§ 13-505. System of public campaign financing. (Section effective January 1, 2015.)

   (a) County may establish system of public campaign financing for elective offices. --

   (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the governing body of a county may establish, by law, a system of public campaign financing for elective offices in the executive or legislative branches of county government.

   (2) When establishing a system of public campaign financing for elective offices in the executive or legislative branches of county government, the governing body of a county shall specify the criteria that is to be used to determine whether an individual is eligible for public campaign financing.

(b) Requirements. -- A system of public campaign financing enacted under subsection (a) of this section:

   (1) shall provide for participation of candidates in public campaign financing on a strictly voluntary basis;

   (2) may not regulate candidates who choose not to participate in public campaign financing;

   (3) shall prohibit the use of public campaign financing for any campaign except a campaign for county elective office;

   (4) shall require a candidate who accepts public campaign financing to:

      (i) establish a campaign finance entity solely for the campaign for county elective office; and

      (ii) use funds from that campaign finance entity only for the campaign for county elective office;

   (5) shall prohibit a candidate who accepts public campaign financing from transferring funds:

      (i) to the campaign finance entity established to finance the campaign for county elective office from any other campaign finance entity established for the candidate; and

      (ii) from the campaign finance entity established to finance the campaign for county elective office to any other campaign finance entity;

   (6) shall provide for a public election fund for county elective offices that is administered by the chief financial officer of the county; and

   (7) shall be subject to regulation and oversight by the State Board to ensure conformity with State law and policy to the extent practicable.

(c) More stringent regulation of campaign finance activity than provided by State law; administrative penalties. -- A system of public campaign financing enacted under subsection (a) of this section may:

   (1) provide for more stringent regulation of campaign finance activity by candidates who choose to accept public campaign financing, including contributions, expenditures, reporting, and campaign material, than is provided for by State law; and

   (2) provide for administrative penalties for violations, in accordance with Article 25A, § 5 of the Code.

HISTORY: 2013, ch. 419, § 1.