Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 3517 | Campaigns; Political Parties
Section 3517.99 | Penalty.

Effective: October 17, 2019
Latest Legislation: House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly
This section establishes penalties only with respect to acts or failures to act that occur before August 24, 1995.
(A) Any candidate whose campaign committee violates division (A)(1) or (2) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined one thousand dollars for each day of violation.
(B) Any candidate whose campaign committee violates division (B) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code, any political party that violates division (F)(1) of section 3517.101 of the Revised Code, or any person who violates division (E) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined one hundred dollars for each day of violation.
(C) Any candidate whose campaign committee violates division (C) or (D) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined twenty-five dollars for each day of violation.
(D) Whoever violates division (F)(2) of section 3517.101 or division (G) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars, or if the offender is a person who was nominated or elected to public office, the offender shall forfeit the nomination or the office to which the offender was nominated, elected, or both.
(E) Whoever violates division (F) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount contributed.
(F) Whoever violates division (H) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(G) Whoever violates division (O), (P), or (Q) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(H) Any state or county committee of a political party that violates division (B)(1) of section 3517.18 of the Revised Code as that section existed before its repeal by H.B. 166 of the 133rd general assembly shall be fined an amount equal to twice the amount of the improper expenditure.
(I) Any state or county political party that violates division (G) of section 3517.101 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to twice the amount of the improper expenditure or use.
(J)(1) Any individual who violates division (B)(1) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code and knows that the contribution the individual makes violates that division shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(2) Any political action committee that violates division (B)(2) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(3) Any campaign committee that violates division (B)(3) or (5) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(4) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division (B)(6) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code, and any state political party, county political party, or state candidate fund of a state political party or county political party that violates division (B)(6) of that section, shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount transferred or contributed in excess of the amount permitted by those divisions, as applicable.
(5) A political party that violates division (B)(4) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(6) Notwithstanding divisions (J)(1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of this section, no fine shall be imposed if the excess amount contributed meets either of the following conditions:
(a) It is completely refunded within five business days after it is accepted.
(b) It is less than or equal to the amount permitted under division (B)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), or (6) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code, whichever is applicable, and the excess is completely refunded within ten business days after notification to the recipient of the contribution by the board of elections or the secretary of state that a contribution in excess of the permitted amount has been received.
(K)(1) Any campaign committee that violates division (C)(1), (2), (3), or (6) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(2) Any state or county political party that violates division (C)(4) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount from its state candidate fund equal to three times the amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(3) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division (C)(5) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(4) Any political action committee that violates division (C)(7) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(5) Notwithstanding divisions (K)(1), (2), (3), and (4) of this section, no fine shall be imposed if the excess accepted meets either of the following conditions:
(a) It is completely refunded within five business days after its acceptance.
(b) It is less than or equal to the amount permitted under division (C)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), or (7) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code, whichever is applicable, and the excess is completely refunded within ten business days after notification to the recipient of the contribution by the board of elections or the secretary of state that a contribution in excess of the permitted amount has been received.
(L)(1) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division (F)(1) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall be fined twenty-five dollars for each day of violation.
(2) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division (F)(2) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code shall give to the treasurer of state for deposit into the state treasury to the credit of the Ohio elections commission fund all excess contributions not disposed of as required by division (E) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code.
(M) Whoever violates section 3517.105 of the Revised Code shall be fined one thousand dollars.
(N)(1) Whoever solicits a contribution in violation of section 3517.092 or violates division (B) of section 3517.09 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(2) Whoever knowingly accepts a contribution in violation of division (B) or (C) of section 3517.092 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted in violation of either of those divisions and shall return to the contributor any amount so accepted. Whoever unknowingly accepts a contribution in violation of division (B) or (C) of section 3517.092 of the Revised Code shall return to the contributor any amount so accepted.
(O) Whoever violates division (S) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount of funds transferred or three times the value of the assets transferred in violation of that division.
(P) Any campaign committee that accepts a contribution or contributions in violation of section 3517.108 of the Revised Code, uses a contribution in violation of that section, or fails to dispose of excess contributions in violation of that section shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted, used, or kept in violation of that section.
(Q) Any political party, state candidate fund, legislative candidate fund, or campaign committee that violates division (T) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount contributed or accepted in violation of that section.
(R) Any campaign committee that fails to file the declaration of filing-day finances required by division (F) of section 3517.109 of the Revised Code shall be fined twenty-five dollars for each day of violation.
(S) Any campaign committee that fails to dispose of contributions under divisions (B) and (C) of section 3517.109 of the Revised Code shall give to the treasurer of state for deposit to the credit of the Ohio elections commission fund created under division (E)(2) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code all contributions not disposed of pursuant to those divisions.

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