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H. B. No. 315 As IntroducedAs Introduced
129th General Assembly | Regular Session | 2011-2012 |
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Representatives Baker, Sears
Cosponsors:
Representatives Adams, R., Blair, Derickson, Gonzales, Grossman, Hagan, C., Henne, Huffman, Landis, Stebelton, Thompson
A BILL
To amend sections 3517.155 and 3517.992 of the
Revised Code to increase the penalties for making
a false statement in campaign materials related to
nomination or election for a statewide office or
office of a member of the General Assembly, or in
regard to any campaign for or against a ballot
question or issue, and to require the person who
made the false statement to pay reasonable
attorney's fees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That sections 3517.155 and 3517.992 of the
Revised Code be amended to read as follows:
Sec. 3517.155. (A)(1) Except as otherwise provided in
division (B) of this section, the Ohio elections commission shall
hold its first hearing on a complaint filed with it, other than a
complaint that receives an expedited hearing under section
3517.156 of the Revised Code, not later than ninety business days
after the complaint is filed unless the commission has good cause
to hold the hearing after that time, in which case it shall hold
the hearing not later than one hundred eighty business days after
the complaint is filed. At the hearing, the commission shall
determine whether or not the failure to act or the violation
alleged in the complaint has occurred and shall do only one of the
following, except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this
section or in division (B) of section 3517.151 of the Revised
Code:
(a) Enter a finding that good cause has been shown not to
impose a fine or not to refer the matter to the appropriate
prosecutor;
(b) Impose a fine under section 3517.993 of the Revised Code;
(c) Refer the matter to the appropriate prosecutor;
(d) Direct the secretary of state or appropriate board of
elections with the authority to certify a candidate to the ballot
to remove a candidate's name from the ballot if the candidate is
barred from the ballot under division (D) of section 3517.1010 of
the Revised Code.
(2) As used in division (A) of this section, "appropriate
prosecutor" means a prosecutor as defined in section 2935.01 of
the Revised Code and either of the following:
(a) In the case of a failure to comply with or a violation of
law involving a campaign committee or the committee's candidate, a
political party, a legislative campaign fund, a political action
committee, or a political contributing entity, that is required to
file a statement of contributions and expenditures with the
secretary of state under division (A) of section 3517.11 of the
Revised Code, the prosecutor of Franklin county;
(b) In the case of a failure to comply with or a violation of
law involving any other campaign committee or committee's
candidate, or any other political party, political action
committee, or political contributing entity either of the
following as determined by the commission:
(i) The prosecutor of Franklin county;
(ii) The prosecutor of the county in which the candidacy or
ballot question or issue is submitted to the electors or, if it is
submitted in more than one county, the most populous of those
counties.
(B)(1) If the commission decides that the evidence is
insufficient for it to determine whether or not the failure to act
or the violation alleged in the complaint has occurred, the
commission, by the affirmative vote of five members, may request
that an investigatory attorney investigate the complaint. Upon
that request, an investigatory attorney shall make an
investigation in order to produce sufficient evidence for the
commission to decide the matter. If the commission requests an
investigation under this division, for good cause shown by the
investigatory attorney, the commission may extend by sixty days
the deadline for holding its first hearing on the complaint as
required in division (A) of this section.
(2) If all of the following apply, the commission shall
require a party who is fined under division (A)(1)(b) of this
section or referred for prosecution under division (A)(1)(c) of
this section, to also pay the reasonable attorney's fees of the
person who filed the complaint with the commission:
(a) The fine or referral for prosecution is made pursuant to
division (B) of section 3517.21 or division (B) of section 3517.22
of the Revised Code for a false statement;
(b) The false statement was made in regard to a campaign for
nomination or election to a statewide office or the office of
member of the general assembly or in regard to any campaign for or
against a ballot question or issue;
(c) The commission determines that the violator made one or
more additional publications of the false statement after a panel
of the commission found probable cause to believe the statement
violated division (B) of section 3517.21 or division (B) of
section 3517.22 of the Revised Code.
(C) The commission shall take one of the actions required
under division (A) of this section not later than thirty days
after the close of all the evidence presented.
(D)(1) The commission shall make any finding of a failure to
comply with or a violation of law in regard to a complaint that
alleges a violation of division (D) of section 3517.1010, division
(A) or (B) of section 3517.21, or division (A) or (B) of section
3517.22 of the Revised Code by clear and convincing evidence. The
commission shall make any finding of a failure to comply with or a
violation of law in regard to any other complaint by a
preponderance of the evidence.
(2) If the commission finds a violation of division (B) of
section 3517.21 or division (B) of section 3517.22 of the Revised
Code, it shall refer the matter to the appropriate prosecutor
under division (A)(1)(c) of this section and shall not impose a
fine under division (A)(1)(b) of this section or section 3517.993
of the Revised Code.
(E) In an action before the commission or a panel of the
commission, if the allegations of the complainant are not proved,
and the commission takes the action described in division
(A)(1)(a) of this section or a panel of the commission takes the
action described in division (C)(1) of section 3517.156 of the
Revised Code, the commission or a panel of the commission may find
that the complaint is frivolous, and, if the commission or panel
so finds, the commission shall order the complainant to pay
reasonable attorney's fees and to pay the costs of the commission
or panel as determined by a majority of the members of the
commission. The costs paid to the commission or panel under this
division shall be deposited into the Ohio elections commission
fund.
