Section 121.180 - Exemption from campaign finance reporting requirements - Reports required of committees and treasurers - Penalties - Use of campaign funds - Prohibited uses - Disposition of unexpended campaign funds - Electronic reporting - "No change since last report" designation(1)(a)1. Persons becoming a candidate as defined in KRS 121.015(8) or slate of candidates as defined in KRS 121.015(9), or a political issues committee as defined in KRS 121.015(3)(d), shall submit a form prescribed and furnished by the registry indicating whether they intend to raise or spend in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) in any one (1) election, or that contributions will not be accepted or expended in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) in any one (1) election. Candidates and slates of candidates shall submit this form to the registry within five (5) days of receiving contributions or making expenditures with a view to bringing about his or her nomination or election to public office, or within five (5) days of filing papers to run for public office, whichever is sooner. Candidates and slates of candidates who advance to a regular election following a primary shall submit this form to the registry within five (5) days after the date of the primary. Political issues committees shall submit the form to the registry within five (5) days of meeting the definition of political issues committee in KRS 121.015(3)(d).2. Each candidate, slate of candidates, or political issues committee indicating that contributions will not be accepted or expended in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) in any one (1) election shall be exempt from filing any campaign finance reports required by subsection (3) of this section.3. A separate form shall be required for each primary, regular, or special election in which the candidate or slate of candidates participates or in which the public question appears on the ballot. The form shall be submitted by means of electronic filing with the registry.4. Any person acting as a candidate or slate of candidates by receiving contributions or making expenditures with a view to bringing about his or her nomination or election to public office, or filing papers to run for public office, or group of persons acting as a political issues committee, who fails to file this form as required, or who fails to remedy a deficiency within five (5) days, may be fined by the registry an amount not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200) per day, up to a maximum total fine of five thousand dollars ($5,000).(b) For a primary, a candidate or slate of candidates shall file a request for exemption not later than the deadline described in paragraph (a) of this subsection for filing nomination papers and, except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this subsection, shall be bound by its terms unless it is rescinded in writing not later than thirty (30) days preceding the primary. For a regular election, a candidate or slate of candidates shall file or rescind in writing a request for exemption not later than sixty (60) days preceding the regular election, except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this subsection. For a special election, a candidate or slate of candidates shall file a request for exemption not later than ten (10) days after the candidate or slate of candidates is nominated for a special election and shall be bound by its terms unless it is rescinded in writing not later than thirty (30) days preceding the special election. A political issues committee chair shall file a request for exemption when the committee registers with the registry and shall be bound by its terms unless it is rescinded in writing not later than thirty (30) days preceding the date the issue appears on the ballot.(c)1. A candidate or slate of candidates that revokes a request for exemption in a timely manner shall file all reports required of a candidate intending to raise or spend in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) in an election. To revoke the request for an exemption, the candidate or slate of candidates shall file the appropriate form with the registry not later than the deadline for filing a revocation.2. A candidate or slate of candidates that is exempted from campaign finance reporting requirements pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection but who accepts contributions or makes expenditures in excess of the exempted amount in an election, shall file all applicable reports required for the remainder of that election, based upon the amount of contributions or expenditures the candidate or slate of candidates accepts or receives in that election.(d) Any candidate or slate of candidates that is subject to a June or August filing deadline and that intends to execute a request for exemption shall file the appropriate request for exemption not later than the deadline described in paragraph (a) of this subsection and, except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this subsection, shall be bound by its terms unless it is rescinded in writing not later than sixty (60) days preceding the regular election. A candidate or slate of candidates that is covered by this paragraph shall have the same reversion rights as those provided in subparagraph 1. of paragraph (c) of this subsection.