Section 2-10-308 - Penalties(a) The registry of election finance may impose a maximum civil penalty for a violation of this part of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or one hundred fifteen percent (115%) of the amount of all contributions made or accepted in excess of the limitations established by this part, whichever is greater.(b) Penalties imposed under this part shall be deposited into the state general fund.(c) To request a waiver, reduction, or to contest a penalty imposed by the registry of election finance pursuant to this part, a person or political campaign committee shall file a petition with the registry of election finance. Such petition may be considered as a contested case proceeding under the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5. In any such contested case proceeding, the person or political campaign committee bears the burden of proof to establish that the person or committee's conduct complied with this part.(d) If a civil penalty lawfully assessed against a candidate is not paid within thirty (30) days after the assessment becomes final, the candidate shall be ineligible to qualify for election to any state or local public office until such penalty is paid.(e) If a civil penalty lawfully assessed and all lawfully assessed costs attendant to the penalty against a political campaign committee are not paid within thirty (30) calendar days after the assessment becomes final:(1) The political campaign committee owing the civil penalty shall not receive contributions; make expenditures to support or oppose candidates; or make expenditures to other political campaign committees. The treasurer and officers of such delinquent political campaign committee shall not create another political campaign committee or serve as a treasurer or an officer for another political campaign committee until such penalty and all costs attendant to the penalty are paid in full; and(2) The treasurer and the officers of the political campaign committee listed on the forms on file with the registry pursuant to § 2-10-105(e) at the time the conduct that gave rise to the civil penalty occurred are ineligible to qualify for election to a state or local public office until the penalty is paid.Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 108, s 11, eff. 4/4/2023.Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 487, s 2, eff. 5/18/2021.