§ 13-220. Campaign accounts

   (a) Requirement. --

   (1) Each campaign finance entity shall designate one or more campaign accounts.

   (2) Each designated campaign account shall:

      (i) be in a financial institution; and

      (ii) be registered in a manner that identifies it as the account of a campaign finance entity.

   (3) A campaign finance entity shall deposit all funds received in a designated campaign account.

(b) Disbursements -- In general. --

   (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection and subsection (c) of this section, a campaign finance entity may not directly or indirectly make a disbursement except from a campaign account designated under subsection (a) of this section.

   (2) A campaign finance entity, or a person authorized by the campaign finance entity, may pay an expense of the campaign finance entity from funds other than a campaign account if:

      (i) the expense is supported by a receipt that is provided to the campaign finance entity; and

      (ii) the campaign finance entity reimburses the person who paid the expense from the campaign account and reports the expense as an expenditure of the campaign finance entity in accordance with Subtitle 3 of this title.

(c) Petty cash fund. --

   (1) A campaign finance entity may maintain a petty cash fund.

   (2) The campaign finance entity shall maintain a separate account book for the petty cash fund.

   (3) The petty cash fund:

      (i) may not exceed $ 250 at any time; and

      (ii) may be replenished only by check from a campaign account designated under subsection (a) of this section.

   (4) Not more than $ 25 may be disbursed from the petty cash fund in a primary or general election to a single recipient.

   (5) Each petty cash expenditure shall be supported by a receipt and reported by category on the appropriate campaign finance report.

   (6) This subsection does not authorize an expenditure that otherwise is unlawful under this article.

(d) Disbursement by check or electronic method. --

   (1) A campaign finance entity may make a disbursement only by:

      (i) check; or

      (ii) an electronic method that the State Board authorizes by regulation.

   (2) An electronic method of making a disbursement that the State Board authorizes under this subsection shall ensure that:

      (i) the identity of the person making the disbursement may be verified;

      (ii) the transaction is secure; and

      (iii) there is an adequate record of the transaction.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 33, § 13-204(a)-(c); 2002, ch. 291, § 4; 2011, ch. 287.