HB 688

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1AN ACT relating to the portion of income tax liability contributed to a political
2 party.
3 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:
4Section 1. KRS 141.071 is amended to read as follows:
5 (1)    The term "political party" shall, for the purposes of this section and KRS 141.072[
6and 141.073], mean those parties who met the requirements of KRS 118.015 on
7January 1 of the taxable year.
8 (2)    Every individual whose income tax liability for the taxable year is as great or
9greater than amounts permitted to be designated under this section, may designate
10that the tax paid or portion thereof be paid, as provided under this section and KRS
11141.072, to a political party. Amounts of individual tax liability permitted to be so
12designated are as follows: for the 1982 taxable year, one dollar and fifty cents
13($1.50); for the 1983 taxable year, one dollar and seventy-five cents ($1.75); and for
14the 1984 taxable year and for every year thereafter, two dollars ($2). In the case of a
15joint return, each spouse shall, for the purposes of this section, be considered to
16have an equal tax liability and may each designate amounts as provided in this
17section, provided that the joint tax liability is at least as great as amounts jointly so
18designated. Such designation shall not increase or decrease the income tax liability
19of any taxpayer nor shall it reduce the overpayment of any taxpayer.
20 (3)    This section applies to taxable years beginning before January 1, 2026.
21Section 2. KRS 141.072 is amended to read as follows:
22 For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2026, the designation for a political party
23 shall appear on the face of the individual income tax return. Fifty cents ($0.50) of any
24 designation pursuant to KRS 141.071 shall be reserved for remittance to the appropriate
25 official of the local governing authority of the designated political party within the
26 taxpayer's resident county. The remainder of the designation shall be reserved for
27 remittance to the appropriate official of the state governing authority of the designated
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1 political party. The commissioner of the Department of Revenue shall annually certify by
2 December 1 all such designated amounts to be paid by the State Treasurer, and the
3 Treasurer shall annually remit by the following January 1 such funds to the appropriate
4 official of the state and local governing authorities of the designated political party.
5Section 3. KRS 121.180 is amended to read as follows:
6 (1)    (a)    1.  Persons becoming a candidate as defined in KRS 121.015(8) or slate of
7candidates as defined in KRS 121.015(9), or a political issues committee
8as defined in KRS 121.015(3)(d), shall submit a form prescribed and
9furnished by the registry indicating whether they intend to raise or spend
10in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) in any one (1) election, or
11that contributions will not be accepted or expended in excess of five
12thousand dollars ($5,000) in any one (1) election. Candidates and slates
13of candidates shall submit this form to the registry within five (5) days
14of receiving contributions or making expenditures with a view to
15bringing about his or her nomination or election to public office, or
16within five (5) days of filing papers to run for public office, whichever is
17sooner. Candidates and slates of candidates who advance to a regular
18election following a primary shall submit this form to the registry within
19five (5) days after the date of the primary. Political issues committees
20shall submit the form to the registry within five (5) days of meeting the
21definition of political issues committee in KRS 121.015(3)(d).
222.  Each candidate, slate of candidates, or political issues committee
23indicating that contributions will not be accepted or expended in excess
24of five thousand dollars ($5,000) in any one (1) election shall be exempt
25from filing any campaign finance reports required by subsection (3) of
26this section.
273.  A separate form shall be required for each primary, regular, or special
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1election in which the candidate or slate of candidates participates or in
2which the public question appears on the ballot. The form shall be
3submitted by means of electronic filing with the registry.
44.  Any person acting as a candidate or slate of candidates by receiving
5contributions or making expenditures with a view to bringing about his
6or her nomination or election to public office, or filing papers to run for
7public office, or group of persons acting as a political issues committee,
8who fails to file this form as required, or who fails to remedy a
9deficiency within five (5) days, may be fined by the registry an amount
10not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200) per day, up to a maximum
11total fine of five thousand dollars ($5,000).
