e-File Disclosure

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Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Changes 2011

S.B. 17 and HB 232 (both effective 1/10/2011)

All state wide and state level candidates and public officers as well as  non-candidate commitees are required to electronically file campaign contribution disclosure reports with the Commission.  City, county and school district officials may file reports electronically or by certified or statutory overnight delivery,  but the Commission strongly advises all public officers and candidates to file electronically.  Those who do not file electronically will not receive e-mail reminders that the campaign disclosure reports are due.

Candidates and/or campaign committees must file a PIN application found in the forms section of the Commissions website in order to begin filing electronically if they have not already done so.

Click here for the form to request a PIN with the State Ethics Commission E_Filing.

Graduated late fees of $125, $250 and $1,000 are imposed for failure to timely file CCDRs and candidates and public officers are prohibited from using campaigns funds to pay late fees.

General 2011 Changes

From S.B. 17 (passed in 2010, effective 1/10/2011)

1. The Commission has a new name: The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission.
2. All local filings (county and municipal) are now made with the Commission. Local filing officers will no longer be required to maintain Campaign Finance Commission filings made after 1/10/2011. Local filing officers will continue to maintain filings  made prior to 1/10/2011.
3. Adds the definition and duties of a Qualifying Officer; Qualifying Officer means a person who qualifies a candidate for an election; Qualifying Officers shall notify the commission in writing of the names and addresses of all candidates and offices sought in any election within ten days of the close of the qualification period.

During the 2011 session of the General Assembly, H.B. 232 was passed which made further changes to the Campaign finance Act.

1. The changes primarily affected the lobbyist registration provisions of the Act by adding:  1) a 10% threshold for determining when an individual's lobbying activities rise to the level of  requiring registration;  2) a $1,000 per calendar year   threshold (increased from $250) for any person who makes expenditures to influence legislation; and 3) exemption for bona fide salespersons from the definition of vendor lobbyist.
2. HB 232 also made changes to the electronic filing requirements of local public officers, giving them the ability to make filings by certified mail (although this method is not recommended by the Commission).
3. HB 232 became effective retroactively on 1/10/2011.