CHAPTER 176. REGISTRATION AND ORGANIZATION
OF POLITICAL COMMITTEESSec.
176.1. Registration of political committees.
176.2. Forms and filing.
176.3. Change or correction in information.
176.4. Restrictions on political committees.
176.5. Organization of political committees.
176.6. Receipt of contributions.
176.7. Records retention.
176.8. Authorization of political committees.Authority The provisions of this Chapter 176 issued under section 506 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 186); and section 1640 of the Pennsylvania Auction Code (25 P. S. § 3260), unless otherwise noted.
Source The provisions of this Chapter 176 adopted February 9, 1979, 9 Pa.B. 493, unless otherwise noted.
§ 176.1. Registration of political committees.
(a) A political committee, except as specified in subsection (b) shall file a Registration Statement with the Secretary or the respective county board of elections, as appropriate, within 20 days after the date on which its total of contributions reaches $250 or more. If a political committee is not aware of what candidate it will be expending money on behalf of, at the time that registration is required, the political committee shall register with both the Secretary and the county board of elections in which the treasurer of the committee resides. Upon the determination of candidate to be supported, an amended registration statement shall be filed where previously the registration statements had been filed and a new registration statement shall be filed with the appropriate supervisor.
(b) Each political committee which is in existence and has a balance of $250 or more on January 1, 1979, and is involved in campaign financing for an election after January 1, 1979, shall file a Registration Statement on or before March 2, 1979, and shall report when becoming active.
Cross References This section cited in 4 Pa. Code § 176.4 (relating to restrictions on political committees); and 4 Pa. Code § 177.9 (relating to official forms).
§ 176.2. Forms and filing.
(a) The Registration Statement shall be filed on the current version of Form DSEB-500, as described in § 177.9 (relating to official forms), which may be obtained from the Secretary or any county board of elections.
(b) The Registration Statement, to be signed by the treasurer, shall include the following:
(1) The names, addresses and phone numbers of the political committee.
(2) The name, address and phone number of the committee’s treasurer.
(3) The name, address and phone number of the committee’s chairperson.
(4) The names, addresses and relationships of other affiliated or connected organizations.
(5) The candidates, if any, and their names and addresses.
(6) The ballot question, if any, which the committee intends to support or oppose.
(7) The banks, safety deposit boxes or other repositories and their addresses used by the committee.
(8) The proposed period of operation of the committee.
Source The provisions of this § 176.2 amended October 6, 2000, effective October 7, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 5138. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (201047) to (201048).
Cross References This section cited in 4 Pa. Code § 176.4 (relating to restrictions on political committees); and 4 Pa. Code § 177.9 (relating to official forms).
§ 176.3. Change or correction in information.
Any change or correction in the information previously filed in the Registration Statement shall be reported within 30 days of the date of the change or within 30 days of the date on which the error is detected by filing an amended Registration Statement. The amended registration need list only the change or correction.
Cross References This section cited in 4 Pa. Code § 176.4 (relating to restrictions on political committees); and 4 Pa. Code § 177.9 (relating to official forms).
§ 176.4. Restrictions on political committees.
Each political committee which receives an aggregate amount of contributions of $250 or more must satisfy the registration requirements of § § 176.1—176.3 (relating to registration of political committees; forms and filing; and change or correction in information) before such committee can make a contribution of any amount to any candidate or other political committee.
§ 176.5. Organization of political committees.
(a) Every political committee shall have a treasurer and a chairperson who may not be the same individual. Where there is more than one political committee authorized by a candidate to act solely on his behalf, such candidate shall designate one treasurer to receive and disburse all funds for such committees. A State, county, city, borough, township, ward or other regularly constituted party committee of any political party or political body need not secure written authorization for general, municipal or special elections. Contributions and expenditures made to or by the candidate may be deposited or expended and recorded in the candidate’s private personal account. Business accounts and partnership accounts may not be utilized as candidate campaign accounts.
(b) A political committee may designate one of the following:
(1) A vice chairperson, who shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the chairman in the event of a temporary or permanent vacancy in the office; and
(2) One of the assistant treasurers, appointed pursuant to subsection (c) who shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the treasurer in the event of a temporary or permanent vacancy in the office.
(c) The treasurer of any political committee formed on behalf of any candidate for election may appoint any number of assistant treasurers to receive and disburse moneys collected on behalf of any candidate for election. The authorization of all assistant treasurers must be in writing.
(d) No contribution or expenditure shall be accepted or made by or on behalf of a political committee at any time when there is a vacancy in the office of the treasurer or the chairman.
(e) No expenditures shall be made for or on behalf of a political committee without the authorization of its treasurer or a duly authorized assistant treasurer.
Source The provisions of this § 176.5 amended through June 6, 1980 effective June 7, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 2329. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page 47189.
§ 176.6. Receipt of contributions.
Any person who is not a candidate or a treasurer and who receives any con- tribution on behalf of a political committee or candidate shall turn such contribution over to the candidate or treasurer within ten days of its receipt with an accounting thereof, in the same manner as all contributions are to be reported. Reference should be made to § 177.2 (relating to form and content of reports).
§ 176.7. Records retention.
The candidate or treasurer of a political committee shall preserve all receipts, bills, accounts and all other records for a period of 5 years after such information is reported.
§ 176.8. Authorization of political committees.
(a) Any political committee receiving contributions on behalf of a candidate shall be authorized in writing by the candidate on the current version of Form DSEB-501, as described in § 177.9 (relating to official forms). The written authorization shall be filed with the Secretary or the respective county board of elections, as appropriate.
(b) A candidate is not required to authorize any State, county, city, borough, township, ward or other regularly constituted party committee of any political body to receive contributions on behalf of the candidate in a general, municipal or special election.
Source The provisions of this § 176.8 amended October 6, 2000, effective October 7, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 5138. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (201049).
Cross References This section cited in 4 Pa. Code § 177.9 (relating to official forms).
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