Section 3-4102. ORGANIZATION OF EXPLORATORY COMMITTEES

 

4102.1An exploratory committee shall be deemed "organized" when any person, or group of persons, formally agree, orally or in writing, and with the consent of the prospective candidate, to examine or explore the feasibility of becoming a candidate for an elective office in the District of Columbia.

 

4102.2Each exploratory committee shall file a Statement of Organization form, prescribed by the Director of the Office of Campaign Finance (the Director) (OCF), within ten (10) days of organization.

 

4102.3An exploratory committee shall amend its Statement of Organization within ten (10) days of any change in the information previously reported on its Statement of Organization.

 

4102.4If an exploratory committee that has filed at least one (1) Statement of Organization disbands or determines that it will no longer receive contributions or make expenditures during a calendar year, it must so notify the Director immediately and file a final Report of Receipts & Expenditures (R&E Report).

 

4102.5An exploratory committee shall have a chairperson and a treasurer, and may elect to list a designated agent, in the Statement of Organization filed pursuant to § 4102.2.

 

4102.6No person may simultaneously serve as the chairperson and treasurer of an exploratory committee.

 

4102.7A chairperson shall be required to file a Statement of Acceptance of Position of Chairperson form with the Director within five (5) days of assuming the office.

 

4102.8A chairperson shall be required to file a Statement of Withdrawal of Position of Chairperson form with the Director within five (5) days of vacating the office.

 

4102.9A treasurer shall be required to file a Statement of Acceptance of Position of Treasurer form with the Director within forty-eight (48) hours of assuming the office.

 

4102.10A treasurer shall be required to appear in person at the Office of Campaign Finance to attend a training program pursuant to § 3001 of Chapter 30 within fifteen (15) days of submitting the Statement of Acceptance of Treasurer form in accordance with § 4102.9.

 

4102.11A treasurer shall be required to file a Statement of Withdrawal of Position of Treasurer form with the Director within forty-eight (48) hours of vacating the office.

 

4102.12When either the office of chairperson or treasurer is vacant, the exploratory committee shall:

 

(a) Designate a successor chairperson or treasurer within five (5) days of the vacancy; and

 

(b)Amend its Statement of Organization within ten (10) days of the designation of the successor; provided, that the successor officer agrees to accept the position.

 

4102.13The treasurer of an exploratory committee shall obtain and preserve receipted bills and records in accordance with § 3400.2 of Chapter 34 of this title.

 

4102.14An exploratory committee shall neither accept a contribution nor make an expenditure while the office of treasurer is vacant, and no other person has been designated and agreed to perform the functions of treasurer.

 

4102.15Each expenditure made for, or on behalf of, an exploratory committee shall be authorized by either:

 

(a)The chairperson;

 

(b) The treasurer; or

 

(c) Their designated agent, as listed on the Statement of Organization filed under § 4102.2.

 

4102.16No expenditures may be made by an exploratory committee except by check drawn payable to the person to whom the expenditure is being made on the account at a bank designated by the exploratory committee as its depository in its Statement of Organization.

 

4102.17A detailed account of each contribution or expenditure of fifty ($50) or more for or on behalf of an exploratory committee shall be submitted to the treasurer of such committee within five (5) days of the receipt of the contribution or the making of the expenditure upon the treasurer’s demand. 

 

4102.18 The detailed account submitted pursuant to § 4102.16 shall include:

 

(a) The amount of the contribution or expenditure;

 

(b) The name and address (including the occupation and principal place of business, if any) of the contributor or the person (including the business entity) to whom the expenditure was made;

 

(c) The date of the contribution; and

 

(d) In the case of an expenditure, the office sought by the candidate on whose behalf the expenditure was made, if applicable.

 

4102.19All funds of an exploratory committee shall be segregated from, and may not be commingled with, anyone’s personal funds.

 

4102.20Each exploratory committee accepting contributions or making expenditures shall:

 

(a) Designate one or more national banks located in the District of Columbia as the committee’s depository or depositories;

 

(b) Maintain a checking account or accounts at such depository or depositories; and

 

(c)Deposit any contribution received by the committee into that account or accounts.

 

 

authority

The District of Columbia Election Code of 1955, approved August 12, 1955, as amended (69 Stat. 699; D.C. Official Code § 1-1001.05(a)(14) (2014 Repl.)).

source

Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 1402 (February 8, 2013); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 11864 (August 16, 2013); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 3025 (March 13, 2015).