(e) Any candidate or slate of candidates that will appear on the ballot in a regular election that has signed a request for exemption for that election may exercise the reversion rights provided in subparagraph 1. of paragraph (c) of this subsection if a candidate or slate of candidates that is subject to a June or August filing deadline subsequently files in opposition to the candidate or slate of candidates. Except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this subsection, a candidate or slate of candidates covered by this paragraph shall comply with the deadline for rescission provided in subparagraph 1. of paragraph (c) of this subsection.(f) Except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this subsection, any candidate or slate of candidates that has filed a request for exemption for a regular election that later is opposed by a person who has filed a declaration of intent to receive write-in votes may rescind the request for exemption and exercise the reversion rights provided in subparagraph 1. of paragraph (c) of this subsection.(g) Any candidate or slate of candidates that has filed a request for exemption may petition the registry to determine whether another person is campaigning as a write-in candidate prior to having filed a declaration of intent to receive write-in votes, and, if the registry determines upon a preponderance of the evidence that a person who may later be a write-in candidate is conducting a campaign, the candidate or slate of candidates, except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this subsection, may petition the registry to permit the candidate or slate of candidates to exercise the reversion rights provided in subparagraph 1. of paragraph (c) of this subsection.(h) If the opponent of a candidate or slate of candidates is replaced due to his or her withdrawal because of death, disability, or disqualification, the candidate or slate of candidates, except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this subsection, may exercise the reversion rights provided in subparagraph 1. of paragraph (c) of this subsection not later than fifteen (15) days after the party executive committee nominates a replacement for the withdrawn candidate or slate of candidates.(i) A person intending to be a write-in candidate for any office in a regular or special election may execute a request for exemption under paragraph (a) of this subsection and shall be bound by its terms unless it is rescinded in writing not later than fifteen (15) days preceding the regular or special election. A person intending to be a write-in candidate who revokes a request for exemption in a timely manner shall file all reports required of a candidate intending to raise or spend in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) in an election. Except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this subsection, a person intending to be a write-in candidate who revokes a request for exemption shall file the appropriate form with the registry.(j) Except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this subsection, the campaign committee of any candidate or slate of candidates that has filed a request for exemption or a political issues committee whose chair has filed a request for exemption shall be bound by its terms unless it is rescinded in a timely manner.(k)1. Except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this subsection, any candidate, slate of candidates, or political issues committee that is exempt from filing campaign finance reports pursuant to paragraph (a), (d), or (i) of this subsection that accepts contributions or makes expenditures, or whose campaign treasurer accepts contributions or makes expenditures, in excess of the applicable limit in any one (1) election without rescinding the request for exemption in a timely manner shall comply with all applicable reporting requirements and, in lieu of other penalties prescribed by law, pay a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500).2. Except as provided in subparagraph 2. of paragraph (c) of this subsection, a candidate, slate of candidates, campaign committee, or political issues committee that is exempt from filing campaign finance reports pursuant to paragraph (a), (d), or (i) of this subsection that knowingly accepts contributions or makes expenditures in excess of the applicable spending limit in any one (1) election without rescinding the request for exemption in a timely manner shall comply with all applicable reporting requirements and shall be guilty of a Class D felony.(l)1. Any candidate exempt from filing under this subsection for a primary shall file a report described in subsection (4) of this section.2. Any candidate exempt from filing under this subsection for a primary who advances to the regular election shall file for an additional exemption under this section for the regular election or the candidate shall no longer be exempt from the filing requirements.3. In the event a candidate exempt from filing under this subsection is no longer eligible for the exemption, he or she shall immediately file for a revocation of the exemption under paragraph (c) of this subsection.