§ 17-25-16. Enjoining of illegal acts — Forfeiture of contributions.
(a) Whenever the board of elections has reason to believe that a candidate, political party committee, or political action committee, or the campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer of the candidate or committee, has accepted a contribution or made an expenditure in violation of the provisions of this chapter, or willfully and knowingly has made a false statement in any of the reports required under this chapter or failed to file any report, or has otherwise violated this chapter, the board may, in addition to all other actions authorized by law, request the attorney general to bring an action in the name of the state of Rhode Island in the superior court against the person and/or committee to enjoin them from continuing the violation, or doing any acts in furtherance of the violation, and for any other relief that the court deems appropriate. In addition, the court may order the forfeiture of any or all contributions accepted in violation of and/or not reported as required by this chapter. All contributions so forfeited shall become the property of the state.
(b) The court shall also impose a civil penalty not exceeding three (3) times the amount of:
(1) Contributions made or accepted in violation of this chapter;
(2) Expenditures made in violation of this chapter; and/or
(3) Contributions or expenditures not reported as required by this chapter.
(c) All funds collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the fund established for the public financing of the electoral system pursuant to this chapter.
History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 188, § 2; P.L. 1992, ch. 21, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 17-25 - Rhode Island Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting
Section 17-25-1. - Short title.
Section 17-25-2. - Declaration of policy.
Section 17-25-3. - Definitions.
Section 17-25-4. - Applicability.
Section 17-25-5. - Duties and powers of the board of elections.
Section 17-25-5.1. - Manual of legal requirements.
Section 17-25-5.2. - Segregation of campaign funds.
Section 17-25-7. - Contents of reports to be filed by treasurers of candidates and committees.
Section 17-25-7.1. - Repealed.
Section 17-25-7.2. - Personal use of campaign funds prohibited.
Section 17-25-7.3. - Testimonial proceeds intended for personal use prohibited.
Section 17-25-7.4. - Limitations on repayment of loans.
Section 17-25-7.5. - Electronic reporting — Declaration of purpose.
Section 17-25-7.6. - Electronic reporting.
Section 17-25-8. - Appointment of campaign treasurer by candidate — Filings.
Section 17-25-8.1. - Appointment of treasurer by political action committee — Filings.
Section 17-25-9. - Designation of campaign treasurer of political party committees — Filings.
Section 17-25-10.1. - Political contributions — Limitations.
Section 17-25-11. - Dates for filing of reports by treasurers of candidates or of committees.
Section 17-25-11.1. - Preservation of candidate or committee records.
Section 17-25-12. - Prohibited contributions.
Section 17-25-13. - Penalties.
Section 17-25-14. - Maintenance of party organization.
Section 17-25-15. - Political action committee — Notice of formation.
Section 17-25-16. - Enjoining of illegal acts — Forfeiture of contributions.
Section 17-25-17. - Severability.
Section 17-25-18. - Public financing of election campaigns — General purpose.
Section 17-25-19. - Public financing of election campaigns — Outlined.
Section 17-25-20. - Eligibility criteria for matching public funds.
Section 17-25-21. - Primary elections.
Section 17-25-22. - Time period for payment of public funds.
Section 17-25-24. - Additional expenditures.
Section 17-25-25. - Surplus campaign funds.
Section 17-25-26. - Equal apportionment of expenditures for joint advertisements.
Section 17-25-27. - Post-audit of accounts — Publication.
Section 17-25-28. - Board of elections — Regulation and auditing of matching fund program.
Section 17-25-29. - Appropriations.
Section 17-25-30. - Public financing of election campaigns — Compliance benefits.
Section 17-25-30.1. - Community antenna television — Rules and regulations.