HB1045 - Public Campaigns Program and Fund; established and created, tax check-off.

1 Co-Sponsor

Elections; campaign finance; Public Campaigns Program and Fund established; tax check-off. Establishes the Public Campaigns Program within the Department of Elections for the purpose of providing matching payments of public money to participating candidates receiving qualified small-dollar contributions of less than $250. The bill requires participating candidates to agree to abide by contribution limits and limits on the use of public matching payments in addition to agreeing to participate in public debates. Under the bill, matching payments are made from the Public Campaigns Fund, which is funded by an option on Virginia tax returns to direct a contribution of $40 from an individual filer, or $80 dollars for joint filers, to the Fund. The bill requires the Department to conduct audits of elections involving Program participants and to make a report to the General Assembly on the status of the Program generally.