Campaign Finance Amendment Act of 2001
Bill 14-108

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A BILL IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Councilmember Kathy Patterson introduced the following legislation, which was referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

To amend the District of Columbia Campaign Finance Reform and Conflict of Interest Act of 1974 to prohibit District of Columbia government resources, including budget authority, personal services, and nonpersonal services to encourage individuals to support or oppose any candidate, initiative, referendum, or recall measure in the District of Columbia.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Campaign Finance Amendment Act of 2001 ".

Sec. 2. The District of Columbia Campaign Finance Reform and Conflict of Interest Act of 1974, approved August 14, 1974 (88 Stat. 447; D.C. Code §1-1401 et seq.), is amended by adding a new title VI-A to read as follows:

"Title VI-A -- USE OF GOVERNMENT RESOURCES FOR CAMPAIGN-RELATED ACTIVITIES.

"Sec. 651. Prohibition on the use of District government resources for campaign related activities.

"(a) The resources of the District of Columbia government, including, but not limited to funding, the personal services of employees during their hours of work, and nonpersonal services such as supplies, materials, equipment, office space, facilities, telephones and other utilities, shall not be used to support or oppose any candidate for elected office, whether partisan or nonpartisan, or to support or oppose any initiative, referendum, or recall measure, including a charter amendment referendum conducted in accordance with section 303 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 784; D.C. Code §1-205).

"(b)(1) This title shall not prohibit the Mayor, the Chairman and members of the Council, or the President and members of the Board of Education from expressing their views on a District of Columbia election as part of their official duties which do not involve the expenditure of District of Columbia funds or use of District of Columbia resources.

"(2) This subsection shall not be construed to allow any member of the staff of the Mayor, the Chairman and members of the Council, or the President and members of the Board of Education, or any other employee of the executive or legislative branch to engage in any activity to promote or oppose any candidate for elected office, whether partisan or nonpartisan, an initiative, referendum, or recall measure during their hours of work, or the use of any nonpersonal services such as supplies, materials, equipment, office space, facilities, telephones and other utilities to support or oppose an initiative, referendum, or recall matter.".

Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact report in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code § 1-233 (c)(3)).

Sec. 4. This act shall take effect after a 30-day period of Congressional review following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council of the District of Columbia to override the veto), approval by the Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority as provided in section 203(a) of the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995, approved April 17, 1995 (109 Stat. 116; D.C. Code §47-392.3(a)), a 30-day period of Congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code §1-233(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.