12(b)    For a primary, a candidate or slate of candidates shall file a request for
13exemption not later than the deadline described in paragraph (a) of this
14subsection for filing nomination papers and, except as provided in
15subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this subsection, shall be bound by its
16terms unless it is rescinded in writing not later than thirty (30) days preceding
17the primary. For a regular election, a candidate or slate of candidates shall file
18or rescind in writing a request for exemption not later than sixty (60) days
19preceding the regular election, except as provided in subparagraph 2. of
20paragraph (c) of this subsection. For a special election, a candidate or slate of
21candidates shall file a request for exemption not later than ten (10) days after
22the candidate or slate of candidates is nominated for a special election and
23shall be bound by its terms unless it is rescinded in writing not later than thirty
24(30) days preceding the special election. A political issues committee chair
25shall file a request for exemption when the committee registers with the
26registry and shall be bound by its terms unless it is rescinded in writing not
27later than thirty (30) days preceding the date the issue appears on the ballot.
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1(c)    1.  A candidate or slate of candidates that revokes a request for exemption
2in a timely manner shall file all reports required of a candidate intending
3to raise or spend in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) in an
4election. To revoke the request for an exemption, the candidate or slate
5of candidates shall file the appropriate form with the registry not later
6than the deadline for filing a revocation.
72.  A candidate or slate of candidates that is exempted from campaign
8finance reporting requirements pursuant to paragraph (a) of this
9subsection but who accepts contributions or makes expenditures in
10excess of the exempted amount in an election, shall file all applicable
11reports required for the remainder of that election, based upon the
12amount of contributions or expenditures the candidate or slate of
13candidates accepts or receives in that election.
14(d)    Any candidate or slate of candidates that is subject to a June or August filing
15deadline and that intends to execute a request for exemption shall file the
16appropriate request for exemption not later than the deadline described in
17paragraph (a) of this subsection and, except as provided in subparagraph 2. of
18paragraph (c) of this subsection, shall be bound by its terms unless it is
19rescinded in writing not later than sixty (60) days preceding the regular
20election. A candidate or slate of candidates that is covered by this paragraph
21shall have the same reversion rights as those provided in subparagraph 1. of
22paragraph (c) of this subsection.
23(e)    Any candidate or slate of candidates that will appear on the ballot in a regular
24election that has signed a request for exemption for that election may exercise
25the reversion rights provided in subparagraph 1. of paragraph (c) of this
26subsection if a candidate or slate of candidates that is subject to a June or
27August filing deadline subsequently files in opposition to the candidate or
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1slate of candidates. Except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of
2this subsection, a candidate or slate of candidates covered by this paragraph
3shall comply with the deadline for rescission provided in subparagraph 1. of
4paragraph (c) of this subsection.
5(f)    Except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this subsection, any
6candidate or slate of candidates that has filed a request for exemption for a
7regular election that later is opposed by a person who has filed a declaration
8of intent to receive write-in votes may rescind the request for exemption and
9exercise the reversion rights provided in subparagraph 1. of paragraph (c) of
10this subsection.
11(g)    Any candidate or slate of candidates that has filed a request for exemption
12may petition the registry to determine whether another person is campaigning
13as a write-in candidate prior to having filed a declaration of intent to receive
14write-in votes, and, if the registry determines upon a preponderance of the
15evidence that a person who may later be a write-in candidate is conducting a
16campaign, the candidate or slate of candidates, except as provided in
17subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this subsection, may petition the registry
18to permit the candidate or slate of candidates to exercise the reversion rights
19provided in subparagraph 1. of paragraph (c) of this subsection.
20(h)    If the opponent of a candidate or slate of candidates is replaced due to his or
21her withdrawal because of death, disability, or disqualification, the candidate
22or slate of candidates, except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c)
23of this subsection, may exercise the reversion rights provided in subparagraph
241. of paragraph (c) of this subsection not later than fifteen (15) days after the
25party executive committee nominates a replacement for the withdrawn
26candidate or slate of candidates.
27(i)    A person intending to be a write-in candidate for any office in a regular or
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1special election may execute a request for exemption under paragraph (a) of
2this subsection and shall be bound by its terms unless it is rescinded in writing
3not later than fifteen (15) days preceding the regular or special election. A
4person intending to be a write-in candidate who revokes a request for
5exemption in a timely manner shall file all reports required of a candidate
6intending to raise or spend in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) in an
7election. Except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this
8subsection, a person intending to be a write-in candidate who revokes a
9request for exemption shall file the appropriate form with the registry.
