Title 18. Louisiana Election Code

Chapter 11. Election Campaign Finance

Part V. Prohibited Practices and Limitations; Penalties

18:1505.2       Contributions; expenditures; certain prohibitions and limitations

A. (1) No person shall give, furnish, or contribute monies, materials, supplies, or make loans to or in support of a candidate or to any political committee, through or in the name of another, directly or indirectly. This prohibition shall not apply to dues or membership fees of any membership organization or corporation made by its members or stockholders, if such membership organization or corporation is not organized primarily for the purpose of supporting, opposing, or otherwise influencing the nomination for election, or election of any person to public office. 

(2)(a) Any person who violates the provisions of this Subsection unknowingly shall be assessed a penalty equal to the amount of the contribution plus ten percent. 

(b)(i) Any person who violates the provisions of this Subsection knowingly and willfully shall be assessed a penalty equal to twice the amount of the contribution. 

(ii) “Knowing and willful” for the purposes of this Subsection means conduct which could have been avoided through the exercise of due diligence. 

B. (1) No candidate, political committee, or other person required to file reports under this Chapter shall make any expenditure from funds the source of which is anonymous, and any contribution received by a candidate, political committee, or other person required to file reports under this Chapter from an anonymous source and deposited shall be reported as provided in R.S. 18:1491.7(B)(19) and R.S. 18:1495.5(B)(18) and shall escheat to the state and shall be paid over to the state by such candidate, political committee, or other such person. 

(2) Any single transaction involving the sale of items such as political campaign pins, buttons, badges, flags, emblems, hats, banners, literature, and similar materials, which transaction is for not in excess of twenty-five dollars and in which transaction the purchaser is not known, shall not be deemed to constitute an anonymous contribution under the provisions of this Subsection. 

C. (1) No person shall make a cash contribution to a candidate or a committee and no candidate or committee shall receive cash contributions in excess of one hundred dollars during any calendar year. Any contribution in excess of such one hundred dollar aggregate amount, other than an in-kind contribution, shall be made by an instrument containing the name of the donor and the name of the payee. 

(2) Upon receipt of a cash contribution of one hundred dollars or less, the candidate or committee receiving the contribution shall provide to the contributor a receipt for the exact amount of the contribution; such receipt shall contain the name and address of the contributor, shall be signed by the contributor, and the candidate or committee receiving the contribution shall retain a copy of the receipt. If the contributor refuses to furnish his name or address or refuses to sign the receipt, the contribution shall be immediately returned to said contributor. If the contributor is unable to write, he shall affix his mark to the receipt, and the person receiving the contribution shall affix the name of the incapacitated person to the receipt, provided he does so in the presence of a witness who shall also sign his name as witness to the mark. The copy of the receipt retained by the candidate or committee provided for in this Subsection shall be available to the supervisory committee for inspection. The supervisory committee shall promulgate rules and regulations relative to the receipt required by this Subsection. 

D. (1) No person shall knowingly coerce or attempt to coerce another person to give or withhold a contribution. 

(2) No person based on an individual’s contribution, promise to make a contribution, or failure to make a contribution shall directly or indirectly affect an individual’s employment by means of: 

(a) Denial or deprivation or the threat of the denial or deprivation of any employment or position. 

(b) Denial or deprivation or the threat of the denial or deprivation of the loss of any compensation, payment, benefit, or other emolument derived from or related to such employment or position. 

(c) Discharge, promotion, degradation, or change in any manner in rank or classification, or the threat or promise to do so. 

(3)(a) No person based on an individual’s contribution, promise to make a contribution, or failure to make any contribution shall directly or indirectly affect an individual by means of: 

(i) Denial or deprivation or the threat of the denial or deprivation of membership or participation in any organization. 

(ii) Denial or deprivation or the threat of the denial or deprivation of the loss of any compensation, payment, benefit, or other emolument derived from or related to such membership or participation in any organization. 

(iii) Discharge, promotion, degradation, or change in any manner in rank, status, or classification in any organization, or the threat or promise to do so. 

(b)(i) No organization shall directly or indirectly have as a condition of membership or participation the requirement that a person make a contribution to such organization which will be used by such organization for the purpose of supporting, opposing, or otherwise influencing the nomination or election of any person to public office, for the purpose of supporting or opposing a proposition or question submitted to the voters, or for the purpose of supporting or opposing the recall of a public officer. 

