of campaign finance information and the filing of disclosure reports applicable to a contribution made to, or received by, a candidate committee of a candidate for a county office.

Section 2 makes a conforming amendment.

For the 2017-18 state fiscal year, section 3 appropriates $10,000 to the department of state from the department of state cash fund. The department may use this appropriation for personal services related to information technology services.
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)