10(j)    Except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this subsection, the
11campaign committee of any candidate or slate of candidates that has filed a
12request for exemption or a political issues committee whose chair has filed a
13request for exemption shall be bound by its terms unless it is rescinded in a
14timely manner.
15(k)    1.  Except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this
16subsection, any candidate, slate of candidates, or political issues
17committee that is exempt from filing campaign finance reports pursuant
18to paragraph (a), (d), or (i) of this subsection that accepts contributions
19or makes expenditures, or whose campaign treasurer accepts
20contributions or makes expenditures, in excess of the applicable limit in
21any one (1) election without rescinding the request for exemption in a
22timely manner shall comply with all applicable reporting requirements
23and, in lieu of other penalties prescribed by law, pay a fine of not less
24than five hundred dollars ($500).
252.  Except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this
26subsection, a candidate, slate of candidates, campaign committee, or
27political issues committee that is exempt from filing campaign finance
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1reports pursuant to paragraph (a), (d), or (i) of this subsection that
2knowingly accepts contributions or makes expenditures in excess of the
3applicable spending limit in any one (1) election without rescinding the
4request for exemption in a timely manner shall comply with all
5applicable reporting requirements and shall be guilty of a Class D
6felony.
7(l)    1.  Any candidate exempt from filing under this subsection for a primary
8shall file a report described in subsection (4) of this section.
92.  Any candidate exempt from filing under this subsection for a primary
10who advances to the regular election shall file for an additional
11exemption under this section for the regular election or the candidate
12shall no longer be exempt from the filing requirements.
133.  In the event a candidate exempt from filing under this subsection is no
14longer eligible for the exemption, he or she shall immediately file for a
15revocation of the exemption under paragraph (c) of this subsection.
16 (2)    (a)    State and county executive committees, and caucus campaign committees
17shall make a full report, upon a prescribed form, to the registry, of all money,
18loans, or other things of value, received from any source, and expenditures
19authorized, incurred, or made, since the date of the last report, including:
201.  For each contribution of any amount made by a permanent committee,
21the name and business address of the permanent committee, the date of
22the contribution, the amount contributed, and a description of the major
23business, social, or political interest represented by the permanent
24committee;
252.  For other contributions in excess of one hundred dollars ($100), the full
26name, address, age if less than the legal voting age, the date of the
27contribution, the amount of the contribution, and the employer and
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1occupation of each contributor. If the contributor is self-employed, the
2name under which he or she is doing business shall be listed;
33.  The total amount of cash contributions received during the reporting
4period; and
54.  A complete statement of expenditures authorized, incurred, or made.
6The complete statement of expenditures shall include the name and
7address of each person to whom an expenditure is made in excess of
8twenty-five dollars ($25), and the amount, date, and purpose of each
9expenditure.
10(b)    In addition to the reporting requirements in paragraph (a) of this subsection,
11the state executive committee of a political party that has established a
12building fund account under KRS 121.172 shall make a full report, upon a
13prescribed form, to the registry, of all contributions received from any source,
14and expenditures authorized, incurred, or made, since the date of the last
15report for the separate building fund account, including:
161.  For each contribution of any amount made by a corporation, the name
17and business address of the corporation, the date of the contribution, the
18amount contributed, and a description of the major business conducted
19by the corporation;
202.  For other contributions in excess of one hundred dollars ($100), the full
21name and address of the contributor, the date of the contribution, the
22amount of the contribution, and the employer and occupation of each
23contributor. If the contributor is self-employed, the name under which
24he or she is doing business shall be listed;
253.  The total amount of cash contributions received during the reporting
26period; and
274.  A complete statement of expenditures authorized, incurred, or made.
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1The complete statement of expenditures shall include the name and
2address of each person to whom an expenditure is made in excess of
3twenty-five dollars ($25), and the amount, date, and purpose of each
4expenditure.
