Bill Text - SB91 (2007)

(New Title) relative to political contributions by corporations, partnerships, and labor unions.


Revision: Jan. 11, 2010, midnight

SB 91 – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

03/22/07 0552s

31May2007… 1721h

2007 SESSION

07-1147

03/09

SENATE BILL 91

AN ACT relative to permissible campaign contributions by business organizations and labor unions.

SPONSORS: Sen. Burling, Dist 5

COMMITTEE: Election Law and Internal Affairs

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill permits business organizations and labor unions to establish political committees.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03/22/07 0552s

31May2007… 1721h

07-1147

03/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven

AN ACT relative to permissible campaign contributions by business organizations and labor unions.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Paragraph; Political Expenditures and Contributions; Definitions; Segregated Accounts. Amend RSA 664:2 by inserting after paragraph XVII the following new paragraph:

XVIII. “Segregated account” means an account funded by contributions solicited from a business organization’s, labor union’s, or group of labor unions’ employees, officers, shareholders, directors, partners, or members for political purposes.

2 Political Expenditures and Contributions; Prohibited Political Contributions; Business Organizations. RSA 664:4, I is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

I. By any business organization, or by any officer, director, executive, agent, partner, or employee acting in behalf of such business organization. This shall not prohibit the establishment by a business organization of a political committee that operates as a separate entity from the business organization, provided that the committee’s expenditures and contributions are made through a separate, segregated account consisting only of voluntary contributions solicited from individuals. The provisions of this section shall not apply to sole proprietorships.

3 Political Expenditures and Contributions; Prohibited Political Contributions; Labor Unions; Segregated Account Exception. Amend RSA 664:4, III to read as follows:

III. By any labor union or group of labor unions, or by any officer, director, executive, agent, or employee acting in behalf of such union or group of unions; or by any organization representing or affiliated with any such union or group of unions, or by any officer, director, executive, agent, or employee acting in behalf of such organization. This shall not prohibit the establishment by a labor union or group of labor unions of a political committee that operates as a separate entity from the labor union or group of labor unions, provided that the committee’s expenditures and contributions are made through a separate, segregated account consisting only of voluntary contributions solicited from individuals.

4 Repeal. RSA 664:4, II, relative to prohibited political contributions by partnerships, is repealed.

5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.