(ii) For the purposes of this Subparagraph, “contribution” shall have the same meaning as provided for in R.S. 18:1483(6) and shall also include any dues or membership fees of any organization. 

(c) For the purposes of this Paragraph, “organization” shall mean a partnership, association, labor union, political committee, corporation, or other legal entity, including its subsidiaries. 

(4) No political committee, candidate, or other person shall knowingly and willfully make a contribution or expenditure using funds which were obtained through practices prohibited in this Subsection. 

(5) Any contribution received by a candidate, political committee, or other person required to file reports under this Chapter which was obtained through practices prohibited in this Subsection shall be reported as provided in R.S. 18:1491.7(B)(21) and 1495.5(B)(20) and shall escheat to the state and shall be paid over to the state by such candidate, political committee, or other such person. 

E. No expenditure in excess of one hundred dollars shall be made from a petty cash fund and no expenditure shall be made from a petty cash fund for any personal services, except for gratuities paid for the serving of food or drink. No expenditure shall be made from the petty cash fund in violation of R.S. 18:1531. 

F. No profit or nonprofit corporation, labor organization, or trade, business, or professional association shall make any campaign contribution or expenditure unless specifically authorized to do so whether: by the vote of the board of directors of the corporation, of the executive board of the labor organization or of the trade, business, or professional association at a regular or special meeting thereof; by the president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer of a corporation or labor organization whom the board has specifically empowered to authorize such contributions or expenditures, or, for a corporation, by any other person designated by resolution of the board of directors of a corporation to authorize contributions or expenditures; or by a vote of the membership of the labor organization. No profit or nonprofit corporation, labor organization or trade, business, or professional association shall make any contribution or expenditure, other than an in-kind contribution or expenditure, except by check. 

G. No committee shall receive contributions or loans or make expenditures or loans, or make or receive a transfer of funds to or from another committee in the aggregate in excess of five hundred dollars during a calendar year until it has filed the annual statement of organization required by R.S. 18:1491.1. The chairman and the treasurer of any committee which violates the provisions of this Subsection shall be subject to the penalties provided in this Part. No candidate shall make a contribution to any committee required to file an annual statement of organization by the provisions of R.S. 18:1491.1 which has not filed such a statement. 

H. (1)(a) The following contribution limits are established for contributions made to candidates or the principal campaign committee and any subsidiary committee of a candidate for the following offices: 

(i) Major office--five thousand dollars. 

(ii) District office--two thousand five hundred dollars. 

(iii) Other office--one thousand dollars. 

(b) The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to contributions made to a candidate or the principal or any subsidiary committee of a candidate by a recognized political party or any committee thereof. 

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a), the contribution limit for contributions made to an unsuccessful major office candidate, or the principal campaign committee and any subsidiary committee of such unsuccessful candidate, who does not participate in the general election and for the time period for which such candidate has a deficit for expenditures made through the day of the primary election, shall be ten thousand dollars. 

(2)(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1), the following contribution limits are established for contributions by political committees supporting or opposing a candidate for the following offices: 

(i) Major office--five thousand dollars. 

(ii) District office--two thousand five hundred dollars. 

(iii) Other office--one thousand dollars. 

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) and Subparagraph (2)(a) of this Subsection, the following campaign contribution limits are established for contributions by political committees supporting or opposing a candidate for the following offices, the membership of which political committee exceeds two hundred and fifty members as of the December thirty-first of the preceding calendar year, and additionally provided that at least two hundred and fifty of the members have each contributed at least fifty dollars to the political committee during the preceding one-year period: 

(i) Major office--ten thousand dollars. 

(ii) District office--five thousand dollars. 

(iii) Other office--two thousand dollars. 

No contribution in excess of the limits contained in Subparagraph (2)(a) of this Subsection shall be made by any political committee until such membership certification is made on the statement of organization form required by this Chapter and timely submitted to the supervisory committee by the applicable due date. Any political committee certified under this Paragraph shall notify the supported candidate in writing at the time any contribution is made under this Paragraph. 

(c) If the contribution is made to a committee which is supporting or opposing candidates for different offices, the highest applicable limit shall apply. 

(d) The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to recognized political parties and their committees. 

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) and Subparagraph (2)(a) of this Subsection, the contributions limit for contributions by political committees to an unsuccessful major office candidate, or the principal campaign committee and subsidiary committee of such unsuccessful candidate, who does not participate in the general election and for the time period for which such candidate has a deficit for expenditures made through the day of the primary election, shall be ten thousand dollars. 