5(c)    The report required by paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be made on a
6semiannual basis if the committee has more than ten thousand dollars
7($10,000) in its campaign fund account, and shall be received by the registry
8by January 31 and by July 31. The January report shall cover the period from
9July 1 to December 31. The July report shall cover the period from January 1
10to June 30. If the committee has less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in its
11campaign fund account the report required by paragraph (a) of this subsection
12shall be made on an annual basis, and shall be received by the registry by
13January 31. If an individual gives a reportable contribution to a caucus
14campaign committee or to a state or county executive committee with the
15intention that the contribution or a portion of the contribution go to a
16candidate or slate of candidates, the name of the contributor and the sum shall
17be indicated on the committee report. The report required by paragraph (b) of
18this subsection relating to a state executive committee's building fund account
19shall be received by the registry within two (2) business days after the close of
20each calendar quarter. The receipts and expenditures of funds remitted to each
21political party under KRS 141.071 and 141.072[to 141.073 ]shall be
22separately accounted for and reported to the registry in the manner required by
23KRS 121.230. The separate report may be made a separate section within the
24report required by this subsection to be received by the registry by January 31.
25 (3)    (a)    Except for candidates or slates of candidates, campaign committees, or
26political issues committees exempted from reporting requirements pursuant to
27subsection (1) of this section, each campaign treasurer of a candidate, slate of
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1candidates, campaign committee, or political issues committee who accepts
2contributions or expends, expects to accept contributions or expend, or
3contracts to expend more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) in any one (1)
4election, and each fundraiser who secures contributions in excess of five
5thousand dollars ($5,000) in any one (1) election, shall make a full report to
6the registry, on a form provided or using a format approved by the registry, of
7all money, loans, or other things of value, received from any source, and
8expenditures authorized, incurred, and made, since the date of the last report,
9including:
101.  For each contribution of any amount made by a permanent committee,
11the name and business address of the permanent committee, the date of
12the contribution, the amount contributed, and a description of the major
13business, social, or political interest represented by the permanent
14committee;
152.  For each contribution in excess of one hundred dollars ($100) made to
16any candidate or campaign committee or a political issues committee,
17the full name, address, age if less than the legal voting age, the date of
18the contribution, the amount of the contribution, and the employer and
19occupation of each other contributor. If the contributor is self-employed,
20the name under which he or she is doing business shall be listed;
213.  The total amount of cash contributions received during the reporting
22period; and
234.  A complete statement of all expenditures authorized, incurred, or made.
24The complete statement of expenditures shall include the name, address,
25and occupation of each person to whom an expenditure is made in
26excess of twenty-five dollars ($25), and the amount, date, and purpose
27of each expenditure.
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1(b)    Reports of all candidates, slates of candidates, campaign committees,
2independent expenditure-only committees, political issues committees, and
3registered fundraisers shall be made as follows:
41.  a.   Candidates seeking statewide office, slates of candidates,
5campaign committees for candidates seeking statewide office and
6for slates of candidates, independent expenditure-only committees,
7political issues committees, and fundraisers which file the form
8described in subsection (1)(a) of this section before the year of an
9election in which the candidate, a slate of candidates, or public
10question shall appear on the ballot, shall file financial reports with
11the registry at the end of the first calendar quarter after persons
12become statewide candidates or slates of candidates, or following
13registration of the committee or fundraiser, and each calendar
14quarter thereafter, ending with the last calendar quarter of that
15year. The provisions of this subparagraph shall be retroactive to
16January 1, 2021;
17b.   All other candidates and campaign committees shall file annual
18financial reports to be received by the registry on or before
19December 1 for each year that a candidate is not yet on the ballot
20but has filed a form as described in subsection (1)(a) of this
21section with the registry for a future-year election; and
22c.   Candidates, slate of candidates, or committees shall make all
23reports required by subparagraphs 2. to 5. of this paragraph during
24the year in which the election takes place;
252.  All candidates, slates of candidates, campaign committees, independent
26expenditure-only committees, political issues committees, and registered
27fundraisers shall make reports on the sixtieth day preceding a regular
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1election, including all previous contributions and expenditures;
23.  All candidates, slates of candidates, campaign committees, independent
3expenditure-only committees, political issues committees, and registered
4fundraisers shall make reports on the thirtieth day preceding an election,
5including all previous contributions and expenditures;
64.  All candidates, slates of candidates, campaign committees, independent
7expenditure-only committees, political issues committees, and registered
8fundraisers shall make reports on the fifteenth day preceding the date of
9the election; and
105.  All reports to the registry shall cover campaign activity during the entire
11reporting period and must be received by the registry within two (2)
12business days after the date the reporting period ends to be deemed
13timely filed.
