Limiting the circumstances in which participating candidates and their principal committees must repay public matching funds to the campaign finance board.

This bill would limit the circumstances in which the Campaign Finance Board (CFB) can require repayment of public matching funds from participating candidates and their principal committees. Currently, when CFB determines it overpaid funds, the committee is required to make a repayment. This bill would require CFB to determine that the candidate or committee committed fraud in obtaining the overpayment. Also, presently, when CFB determines funds were used for purposes other than qualified campaign expenditures, the candidate or committee is required to make a repayment. This bill would require CFB to determine that it was known or reasonably knowable to the candidate or committee that the funds were so used. CFB would have to stay enforcement of repayment if a candidate pursues an Article 78 proceeding concerning a CFB final determination on repayment. The bill would also make a few technical and language clarification amendments to the involved Administrative Code section.