(2)(a) State and county executive committees, and caucus campaign committees shall make a full report, upon a prescribed form, to the registry, of all money, loans, or other things of value, received from any source, and expenditures authorized, incurred, or made, since the date of the last report, including:1. For each contribution of any amount made by a permanent committee, the name and business address of the permanent committee, the date of the contribution, the amount contributed, and a description of the major business, social, or political interest represented by the permanent committee;2. For other contributions in excess of one hundred dollars ($100), the full name, address, age if less than the legal voting age, the date of the contribution, the amount of the contribution, and the employer and occupation of each contributor. If the contributor is self-employed, the name under which he or she is doing business shall be listed;3. The total amount of cash contributions received during the reporting period; and4. A complete statement of expenditures authorized, incurred, or made. The complete statement of expenditures shall include the name and address of each person to whom an expenditure is made in excess of twenty-five dollars ($25), and the amount, date, and purpose of each expenditure.(b) In addition to the reporting requirements in paragraph (a) of this subsection, the state executive committee of a political party that has established a building fund account under KRS 121.172 shall make a full report, upon a prescribed form, to the registry, of all contributions received from any source, and expenditures authorized, incurred, or made, since the date of the last report for the separate building fund account, including: 1. For each contribution of any amount made by a corporation, the name and business address of the corporation, the date of the contribution, the amount contributed, and a description of the major business conducted by the corporation;2. For other contributions in excess of one hundred dollars ($100), the full name and address of the contributor, the date of the contribution, the amount of the contribution, and the employer and occupation of each contributor. If the contributor is self-employed, the name under which he or she is doing business shall be listed;3. The total amount of cash contributions received during the reporting period; and4. A complete statement of expenditures authorized, incurred, or made. The complete statement of expenditures shall include the name and address of each person to whom an expenditure is made in excess of twenty-five dollars ($25), and the amount, date, and purpose of each expenditure.(c) The report required by paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be made on a semiannual basis if the committee has more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in its campaign fund account, and shall be received by the registry by January 31 and by July 31. The January report shall cover the period from July 1 to December 31. The July report shall cover the period from January 1 to June 30. If the committee has less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in its campaign fund account the report required by paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be made on an annual basis, and shall be received by the registry by January 31. If an individual gives a reportable contribution to a caucus campaign committee or to a state or county executive committee with the intention that the contribution or a portion of the contribution go to a candidate or slate of candidates, the name of the contributor and the sum shall be indicated on the committee report. The report required by paragraph (b) of this subsection relating to a state executive committee's building fund account shall be received by the registry within two (2) business days after the close of each calendar quarter. The receipts and expenditures of funds remitted to each political party under KRS 141.071 to 141.073 shall be separately accounted for and reported to the registry in the manner required by KRS 121.230. The separate report may be made a separate section within the report required by this subsection to be received by the registry by January 31.(3)(a) Except for candidates or slates of candidates, campaign committees, or political issues committees exempted from reporting requirements pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, each campaign treasurer of a candidate, slate of candidates, campaign committee, or political issues committee who accepts contributions or expends, expects to accept contributions or expend, or contracts to expend more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) in any one (1) election, and each fundraiser who secures contributions in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) in any one (1) election, shall make a full report to the registry, on a form provided or using a format approved by the registry, of all money, loans, or other things of value, received from any source, and expenditures authorized, incurred, and made, since the date of the last report, including: 1. For each contribution of any amount made by a permanent committee, the name and business address of the permanent committee, the date of the contribution, the amount contributed, and a description of the major business, social, or political interest represented by the permanent committee;2. For each contribution in excess of one hundred dollars ($100) made to any candidate or campaign committee or a political issues committee, the full name, address, age if less than the legal voting age, the date of the contribution, the amount of the contribution, and the employer and occupation of each other contributor. If the contributor is self-employed, the name under which he or she is doing business shall be listed;3. The total amount of cash contributions received during the reporting period; and4. A complete statement of all expenditures authorized, incurred, or made. The complete statement of expenditures shall include the name, address, and occupation of each person to whom an expenditure is made in excess of twenty-five dollars ($25), and the amount, date, and purpose of each expenditure.