(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) and Subparagraphs (2)(a) and (b) of this Subsection, the contributions limit for contributions by political committees certified according to the provisions of Subparagraph (2)(b) to an unsuccessful major office candidate, or the principal campaign committee and subsidiary committee of such unsuccessful candidate, who does not participate in the general election and for the time period for which such candidate has a deficit for expenditures made through the day of the primary election, shall be twenty thousand dollars. 

(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this Paragraph, the contribution limit for contributions by a political committee to a recognized political party or any committee thereof shall be as provided in Subsection K of this Section. 

(3)(a) For purposes of this Subsection, a primary election and a general election shall constitute two separate elections. For purposes of this Subsection, for candidates and committees that participate in a general election, the reporting period for the general election shall be deemed to begin the day following the primary election. 

(b) No person shall make a loan, transfer of funds, or contribution, including but not limited to funds for any purchase of campaign materials for more than twenty-five dollars, funds for the purchase of testimonial tickets, and any in-kind contribution, in the aggregate for all reporting periods for an election, as defined in this Paragraph, including reporting periods for any supplemental reports required, in excess of the contribution limits established in Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Subsection, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Subsection. 

(c) No candidate including his principal campaign committee and any subsidiary committee thereof, shall accept from the same contributor a loan, transfer of funds, or contribution, including but not limited to funds for any purchase of campaign materials for more than twenty-five dollars, funds for the purchase of testimonial tickets, and any in-kind contribution, in the aggregate for all reporting periods of an election, as defined in this Paragraph, including reporting periods for any supplemental reports, in excess of the contribution limits established in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Subsection, and except that the provisions of Paragraph (2) shall apply for contributions accepted from a political committee. The provisions of this Subparagraph shall not apply to recognized political parties and their committees. 

(d) After January 1, 1989, no person shall make a loan, transfer of funds, or contribution to a candidate including his principal campaign committee with funds loaned to him without disclosing to the candidate or his committee the source of the funds. A candidate or his committee receiving such a loan, transfer of funds, or contribution shall not only report the name of the contributor, but also the source of the funds contributed. 

(4) The provisions of this Subsection shall not prohibit a transfer of funds between a candidate or his principal campaign committee and any subsidiary committee thereof, provided that all parties shall comply with applicable reporting requirements. 

(5) The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to any contributions or loans a candidate makes to his own campaign. 

(6)(a) For purposes of this Subsection, “loan” shall not include any loan of money by a state bank, a federally chartered depository institution, or a depository institution the deposits or accounts of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or the National Credit Union Administration, any licensed lender under the Louisiana Consumer Credit Law, or an insurance company, other than any overdraft made with respect to a checking or savings account, made in accordance with applicable law and in the ordinary course of business, but such loan: 

(i) Shall be considered a loan by each endorser or guarantor, in that proportion of the unpaid balance that each endorser or guarantor bears to the total number of endorsers or guarantors, and such loan by each endorser and guarantor shall be subject to the contribution limits provided in this Subsection; 

(ii) Shall be made on a basis which assures repayment, evidenced by a written instrument, and subject to a due date or amortization schedule; and 

(iii) Shall bear the usual and customary interest rate of the lending institution. 

(7) Repealed by Acts 2021, No. 428, § 1. 

I. (1) On and after January 1, 1991, contributions received by a candidate or a political committee may be expended for any lawful purpose, but such funds shall not be used, loaned, or pledged by any person for any personal use unrelated to a political campaign, the holding of a public office or party position, or, in the case of a political committee, other than a candidate’s principal campaign committee or subsidiary committee, the administrative costs or operating expenses of the political committee; except that excess campaign funds may be returned to contributors on a pro rata basis, given as a charitable contribution as provided in 26 U.S.C. § 170(c), given to a charitable organization as defined in 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3), expended in support of or in opposition to a proposition, political party, or candidacy of any person, or maintained in a segregated fund for use in future political campaigns or activity related to preparing for future candidacy to elective office. However, the use of campaign funds of a candidate or his principal or subsidiary committees to reimburse a candidate for expenses related to his political campaign or his holding of a public office or party position shall not be considered personal use by the candidate. If a candidate is required by state or federal law to pay taxes on the interest earned by campaign funds of the candidate or any political committee of the candidate, the candidate may use the interest on which such tax is paid for such purpose. A payment from campaign funds shall not be considered as having been spent for personal use when the funds are used to replace articles lost, stolen, or damaged in connection with the campaign. 