Sec. 3517.992. This section establishes penalties only with
respect to acts or failures to act that occur on and after August
24, 1995.
(A)(1) A candidate whose campaign committee violates division
(A), (B), (C), (D), or (V) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code,
or a treasurer of a campaign committee who violates any of those
divisions, shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars for
each day of violation.
(2) Whoever violates division (E) or (X)(5) of section
3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than one
hundred dollars for each day of violation.
(B) A political party that violates division (F)(1) of
section 3517.101 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than
one hundred dollars for each day of violation.
(C) Whoever violates division (F)(2) of section 3517.101 or
division (G) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined
not more than ten thousand dollars or, if the offender is a person
who was nominated or elected to public office, shall forfeit the
nomination or the office to which the offender was elected, or
both.
(D) Whoever violates division (F) of section 3517.13 of the
Revised Code shall be fined not more than three times the amount
contributed.
(E) Whoever violates division (H) of section 3517.13 of the
Revised Code shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars.
(F) Whoever violates division (O), (P), or (Q) of section
3517.13 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the
first degree.
(G) A state or county committee of a political party that
violates division (B)(1) of section 3517.18 of the Revised Code
shall be fined not more than twice the amount of the improper
expenditure.
(H) A state or county political party that violates division
(G) of section 3517.101 of the Revised Code shall be fined not
more than twice the amount of the improper expenditure or use.
(I)(1) Any individual who violates division (B)(1) of section
3517.102 of the Revised Code and knows that the contribution the
individual makes violates that division shall be fined an amount
equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of the
amount permitted by that division.
(2) Any political action committee that violates division
(B)(2) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an
amount equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of
the amount permitted by that division.
(3) Any campaign committee that violates division (B)(3) or
(5) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an
amount equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of
the amount permitted by that division.
(4)(a) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division
(B)(6) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an
amount equal to three times the amount transferred or contributed
in excess of the amount permitted by that division, as applicable.
(b) Any state political party, county political party, or
state candidate fund of a state political party or county
political party that violates division (B)(6) of section 3517.102
of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times
the amount transferred or contributed in excess of the amount
permitted by that division, as applicable.
(c) Any political contributing entity that violates division
(B)(7) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an
amount equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of
the amount permitted by that division.
(5) Any political party that violates division (B)(4) of
section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount
equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of the
amount permitted by that division.
(6) Notwithstanding divisions (I)(1), (2), (3), (4), and (5)
of this section, no violation of division (B) of section 3517.102
of the Revised Code occurs, and the secretary of state shall not
refer parties to the Ohio elections commission, if the amount
transferred or contributed in excess of the amount permitted by
that division meets either of the following conditions:
(a) It is completely refunded within five business days after
it is accepted.
(b) It is completely refunded on or before the tenth business
day after notification to the recipient of the excess transfer or
contribution by the board of elections or the secretary of state
that a transfer or contribution in excess of the permitted amount
has been received.
(J)(1) Any campaign committee that violates division (C)(1),
(2), (3), or (6) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be
fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted in excess
of the amount permitted by that division.
(2)(a) Any county political party that violates division
(C)(4)(a)(ii) or (iii) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code
shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted.
(b) Any county political party that violates division
(C)(4)(a)(i) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be
fined an amount from its state candidate fund equal to three times
the amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that
division.
(c) Any state political party that violates division
(C)(4)(b) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined
an amount from its state candidate fund equal to three times the
amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that
division.
(3) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division
(C)(5) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an
amount equal to three times the amount accepted in excess of the
amount permitted by that division.
(4) Any political action committee or political contributing
entity that violates division (C)(7) of section 3517.102 of the
Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the
amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that
division.
(5) Notwithstanding divisions (J)(1), (2), (3), and (4) of
this section, no violation of division (C) of section 3517.102 of
the Revised Code occurs, and the secretary of state shall not
refer parties to the Ohio elections commission, if the amount
transferred or contributed in excess of the amount permitted to be
accepted by that division meets either of the following
conditions:
(a) It is completely refunded within five business days after
its acceptance.
(b) It is completely refunded on or before the tenth business
day after notification to the recipient of the excess transfer or
contribution by the board of elections or the secretary of state
that a transfer or contribution in excess of the permitted amount
has been received.
(K)(1) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division
(F)(1) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined
twenty-five dollars for each day of violation.
(2) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division
(F)(2) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall give to the
treasurer of state for deposit into the state treasury to the
credit of the Ohio elections commission fund all excess
contributions not disposed of as required by division (E) of
section 3517.102 of the Revised Code.
(L) Whoever violates section 3517.105 of the Revised Code
shall be fined one thousand dollars.
