SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

1997 SESSION


CHAPTER 392
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-914 and 24.2-914.1 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 2.1-787.1, relating to the automated filing of certain lobbyists' disclosure statements and campaign finance disclosure reports; databases.
[H 2279]
Approved March 15, 1997

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 24.2-914 and 24.2-914.1 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 2.1-787.1 as follows:

§ 2.1-787.1. Standards for automated preparation and transmittal of lobbyists' disclosure statements; database.

A. By January 1, 1998, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall review or cause to be developed and shall approve standards for the preparation, production, and transmittal by computer or electronic means of the lobbyists' disclosure statements required by § 2.1-786. The Secretary may prescribe the method of execution and certification of electronically filed statements and the procedures for receiving statements in the office of the Secretary.

B. Prior to January 1, 1999, the Secretary may accept, and after January 1, 1999, the Secretary shall accept, any lobbyist's disclosure statement filed by computer or electronic means in accordance with the standards approved by the Secretary and using software meeting standards approved by the Secretary. The Secretary may provide software to filers without charge or at a reasonable cost.

C. After January 1, 1999, the Secretary shall enter or cause to be entered into a lobbyist disclosure database, available to the public, the information from required disclosure statements filed electronically and may enter or cause to be entered into that database information from required disclosure statements filed by other methods.

§ 24.2-914. Information to be included on report of contributions and expenditures.

A. The report required by this chapter shall be filed on a form prescribed by the State Board and shall include all contributions and expenditures. All completed forms shall be submitted in typed, printed, or legibly hand printed format or as provided in § 24.2-914.1. Persons submitting the forms shall do so subject to felony penalties for making false statements pursuant to § 24.2-1016.

B. The report of receipts shall include:

1. The total number of contributors, each of whom has contributed an aggregate of $100 or less as of the date of the report, and the total amount of contributions from all such contributors;

2. For each contributor who has contributed an aggregate of more than $100 as of the date of the report, the name of the contributor, listed alphabetically, the address of the contributor, the occupation, including name of employer or principal business, and the principal place of business of the contributor, the amount of the contribution included in the schedule of receipts, the aggregate amount of contributions from the contributor to date, and the date of the last contribution.

C. The report of disbursements shall include all expenditures and give:

1. The name and address of the person paid;

2. A brief description of the purpose of the expenditure;

3. The name of the person contracting for or arranging the expenditure;

4. The amount of the expenditure; and

5. The date of the expenditure.

D. Each report for a candidate shall list separately those receipts and expenditures reported to the candidate or his treasurer by any person, political committee, or political party committee pursuant to § 24.2-907 and shall set forth in each instance the source of the information reported.

E. The report shall list separately all loans and, for each loan, shall give:

1. The date the loan was made;

2. The name and address of the person making the loan and any person who is a co-borrower, guarantor, or endorser of the loan;

3. The amount of the loan;

4. The date and amount of any repayment of the loan; and

5. For any loan or part of a loan which is forgiven by the lender, the amount forgiven listed as both a contribution and loan repayment.

§ 24.2-914.1. Standards for electronic preparation and transmittal of campaign finance disclosure reports; database.

A. By January 1, 1998, the State Board of Elections shall review or cause to be developed and shall approve standards for the preparation, production, and transmittal by computer or electronic means of the reports of contributions and expenditures required by this article. The State Board may prescribe the method of execution and certification of electronically filed statements and the procedures for receiving statements in the office of the State Board.

B. Prior to January 1, 1999, the State Board may accept, and after January 1, 1999, the State Board shall accept, any report of contributions and expenditures filed by candidates for the General Assembly, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General by computer or electronic means in accordance with the standards approved by the State Board and using software meeting standards approved by it. The State Board may provide software to filers without charge or at a reasonable cost.

C. After January 1, 1999, the State Board shall enter or cause to be entered into a campaign finance database, available to the public, the information from required reports of contributions and expenditures filed electronically by candidates for the General Assembly, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General and may enter or cause to be entered into that database information from required disclosure statements filed by those candidates by other methods.

D. Other committee reports required by this chapter to be filed with the Board may be filed electronically on terms agreed to by the committee and Board.