(b) Reports of all candidates, slates of candidates, campaign committees, independent expenditure-only committees, political issues committees, and registered fundraisers shall be made as follows:1.a. Candidates seeking statewide office, slates of candidates, campaign committees for candidates seeking statewide office and for slates of candidates, independent expenditure-only committees, political issues committees, and fundraisers which file the form described in subsection (1)(a) of this section before the year of an election in which the candidate, a slate of candidates, or public question shall appear on the ballot, shall file financial reports with the registry at the end of the first calendar quarter after persons become statewide candidates or slates of candidates, or following registration of the committee or fundraiser, and each calendar quarter thereafter, ending with the last calendar quarter of that year. The provisions of this subparagraph shall be retroactive to January 1, 2021;b. All other candidates and campaign committees shall file annual financial reports to be received by the registry on or before December 1 for each year that a candidate is not yet on the ballot but has filed a form as described in subsection (1)(a) of this section with the registry for a future-year election; andc. Candidates, slate of candidates, or committees shall make all reports required by subparagraphs 2. to 5. of this paragraph during the year in which the election takes place;2. All candidates, slates of candidates, campaign committees, independent expenditure-only committees, political issues committees, and registered fundraisers shall make reports on the sixtieth day preceding a regular election, including all previous contributions and expenditures;3. All candidates, slates of candidates, campaign committees, independent expenditure-only committees, political issues committees, and registered fundraisers shall make reports on the thirtieth day preceding an election, including all previous contributions and expenditures;4. All candidates, slates of candidates, campaign committees, independent expenditure-only committees, political issues committees, and registered fundraisers shall make reports on the fifteenth day preceding the date of the election; and5. All reports to the registry shall cover campaign activity during the entire reporting period and must be received by the registry within two (2) business days after the date the reporting period ends to be deemed timely filed.(4) All candidates, regardless of funds received or expended, campaign committees, independent expenditure-only committees, political issues committees, and registered fundraisers shall make post-election reports within thirty (30) days after the election. All post-election reports to the registry shall cover campaign activity during the entire reporting period and must be received by the registry within two (2) business days after the date the reporting period ends to be deemed timely filed. For candidates, slates of candidates, and political issues committees otherwise exempt under subsection (1)(a) of this section, the reporting period begins the day the request for exemption is filed with the registry and continues through the thirtieth day after the election.(5) In making the preceding reports, the total gross receipts from each of the following categories shall be listed: proceeds from the sale of tickets for events such as testimonial affairs, dinners, luncheons, rallies, and similar fundraising events, mass collections made at the events, and sales of items such as campaign pins, buttons, hats, ties, literature, and similar materials. When any individual purchase or the aggregate purchases of any item enumerated above from a candidate or slate of candidates for a statewide-elected state office or a campaign committee for a candidate or slate of candidates for a statewide-elected state office exceeds one hundred dollars ($100), the purchaser shall be identified by name, address, age, if less than the legal voting age, occupation, and employer or, if the purchaser is self-employed, the name under which he or she is doing business, and the amount of the purchase. When any individual purchase or the aggregate purchases of any item enumerated above from any candidate or campaign committee other than a candidate or slate of candidates for a statewide-elected state office or campaign committee for a candidate or slate of candidates for a statewide-elected state office exceeds one hundred dollars ($100), the purchaser shall be identified by name, address, age if less than the legal voting age, occupation, and employer or, if the purchaser is self-employed, the name under which he or she is doing business, and the amount of the purchase. The lists shall be maintained by the campaign treasurer, political issues committee treasurer, registered fundraiser, or other sponsor for inspection by the registry for six (6) years following the date of the election.