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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND ETHICS
NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING
The District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics pursuant to the authority set forth in D.C. Official Code § 1-1103.01 (b-1) (1) (2011 Repl.), hereby gives notice of its intent to adopt the following amendments to chapter 30, Campaign Finance Operations, of title 3 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations no less than thirty (30) days from the date of the publication of this notice in the D.C. Register.
The proposed amendments represent updates to the rules of the Board’s Office of Campaign Finance (OCF). Specifically, the rules will require political committees supporting a candidate or candidates in the primary election conducted by the Board of Elections and Ethics in April of any calendar year, to file Reports of Receipts and Expenditures (OCF Form 16) in the seven (7) months preceding the date on which the election is held for the office the candidate is seeking. This change was mandated by the recently enacted Campaign Finance Reporting Emergency Amendment Act of 2011, effective July 11, 2011 (A19-95; 58 DCR 5818), signed by the Mayor on July 15, 2011.
Section 3017, Filings and Deadlines, of chapter 30, Campaign Finance Operations, of 3 DCMR, is amended to read as follows:
3017 FILINGS AND DEADLINES
3017.1 All candidates and political committees, except as otherwise noted in this chapter, shall file Reports of Receipts and Expenditures (R&E Reports) on the following dates:
(a) March 10, June 10, August 10, October 10, and December 10 in the seven (7) months preceding the date on which an election is held for which the candidate seeks office and the political committee supports a candidate for office;
(b) January 31, March 10, June 10, August 10, October 10, December 10, and the eighth (8th) day next preceding the date of any election, in any year in which there is held an election for which the candidate seeks office and the political committee supports a candidate for office;
(c) January 31 and July 31; provided, that a political committee no later than January 31 declares its intention to not support a candidate during an election year under § 3000.10 of this chapter; and
(d) January 31 and July 31, in a non-election year; provided, that a political committee no later than July 31 of the non-election year, (January 31) declares its intention to not support a candidate during an election year under § 3000.10 of this chapter.
3017.2 Citizen-service program R&E Reports shall be filed quarterly each year on the first (1st) day of the following months:
(a) January;
(b) April;
(c) July; and
(d) October.
3017.3 Statehood fund R&E Reports shall be filed quarterly each year on the first (1st) day of the following months:
(a) January;
(b) April;
(c) July; and
(d) October.
3017.4 Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, R&E Reports shall be filed, on January 31 and July 31 of each year until all debts and obligations are satisfied, by the following:
(a) Authorized committees pursuant to § 3015.9;
(b) Statehood fund when the U.S. Senator or Representative vacates office; and
(c) Citizen-service program when the elected official, pursuant to § 3014.3, vacates office.
3017.5 All R&E Reports shall contain all financial transactions through and including the fifth (5th) day preceding the filing deadline for each R&E Report; provided, that the reporting period for the next R&E Report shall commence on the day following the closing date of the prior R&E Report.
3017.6 All contributions of two hundred dollars ($200) or more, received after the closing date of the filing deadline for the eighth (8th) day preceding the election Report, shall be reported in writing within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt.
3017.7 All reports and statements filed in person or by first class mail shall be deemed timely filed when received by 5:30 p.m. of the prescribed filing date.
3017.8 All reports and statements electronically filed shall be deemed timely filed if received by midnight of the prescribed filing deadline; provided, that the original paper report, verified by the treasurer, is also filed within five (5) days of the filing deadline, where (the contents of the report is not electronically certified by the filer) a confidential pin number is not used.
3017.9 Upon written request submitted by the candidate or committee, on or before the filing deadline, the Director may allow an extension for filing a Report or statement for a reasonable period of time, for good cause shown.
All persons desiring to comment on the subject matter of this proposed rulemaking should file comments in writing not later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register. Comments should be filed with the Office of the General Counsel, Board of Elections and Ethics, 441 4th Street, N.W., Suite 270N, Washington, D.C. 20001. Copies of the proposed rules may be obtained at cost from the above address, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