14 (4)    All candidates, regardless of funds received or expended, campaign committees,
15independent expenditure-only committees, political issues committees, and
16registered fundraisers shall make post-election reports within thirty (30) days after
17the election. All post-election reports to the registry shall cover campaign activity
18during the entire reporting period and must be received by the registry within two
19(2) business days after the date the reporting period ends to be deemed timely filed.
20For candidates, slates of candidates, and political issues committees otherwise
21exempt under subsection (1)(a) of this section, the reporting period begins the day
22the request for exemption is filed with the registry and continues through the
23thirtieth day after the election.
24 (5)    In making the preceding reports, the total gross receipts from each of the following
25categories shall be listed: proceeds from the sale of tickets for events such as
26testimonial affairs, dinners, luncheons, rallies, and similar fundraising events, mass
27collections made at the events, and sales of items such as campaign pins, buttons,
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1hats, ties, literature, and similar materials. When any individual purchase or the
2aggregate purchases of any item enumerated above from a candidate or slate of
3candidates for a statewide-elected state office or a campaign committee for a
4candidate or slate of candidates for a statewide-elected state office exceeds one
5hundred dollars ($100), the purchaser shall be identified by name, address, age, if
6less than the legal voting age, occupation, and employer or, if the purchaser is self-
7employed, the name under which he or she is doing business, and the amount of the
8purchase. When any individual purchase or the aggregate purchases of any item
9enumerated above from any candidate or campaign committee other than a
10candidate or slate of candidates for a statewide-elected state office or campaign
11committee for a candidate or slate of candidates for a statewide-elected state office
12exceeds one hundred dollars ($100), the purchaser shall be identified by name,
13address, age if less than the legal voting age, occupation, and employer or, if the
14purchaser is self-employed, the name under which he or she is doing business, and
15the amount of the purchase. The lists shall be maintained by the campaign treasurer,
16political issues committee treasurer, registered fundraiser, or other sponsor for
17inspection by the registry for six (6) years following the date of the election.
18 (6)    Each permanent committee, except a federally registered political committee as
19defined in 52 U.S.C. sec. 30101(4)(a), inaugural committee, or contributing
20organization shall make a full report to the registry, on a form provided or using a
21format approved by the registry, of all money, loans, or other things of value,
22received by it from any source, and all expenditures authorized, incurred, or made,
23since the date of the last report, including:
24(a)    For each contribution of any amount made by a permanent committee, the
25name and business address of the permanent committee, the date of the
26contribution, the amount contributed, and a description of the major business,
27social, or political interest represented by the permanent committee;
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1(b)    For other contributions in excess of one hundred dollars ($100), the full name,
2address, age if under the legal voting age, the date of the contribution, the
3amount of the contribution, and the employer and occupation of each
4contributor. If the contributor is self-employed, the name under which he or
5she is doing business shall be listed;
6(c)    An aggregate amount of cash contributions, the amount contributed by each
7contributor, and the date of each contribution; and
8(d)    A complete statement of all expenditures authorized, incurred, or made,
9including independent expenditures. This report shall be made by a permanent
10committee, inaugural committee, or contributing organization to the registry
11on the last day of the first calendar quarter following the registration of the
12committee with the registry and on the last day of each succeeding calendar
13quarter until such time as the committee terminates. A contributing
14organization shall file a report of contributions received and expenditures on a
15form provided or using a format approved by the registry not later than the
16last day of each calendar quarter in which contributions are received or
17expenditures are made. All reports to the registry shall be received on or
18before each filing deadline, and any report received by the registry within two
19(2) business days after each filing deadline shall be deemed timely filed.