(6) Each permanent committee, except a federally registered political committee as defined in 52 U.S.C. sec. 30101(4)(a), inaugural committee, or contributing organization shall make a full report to the registry, on a form provided or using a format approved by the registry, of all money, loans, or other things of value, received by it from any source, and all expenditures authorized, incurred, or made, since the date of the last report, including:(a) For each contribution of any amount made by a permanent committee, the name and business address of the permanent committee, the date of the contribution, the amount contributed, and a description of the major business, social, or political interest represented by the permanent committee;(b) For other contributions in excess of one hundred dollars ($100), the full name, address, age if under the legal voting age, the date of the contribution, the amount of the contribution, and the employer and occupation of each contributor. If the contributor is self-employed, the name under which he or she is doing business shall be listed;(c) An aggregate amount of cash contributions, the amount contributed by each contributor, and the date of each contribution; and(d) A complete statement of all expenditures authorized, incurred, or made, including independent expenditures. This report shall be made by a permanent committee, inaugural committee, or contributing organization to the registry on the last day of the first calendar quarter following the registration of the committee with the registry and on the last day of each succeeding calendar quarter until such time as the committee terminates. A contributing organization shall file a report of contributions received and expenditures on a form provided or using a format approved by the registry not later than the last day of each calendar quarter in which contributions are received or expenditures are made. All reports to the registry shall be received on or before each filing deadline, and any report received by the registry within two (2) business days after each filing deadline shall be deemed timely filed.(7) If the final statement of a candidate, campaign committee, independent expenditure-only committee, or political issues committee shows an unexpended balance of contributions, continuing debts and obligations, or an expenditure deficit, the campaign treasurer shall file with the registry a supplemental statement of contributions and expenditures not more than thirty (30) days after the deadline for filing the final statement. Subsequent supplemental statements shall be filed annually, to be received by the registry by December 1 of each year, until the account shows no unexpended balance, continuing debts and obligations, expenditures, or deficit. All post-election reports to the registry shall cover campaign activity during the entire reporting period and must be received by the registry within two (2) business days after the date the reporting period ends to be deemed timely filed. All contributions shall be subject to KRS 121.150 as of the date of the election in which the candidate appeared on the ballot.(8) All reports filed under the provisions of this chapter shall be a matter of public record open to inspection by any member of the public immediately upon receipt of the report by the registry.(9) A candidate or slate of candidates is relieved of the duty personally to file reports and keep records of receipts and expenditures if the candidate or slate states in writing or on forms provided by the registry that: (a) Within five (5) business days after personally receiving any contributions, the candidate or slate of candidates shall surrender possession of the contributions to the treasurer of their campaign committee without expending any of the proceeds thereof. No contributions shall be commingled with the candidate's or slated candidates' personal funds or accounts. Contributions received by check, money order, or other written instrument shall be endorsed directly to the campaign committee and shall not be cashed or redeemed by the candidate;(b) The candidate or slate of candidates shall not make any unreimbursed expenditure for the campaign, except that this paragraph does not preclude a candidate or slate from making an expenditure from personal funds to the designated campaign committee, which shall be reported by the committee as a contribution received; and(c) The waiver shall continue in effect as long as the candidate or slate of candidates complies with the conditions under which it was granted.(10)(a) No candidate, slate of candidates, campaign committee, independent expenditure-only committee, political issues committee, or contributing organization shall use or permit the use of contributions or funds solicited or received for the person or in support of or opposition to a public issue which will appear on the ballot to:1. Further the candidacy of the person for a different public office;2. Support or oppose a different public issue; or3. Further the candidacy of any other person for public office.(b) Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to prohibit a candidate or slate of candidates from using funds in a campaign account to purchase admission tickets for, or contribute to, any fundraising event or testimonial affair for another candidate or slate of candidates if the amount of the purchase or contribution does not exceed the individual contribution limit contained in KRS 121.150(6) in any one (1) election.