Arizona Laws 16-941. Limits on spending and contributions for political campaigns
Terms Used In Arizona Laws 16-941
- Candidate: means an individual who receives contributions or makes expenditures or who gives consent to another person to receive contributions or make expenditures on behalf of that individual in connection with the candidate's nomination, election or retention for any public office. See Arizona Laws 16-901
- Election: means any election for any ballot measure in this state or any candidate election during a primary, general, recall, special or runoff election for any office in this state other than a federal office and a political party office prescribed by chapter 5, article 2 of this title. See Arizona Laws 16-901
- Election cycle: means the two-year period beginning on January 1 in the year after a statewide general election and ending on December 31 in the year of a statewide general election or, for cities and towns, the two-year period beginning on the first day of the calendar quarter after the calendar quarter in which the city's or town's second, runoff or general election is scheduled and ending on the last day of the calendar quarter in which the city's or town's immediately following second, runoff or general election is scheduled, however that election is designated by the city or town. See Arizona Laws 16-901
- Expenditure: means any purchase, payment or other thing of value that is made by a person for the purpose of influencing an election. See Arizona Laws 16-901
- Independent expenditure: means an expenditure by a person, other than a candidate committee, that complies with both of the following:
(a) Expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate. See Arizona Laws 16-901
- Person: means an individual or a candidate, nominee, committee, corporation, limited liability company, labor organization, partnership, trust, association, organization, joint venture, cooperative or unincorporated organization or association. See Arizona Laws 16-901
- Personal monies: means any of the following:
(a) Assets to which the individual or individual's spouse has either legal title or an equitable interest. See Arizona Laws 16-901
- Statewide office: means the office of governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, corporation commissioner or mine inspector. See Arizona Laws 16-901
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
(Caution: 1998 Prop 105 applies)
A. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a participating candidate:
1. Shall not accept any contributions, other than a limited number of five-dollar qualifying contributions as specified in section 16-946 and early contributions as specified in section 16-945, except in the emergency situation specified in section 16-954, subsection F.
2. Shall not make expenditures of more than a total of five hundred dollars of the candidate’s personal monies for a candidate for the legislature or more than one thousand dollars for a candidate for statewide office.
3. Shall not make expenditures in the primary election period in excess of the adjusted primary election spending limit.
4. Shall not make expenditures in the general election period in excess of the adjusted general election spending limit.
5. Shall comply with section 16-948 regarding campaign accounts and section 16-953 regarding returning unused monies to the citizens clean elections fund described in this article.
B. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a nonparticipating candidate shall not accept contributions in excess of an amount that is twenty per cent less than the limits specified in section 16-905, subsections A through E, as adjusted by the secretary of state pursuant to section 16-905, subsection H. Any violation of this subsection shall be subject to the civil penalties and procedures set forth in section 16-905, subsections J through M and section 16-924.
C. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a candidate, whether participating or nonparticipating:
1. If specified in a written agreement signed by the candidate and one or more opposing candidates and filed with the citizens clean elections commission, shall not make any expenditure in the primary or general election period exceeding an agreed-upon amount lower than spending limits otherwise applicable by statute.
2. Shall continue to be bound by all other applicable election and campaign finance statutes and rules, with the exception of those provisions in express or clear conflict with this article.
D. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any person who makes independent expenditures related to a particular office cumulatively exceeding five hundred dollars in an election cycle, with the exception of any expenditure listed in section 16-920 and any independent expenditure by an organization arising from a communication directly to the organization’s members, shareholders, employees, affiliated persons and subscribers, shall file reports with the secretary of state in accordance with section 16-958 so indicating, identifying the office and the candidate or group of candidates whose election or defeat is being advocated and stating whether the person is advocating election or advocating defeat.