(M)(1) Whoever solicits a contribution in violation of
section 3517.092 or violates division (B) of section 3517.09 of
the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(2) Whoever knowingly accepts a contribution in violation of
division (B) or (C) of section 3517.092 of the Revised Code shall
be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted in
violation of either of those divisions and shall return to the
contributor any amount so accepted. Whoever unknowingly accepts a
contribution in violation of division (B) or (C) of section
3517.092 of the Revised Code shall return to the contributor any
amount so accepted.
(N) Whoever violates division (S) of section 3517.13 of the
Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the
amount of funds transferred or three times the value of the assets
transferred in violation of that division.
(O) Any campaign committee that accepts a contribution or
contributions in violation of section 3517.108 of the Revised
Code, uses a contribution in violation of that section, or fails
to dispose of excess contributions in violation of that section
shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted,
used, or kept in violation of that section.
(P) Any political party, state candidate fund, legislative
candidate fund, or campaign committee that violates division (T)
of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount
equal to three times the amount contributed or accepted in
violation of that section.
(Q) A treasurer of a committee or another person who violates
division (U) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined
not more than two hundred fifty dollars.
(R) Whoever violates division (I) or (J) of section 3517.13
of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than one thousand
dollars. Whenever a person is found guilty of violating division
(I) or (J) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code, the contract
awarded in violation of either of those divisions shall be
rescinded if its terms have not yet been performed.
(S) A candidate whose campaign committee violates or a
treasurer of a campaign committee who violates section 3517.081 of
the Revised Code, and a candidate whose campaign committee
violates or a treasurer of a campaign committee or another person
who violates division (C) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code,
shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.
(T) A candidate whose campaign committee violates or a
treasurer of a committee who violates division (B) of section
3517.09 of the Revised Code, or a candidate whose campaign
committee violates or a treasurer of a campaign committee or
another person who violates division (C) of section 3517.09 of the
Revised Code shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars.
(U) Whoever violates section 3517.20 of the Revised Code
shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.
(V) Whoever violates section 3517.21 or 3517.22 of the
Revised Code shall be imprisoned for not more than six months or
fined not more than five thousand dollars, or both. If the
violation involves a false statement made under division (B) of
section 3517.21 or division (B) of section 3517.22 of the Revised
Code, the false statement was made in regard to a campaign for
nomination or election to a statewide office or the office of
member of the general assembly or in regard to a campaign for or
against a ballot question or issue, and the violator made one or
more additional publications of the false statement after a panel
of the elections commission found probable cause to believe the
statement violated the applicable division, the violator shall be
imprisoned for not more than six months or fined one hundred
thousand dollars, or both, and the violator shall pay the
reasonable attorney's fees of the person filing the complaint.
(W) A campaign committee that is required to file a
declaration of no limits under division (D)(2) of section 3517.103
of the Revised Code that, before filing that declaration, accepts
a contribution or contributions that exceed the limitations
prescribed in section 3517.102 of the Revised Code, shall return
that contribution or those contributions to the contributor.
(X) Any campaign committee that fails to file the declaration
of filing-day finances required by division (F) of section
3517.109 or the declaration of primary-day finances or declaration
of year-end finances required by division (E) of section 3517.1010
of the Revised Code shall be fined twenty-five dollars for each
day of violation.
(Y) Any campaign committee that fails to dispose of excess
funds or excess aggregate contributions under division (B) of
section 3517.109 of the Revised Code in the manner required by
division (C) of that section or under division (B) of section
3517.1010 of the Revised Code in the manner required by division
(C) of that section shall give to the treasurer of state for
deposit into the Ohio elections commission fund created under
division (I) of section 3517.152 of the Revised Code all funds not
disposed of pursuant to those divisions.
(Z) Any individual, campaign committee, political action
committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign
fund, political party, or other entity that violates any provision
of sections 3517.09 to 3517.12 of the Revised Code for which no
penalty is provided for under any other division of this section
shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars.
(AA)(1) Whoever knowingly violates division (W)(1) of section
3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to
three times the amount contributed, expended, or promised in
violation of that division or ten thousand dollars, whichever
amount is greater.
(2) Whoever knowingly violates division (W)(2) of section
3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to
three times the amount solicited or accepted in violation of that
division or ten thousand dollars, whichever amount is greater.
(BB) Whoever knowingly violates division (C) or (D) of
section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than
ten thousand dollars plus not more than one thousand dollars for
each day of violation.
(CC)(1) Subject to division (CC)(2) of this section, whoever
violates division (H) of section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code
shall be fined an amount up to three times the amount disbursed
for the direct costs of airing the communication made in violation
of that division.
(2) Whoever has been ordered by the Ohio elections commission
or by a court of competent jurisdiction to cease making
communications in violation of division (H) of section 3517.1011
of the Revised Code who again violates that division shall be
fined an amount equal to three times the amount disbursed for the
direct costs of airing the communication made in violation of that
division.
(DD)(1) Any corporation or labor organization that violates
division (X)(3)(a) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be
fined an amount equal to three times the amount given in excess of
the amount permitted by that division.
(2) Any state or county political party that violates
division (X)(3)(b) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be
fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted in excess
of the amount permitted by that division.
Section 2. That existing sections 3517.155 and 3517.992 of
the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
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