(2) The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to campaign funds received prior to July 15, 1988. 

(3)(a) A candidate or his principal or subsidiary campaign committee shall not make an expenditure of funds derived from contributions for any purpose so long as the candidate owes a fine, fee, or penalty imposed by a final order of a court or the supervisory committee pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter and against which all appeal delays have lapsed. This Paragraph shall apply to all contributions regardless of the date received by the candidate or committee. 

(b) Any person who makes an expenditure in violation of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph may be assessed a civil penalty not to exceed two hundred percent of the expenditure or one thousand dollars, whichever is greater. 

(4) No candidate, political committee, person required to file reports under this Chapter, nor any other person shall use a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds to pay a fine, fee, or penalty imposed pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 15 of Title 42¹ of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950. 

(5)(a) No candidate nor the principal or any subsidiary political committee of a candidate shall use a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds received by such candidate or committee to make any payment or expenditure to any immediate family member of the candidate. 

(b) This Paragraph shall not prohibit a payment or expenditure to a business in which an immediate family member has any ownership interest, provided that all of the following apply: 

(i) The business is a bona fide business that is doing business and has been doing business regularly in the state for at least twelve months at the time of the payment or expenditure and the business either: 

(aa) Has been registered and in good standing with the secretary of state for at least twelve months at that time and provides goods or services related to the payment or expenditure. 

(bb) Holds and has held an occupational license for at least twelve months at that time for a business which provides goods or services related to the payment or expenditure and which license was duly issued by the appropriate local governmental subdivision. 

(ii) The payment or expenditure is made solely for campaign purposes. 

(iii) The payment or expenditure is made through an arm’s length transaction in which the value of the goods or services furnished is commensurate with the consideration provided. 

(c) This Paragraph shall not prohibit a candidate nor the principal or any subsidiary political committee of a candidate from using a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds received by such candidate or committee to make a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds to any immediate family member who is a candidate or to any principal or subsidiary political committee of such family member who is a candidate. 

(d) For purposes of this Paragraph, “immediate family member” shall mean the candidate’s children, the spouses of his children, his brothers and their spouses, his sisters and their spouses, his parents, his spouse, and the parents of his spouse. 

(e) Any candidate who violates the provisions of this Paragraph or whose principal campaign committee or subsidiary committee violates the provisions of this Paragraph shall be subject to the penalties provided in Subsection J of this Section, and the supervisory committee shall enforce the provisions of this Paragraph as provided in Subsection J of this Section and as otherwise provided in this Chapter. 

(6) No candidate, political committee, or other person required to file reports pursuant to this Chapter, shall use a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds received by such candidate, committee, or person to purchase immovable property or a motor vehicle. For purposes of this Paragraph, “motor vehicle” shall have the same meaning as provided in R.S. 32:781, except that “motor vehicle” shall not include a “trailer” as that term is defined in R.S. 32:1252. 

J. (1) Any candidate, treasurer, or chairman of a political committee who violates any provision of Subsection H or I of this Section shall be assessed a penalty of not more than five thousand dollars or the amount of the violation, whichever is greater, except that the penalty for a knowing and willful violation shall not be more than ten thousand dollars or two hundred percent of the violation, whichever is greater. “Knowing and willful”, for purposes of this Subsection, means conduct which could have been avoided through the exercise of due diligence. The civil penalties provided for in R.S. 18:1505.5 shall be inapplicable to violations of Subsection H or I. Enforcement of Subsections H and I shall be in the same manner provided for in Part VI of this Chapter. 

(2) The supervisory committee shall institute civil proceedings to collect the civil penalties provided for in this Subsection as soon as the committee determines, as a result of its review and investigation of any sworn complaint or other document or information received by the supervisory committee, that a violation of Subsection H or I of this Section has occurred. If the supervisory committee makes a determination of such violation at least ten days prior to the election in which the candidate, treasurer, or chairman of a political committee in apparent violation is participating, the supervisory committee shall institute such civil proceedings at least by the fourth calendar day prior to the election. 

K. (1) During any four year calendar period commencing January 1, 1991 and every fourth year thereafter, no person shall contribute more than one hundred thousand dollars to any political committee or any subsidiary committee of such political committee, other than the principal or any subsidiary committee of a candidate. Such limitation on a contribution shall not apply to any contribution from a national political committee to an affiliated regional or state political committee. 

