§ 17-25-19. Public financing of election campaigns — Outlined.
(a) To effectuate the purpose stated in § 17-25-18, public funds shall be made available under the terms and conditions of this section and §§ 17-25-20 — 17-25-27 to qualifying candidates for general office who agree to abide by a limitation on the total amount of campaign contributions received and expenditures made for election purposes.
(b) Candidates for general office shall be eligible to receive two dollars ($2.00) of public funds for each qualified dollar ($1.00) of private funds contributed which do not exceed an aggregate of five hundred dollars ($500) from a single source within an election cycle and one dollar ($1.00) of public funds for each qualified dollar ($1.00) of private funds contributed which exceed an aggregate of five hundred dollars ($500) from a single source within an election cycle but do not exceed the limitations on aggregate contributions which are eligible to be matched set in subdivision 17-25-20(3), subject to the provisions of subdivision 17-25-20(2). The total amount of public funds provided to a candidate shall not exceed seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) in matching funds for a total of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) for candidates for governor; and one hundred eighty-seven thousand five hundred dollars ($187,500) in matching funds for a total of three hundred seventy-five thousand dollars ($375,000) for candidates for other general offices.
(c) In order to be eligible for matching public funds, each candidate at the time he or she becomes a candidate, as defined in subdivision 17-25-3(2), but no later than 4:00 pm on the last day for filing declarations of candidacy for general office, must sign a statement under oath pledging to comply with the limitations on campaign contributions and expenditures and with all of the terms and conditions set forth in this chapter. Any candidate who fails to file the statement with his or her declaration for office shall be ineligible to receive public funds.
History of Section.P.L. 1988, ch. 420, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 21, § 3; P.L. 1994, ch. 78, § 2; P.L. 2011, ch. 229, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 230, § 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.