(c) Any funds or contributions solicited or received by or on behalf of a candidate, slate of candidates, or any committee, which has been organized in whole or in part to further any candidacy for the same person or to support or oppose the same public issue, shall be deemed to have been solicited or received for the current candidacy or for the election on the public issue if the funds or contributions are solicited or received at any time prior to the regular election for which the candidate, slate of candidates, or public issue is on the ballot.(d) Any unexpended balance of funds not otherwise obligated for the payment of expenses incurred to further a political issue or the candidacy of a person shall, in whole or in part, at the election of the candidate or committee: 1. Escheat to the State Treasury;2. Be returned pro rata to all contributors;3. In the case of a partisan candidate, be transferred to:a. A caucus campaign committee; orb. The state or county executive committee of the political party of which the candidate is a member;4. Be retained to further the same public issue or to seek election to the same office; or5. Be donated to any charitable, nonprofit, or educational institution recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor thereto, from which the candidate or committee receives no financial benefit.(11) If adequate and appropriate agency funds are available to implement this subsection, electronic reporting shall be made available by the registry to all candidates, slates of candidates, committees, contributing organizations, registered fundraisers, and persons making independent expenditures. The electronic report submitted to the registry shall be the official campaign finance report for audit and other legal purposes, whether mandated or filed by choice.(12) The date that an electronic or on-line report shall be deemed to have been filed with the registry shall be the date on which it is received by the registry.(13) All electronic or online filers shall affirm, under penalty of perjury, that the report filed with the registry is complete and accurate.(14) Filers who submit electronic campaign finance reports which are not readable, or cannot be copied shall be deemed to not be in compliance with the requirements set forth in this section.(15) Beginning with the primary scheduled in calendar year 2020, and for each subsequent election scheduled thereafter, reports required to be submitted to the registry involving candidates, slates of candidates, committees, contributing organizations, and independent expenditures shall be reported electronically.(16)(a) On each form that the registry supplies for the reports required under subsections (2), (3), and (6) of this section, the registry shall include an entry reading, "No change since last report."(b) If a person or entity that is required to report under subsection (2), (3), or (6) of this section has received no money, loans, or other things of value from any source since the date of its last report and has not authorized, incurred, or made any expenditures since that date, the person or entity may check or otherwise designate the entry that reads, "No change since last report." A person or entity designating this entry in a report shall state the balance carried forward from the last report but need not specify receipts or expenditures in further detail.Amended by 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 107,§ 9, eff. 7/15/2024.Amended by 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 107,§ 8, eff. 4/5/2024.Amended by 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 74,§ 9, eff. 6/28/2023.Amended by 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 219,§ 5, eff. 4/14/2022.Amended by 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 208,§ 3, eff. 4/14/2022.Amended by 2019 Ky. Acts ch. 2,§ 3, eff. 6/26/2019.Amended by 2017 Ky. Acts ch. 122,§ 1, eff. 6/29/2017.Amended by 2016 Ky. Acts ch. 62,§ 1, eff. 7/14/2016.Amended by 2012 Ky. Acts ch. 48,§ 2, eff. 7/11/2012.Amended 2010, Ky. Acts ch. 88, sec. 1, effective 11/3/2010; and ch. 124, sec. 1, effective 7/15/2010. -- Amended 2008, Ky. Acts ch. 129, sec. 12, effective 7/15/2008. -- Amended 2005, Ky. Acts ch. 105, sec. 8, effective 3/16/2005. -- Amended 2000, Ky. Acts ch. 398, sec. 5, effective 7/14/2000. --Amended 1998, Ky. Acts ch. 599, sec. 3, effective 7/15/1998. -- Amended 1996, Ky. Acts ch. 106, sec. 1, effective 7/15/1996; ch. 153, sec. 7, effective 7/15/1996; ch. 252, sec. 2, effective 1/1/1997; and ch. 372, sec. 2, effective 4/12/1996. -- Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 458, sec. 12, effective 7/15/1994. --Amended 1993 (1st Extra. Sess.) Ky. Acts ch. 4, sec. 60, effective 9/16/1993. -- Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 288, sec. 28, effective 7/14/1992. --Amended 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 204, sec. 1, effective 7/13/1990. -- Amended 1988 Ky. Acts ch. 15, sec. 2, effective 7/15/1988; ch. 17, sec. 13, effective 7/15/1988; and ch. 341, sec. 46, effective 7/15/1988. -- Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 100, sec. 7, effective 7/15/1986. -- Amended 1984 Ky. Acts ch. 111, sec. 70, effective 7/13/1984. -- Amended 1980 Ky. Acts ch. 292, sec. 8, effective 7/15/1980. -- Amended 1978 Ky. Acts ch. 5, sec. 2, effective 6/17/1978; ch. 216, sec. 1, effective 6/17/1978; ch. 255, sec. 2, effective 6/17/1978; and ch. 384, sec. 255, effective 6/17/1978. -- Amended 1976 Ky. Acts ch. 247, sec. 15; and ch. 279, sec. 1. -- Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 130, sec. 190.