Sec. 18. (a) As used in this section, “delinquent or defective report” refers to a campaign finance report or statement of organization:

(1) that was required to be filed under IC 3-9-5 but was not filed in the manner required under IC 3-9-5; and

(2) for which a person was assessed a civil penalty under section 16 or 17 of this chapter.

     (b) As used in this section, “election board” refers to the following:

(1) The commission if a civil penalty was assessed under section 16 of this chapter.

(2) The county election board if a civil penalty was assessed under section 17 of this chapter.

     (c) As used in this section, “person” refers to a person who:

(1) has been assessed a civil penalty under section 16 or 17 of this chapter; and

(2) has filed a declaration of candidacy, a petition of nomination, or a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate in a subsequent election or for whom a certificate of nomination has been filed.

     (d) A person who does both of the following is relieved from further civil liability under this chapter for the delinquent or defective report:

(1) Files the delinquent report or amends the defective report from the previous candidacy:

(A) before filing a report required under IC 3-9-5-6; or

(B) at the same time the person files the report required under IC 3-9-5-6;

for a subsequent candidacy.

(2) Pays all civil penalties assessed under section 16 or 17 of this chapter for the delinquent report.

     (e) This subsection applies to a person who:

(1) is assessed a civil penalty under this chapter; and

(2) is elected to office in the subsequent election.

The election board may order the state comptroller or the fiscal officer of the political subdivision responsible for issuing the person’s payment for serving in office to withhold from the person’s paycheck the amount of the civil penalty assessed under this chapter. If the amount of the paycheck is less than the amount of the civil penalty, the state comptroller or fiscal officer shall continue withholding money from the person’s paycheck until an amount equal to the amount of the civil penalty has been withheld.

     (f) The state comptroller or fiscal officer shall deposit an amount paid, recovered, or withheld under this section in the election board’s campaign finance enforcement account.

     (g) Proceedings of the election board under this section are subject to IC 4-21.5.

As added by P.L.3-1993, SEC.91. Amended by P.L.3-1995, SEC.76; P.L.2-1996, SEC.110; P.L.3-1997, SEC.198; P.L.176-1999, SEC.45; P.L.9-2024, SEC.19.