20 (7)    If the final statement of a candidate, campaign committee, independent expenditure-
21only committee, or political issues committee shows an unexpended balance of
22contributions, continuing debts and obligations, or an expenditure deficit, the
23campaign treasurer shall file with the registry a supplemental statement of
24contributions and expenditures not more than thirty (30) days after the deadline for
25filing the final statement. Subsequent supplemental statements shall be filed
26annually, to be received by the registry by December 1 of each year, until the
27account shows no unexpended balance, continuing debts and obligations,
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1expenditures, or deficit. All post-election reports to the registry shall cover
2campaign activity during the entire reporting period and must be received by the
3registry within two (2) business days after the date the reporting period ends to be
4deemed timely filed. All contributions shall be subject to KRS 121.150 as of the
5date of the election in which the candidate appeared on the ballot.
6 (8)    All reports filed under the provisions of this chapter shall be a matter of public
7record open to inspection by any member of the public immediately upon receipt of
8the report by the registry.
9 (9)    A candidate or slate of candidates is relieved of the duty personally to file reports
10and keep records of receipts and expenditures if the candidate or slate states in
11writing or on forms provided by the registry that:
12(a)    Within five (5) business days after personally receiving any contributions, the
13candidate or slate of candidates shall surrender possession of the contributions
14to the treasurer of their campaign committee without expending any of the
15proceeds thereof. No contributions shall be commingled with the candidate's
16or slated candidates' personal funds or accounts. Contributions received by
17check, money order, or other written instrument shall be endorsed directly to
18the campaign committee and shall not be cashed or redeemed by the
19candidate;
20(b)    The candidate or slate of candidates shall not make any unreimbursed
21expenditure for the campaign, except that this paragraph does not preclude a
22candidate or slate from making an expenditure from personal funds to the
23designated campaign committee, which shall be reported by the committee as
24a contribution received; and
25(c)    The waiver shall continue in effect as long as the candidate or slate of
26candidates complies with the conditions under which it was granted.
27 (10) (a)      No candidate, slate of candidates, campaign committee, independent
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1expenditure-only committee, political issues committee, or contributing
2organization shall use or permit the use of contributions or funds solicited or
3received for the person or in support of or opposition to a public issue which
4will appear on the ballot to:
51.  Further the candidacy of the person for a different public office;
62.  Support or oppose a different public issue; or
73.  Further the candidacy of any other person for public office.
8(b)    Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to prohibit a candidate or slate of
9candidates from using funds in a campaign account to contribute directly to
10another candidate or slate of candidates for state or federal office, or to
11purchase admission tickets for any fundraising event or testimonial affair for
12another candidate or slate of candidates for state or federal office, if the
13amount of the purchase or contribution does not exceed the individual
14contribution limit contained in KRS 121.150(6) or 52 U.S.C. sec. 30116 in
15any one (1) election.
16(c)    Any funds or contributions solicited or received by or on behalf of a
17candidate, slate of candidates, or any committee, which has been organized in
18whole or in part to further any candidacy for the same person or to support or
19oppose the same public issue, shall be deemed to have been solicited or
20received for the current candidacy or for the election on the public issue if the
21funds or contributions are solicited or received at any time prior to the regular
22election for which the candidate, slate of candidates, or public issue is on the
23ballot.
24(d)    Any unexpended balance of funds not otherwise obligated for the payment of
25expenses incurred to further a political issue or the candidacy of a person
26shall, in whole or in part, at the election of the candidate or committee:
271.  Escheat to the State Treasury;
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12.  Be returned pro rata to all contributors;
23.  In the case of a partisan candidate, be transferred to:
3a.    A caucus campaign committee; or
4b.    The state or county executive committee of the political party of
5which the candidate is a member;
64.  Be retained to further the same public issue or to seek election to the
7same office; or
85.  Be donated to any charitable, nonprofit, or educational institution
9recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal
10Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor thereto, from
11which the candidate or committee receives no financial benefit.
12 (11) If adequate and appropriate agency funds are available to implement this
13subsection, electronic reporting shall be made available by the registry to all
14candidates, slates of candidates, committees, contributing organizations, registered
15fundraisers, and persons making independent expenditures. The electronic report
16submitted to the registry shall be the official campaign finance report for audit and
17other legal purposes, whether mandated or filed by choice.
18 (12) The date that an electronic or on-line report shall be deemed to have been filed with
19the registry shall be the date on which it is received by the registry.
20 (13) All electronic or online filers shall affirm, under penalty of perjury, that the report
21filed with the registry is complete and accurate.
