(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a principal campaign committee or political action committee may return or refund, in full or in part, any lawful contribution it receives to the donor, provided that such return or refund may not exceed the amount received. Any lawful contribution refunded to the donor must have been reported in an itemized manner and the refund shall be itemized in the report for the period in which the refund is made. In the case of a political action committee, the refund shall occur within 18 months of the date of the contribution; provided, however, that if the refund of the contribution is required by law or regulation, then the 18-month time limitation shall not apply.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a principal campaign committee or political action committee shall promptly return or refund, in full, any unlawful contribution. It shall be unlawful for any person acting on behalf of a principal campaign committee or political action committee to retain or cause to be retained a contribution that the person knows or reasonably should know was made in violation of this chapter. It is a defense to prosecution that the unlawful contribution was returned or refunded in full within 10 days of the date the contribution was made.
Structure Code of Alabama
Chapter 5 - The Fair Campaign Practices Act.
Section 17-5-3 - Political Action Committees; Officers; Accounting and Reporting.
Section 17-5-5.1 - Regulation of Legislative Caucus Organizations.
Section 17-5-6 - Checking Account; Expenditures.
Section 17-5-7 - Use of Excess Moneys Received; Solicitation, etc., of Contributions.
Section 17-5-7.1 - Return or Refund of Contributions.
Section 17-5-7.2 - Disposal of Campaign Property.
Section 17-5-8.1 - Electronic Reporting; Electronic Searchable Database; Rules.
Section 17-5-8.2 - Legislative Findings.
Section 17-5-9 - (Effective August 1, 2023) Filing Procedures.
Section 17-5-10 - (Effective August 1, 2023) Public Inspection of Reports; Date of Receipt.
Section 17-5-11 - (Effective August 1, 2023) Duties of Secretary of State.
Section 17-5-12 - Identification of Paid Advertisements.
Section 17-5-13 - Cards, Pamphlets, Circulars, etc., to Bear Name of Candidate, Committee, Etc.
Section 17-5-17 - Solicitation by Force, Job Discrimination, Threats, etc., Prohibited.
Section 17-5-18 - Failure to File Required Statement or Report.
Section 17-5-19.1 - (Effective August 1, 2023) Civil Penalties.
Section 17-5-19.2 - (Effective August 1, 2023) Administrative Review.
Section 17-5-20 - Appointment of Designated Filing Agents; Submission of Reports.