22 (14) Filers who submit electronic campaign finance reports which are not readable, or
23cannot be copied shall be deemed to not be in compliance with the requirements set
24forth in this section.
25 (15) Beginning with the primary scheduled in calendar year 2020, and for each
26subsequent election scheduled thereafter, reports required to be submitted to the
27registry involving candidates, slates of candidates, committees, contributing
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1organizations, and independent expenditures shall be reported electronically.
2 (16) (a)      On each form that the registry supplies for the reports required under
3subsections (2), (3), and (6) of this section, the registry shall include an entry
4reading, "No change since last report."
5(b)    If a person or entity that is required to report under subsection (2), (3), or (6)
6of this section has received no money, loans, or other things of value from any
7source since the date of its last report and has not authorized, incurred, or
8made any expenditures since that date, the person or entity may check or
9otherwise designate the entry that reads, "No change since last report." A
10person or entity designating this entry in a report shall state the balance
11carried forward from the last report but need not specify receipts or
12expenditures in further detail.
13Section 4. KRS 121.230 is amended to read as follows:
14 (1)    (a)    No state or local governing authority of a political party to which funds are
15remitted under KRS 141.071 and 141.072[to 141.073] shall use such funds
16other than in support of the party's candidates in a general election and for the
17administrative costs of maintaining a political party headquarters.
18(b)    Permissible expenditures for the administrative costs of maintaining a
19political party headquarters shall be limited to payments for or purchases of:
201.  Leases, mortgages, insurance, property taxes, and legal expenses;
212.  Appliances and fixtures;
223.  Utilities, pest control, lawn care, security, cleaning, trash removal, and
23necessary equipment and supplies related thereto;
244.  Equipment for internet, telephone, cable or satellite television, or other
25communications services;
265.  Major and minor repairs to the political party headquarters, including
27but not limited to the facility's roof, foundation, and structure, and to the
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1facility's plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems; and
26.  Office supplies, including but not limited to desks, chairs, computers,
3printers, copiers, paper, and ink.
4 (2)    Each state or local governing authority of a political party to which funds are
5remitted under KRS 141.071 and 141.072[to 141.073] shall deposit such funds in a
6bank account and shall report the amount of such funds received as a separate entry
7on its committee report. All expenditures from such remitted funds shall be by
8check. A copy of each canceled check written on the account of funds remitted
9under KRS 141.071 and 141.072[to 141.073] shall be retained by the state or local
10governing authority of the political party for a period of not less than four (4) years.
11 (3)    The designated official of each state or local governing authority of a political party
12to which funds are remitted under KRS 141.071 and 141.072[to 141.073] shall
13maintain a current record of the receipts, balance, and expenditures of the funds so
14remitted. In addition, the official shall, by January 31 each year, forward to the
15Registry of Election Finance a report of:
16(a)    The unexpended and unobligated balance of such remitted funds; and
17(b)    An itemized listing of each expenditure authorized, incurred or made from
18such remitted funds, indicating the amount, date, and purpose of each
19expenditure, regardless of the amount, and the name, address, and occupation
20of each person to whom an expenditure of fifty dollars ($50) or more was
21made, since the date of the last report.
22 (4)    The reports required by subsection (3) of this section shall be a matter of public
23record open to inspection by any member of the public immediately upon receipt of
24the report by the registry.
25 (5)    The Registry of Election Finance may annually audit the accounts and records of
26receipts and expenditures of funds in the amount of one thousand five hundred
27dollars ($1,500) or less that are remitted to each state or local governing authority
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1of a political party under KRS 141.071 and 141.072[to 141.073]. The registry shall
2annually audit the accounts and records of receipts and expenditures of funds in the
3amount of more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) that are remitted to
4each state or local governing authority of a political party under KRS 141.071 and
5141.072[to 141.073]. The registry shall report the results of each audit conducted to
6the General Assembly. In the course of such audits, the registry or its authorized
7agents may ascertain the amount of such remitted funds on deposit in the separate
8bank account, required by subsection (2) of this section, of the political party
9audited and may audit the account on the books of the bank. No bank shall be liable
10for making available to the registry any of the information required under this
11section.
12Section 5. The following KRS section is repealed:
13 141.073 Rules and regulations.
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