(2) During the time period provided for in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, no political committee or subsidiary of such political committee, other than the principal or any subsidiary committee of a candidate, shall accept more than one hundred thousand dollars from any person. 

(3) The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to contributions made by a recognized political party or any committee thereof. 

L. (1) The legislature recognizes that it is essential to the operation of effective democratic government in this state that citizens have confidence in the electoral process and that elections be conducted so as to prevent influence and the appearance of influence of candidates for public office and of the election process by special interests, particularly by persons substantially interested in the gaming industry in this state. 

(2) No person to whom this Subsection is applicable as provided in Paragraph (3) of this Subsection shall make a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds, including but not limited to any in-kind contribution, as defined in this Chapter, to any candidate, any political committee of any such candidate, or to any other political committee which supports or opposes any candidate. This Section shall not prohibit contributions made to any account of a political committee affiliated with a recognized political party organized under the laws of another jurisdiction, where the account is segregated and no funds from such segregated account are used to support or oppose any candidate in this state or any political committee of any candidate in this state, provided that any person to whom this Section applies shall expressly request, prior to making a contribution, that such political committee shall not use such funds to support or oppose any candidate or any political committee of any candidate in Louisiana. 

(3) This Subsection shall be applicable to all of the following: 

(a)(i) Any person who holds a license or permit as a distributor of gaming devices, who holds a license or permit as a manufacturer of gaming devices, who holds a license or permit as a device service entity, and any person who owns a truck stop or a licensed pari-mutuel or off-track wagering facility which is a licensed device establishment, all pursuant to the Video Draw Poker Devices Control Law. 

(ii) Any person who holds a license to conduct gaming activities on a riverboat, who holds a license or permit as a distributor or supplier of gaming devices or gaming equipment including slot machines, or who holds a license or permit as a manufacturer of gaming devices or gaming equipment including slot machines issued pursuant to the Louisiana Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Control Act,² and any person who owns a riverboat upon which gaming activities are licensed to be conducted. 

(iii) Any person who holds a license or entered into a contract for the conduct of casino gaming operations, who holds a license or permit as a distributor of gaming devices or gaming equipment including slot machines, or who holds a license or permit as a manufacturer of gaming devices or gaming equipment including slot machines issued pursuant to the Louisiana Economic Development and Gaming Corporation Act,³ and any person who owns a casino where such gaming operations are licensed. 

(b)(i) Any person who has an interest, directly or indirectly, in any legal entity included in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph. “Interest”, as used in this Subparagraph, means ownership by an individual or his spouse, either individually or collectively, of an interest which exceeds ten percent of any legal entity. An indirect interest is ownership through any number of layers of legal entities when twenty-five percent or more of each legal entity is owned by the legal entity ownership beneath it. 

(ii) Any holding, intermediary, or subsidiary company of any person included in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph and any officer, director, trustee, or partner thereof. 

(c) Any officer, director, trustee, partner, or senior management level employee or key employee as defined in R.S. 27:205(19) of any person included in Subparagraph (a) or (b) of this Paragraph. 

(d) Any person subject to the provisions of R.S. 27:63(C)(4), 226(C)(4), or 261(D). 

(e) The spouse of any person to whom this Subsection is made applicable by this Paragraph. 

(4) This Subsection shall not prohibit an expenditure by a candidate for his own campaign or a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds by a candidate to his own political committee. 

(5)(a)(i) Any person who makes a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds in violation of this Subsection shall be assessed a civil penalty in the same amounts as provided in Paragraph (J)(1) of this Section. The penalties provided in R.S. 18:1505.5 shall not be applicable to any violation of this Subsection. 

(ii) If a candidate, committee, or person required to file reports is notified by the supervisory committee that a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds to such candidate, committee, or person was made in violation of this Subsection, such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds shall escheat to the state. Any such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds, or an amount equal thereto, shall be paid over to the state by the recipient candidate, committee, or other person required to file reports within ten business days after the recipient candidate, committee, or person required to file reports is notified by the supervisory committee that the contribution, loan, or transfer of funds was made by a person prohibited by this Subsection from making such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds. 

(b) The supervisory committee shall institute civil proceedings to collect the civil penalties provided for in this Subsection as provided in Paragraph (J)(2) of this Section. 

(c) The criminal penalties provided in R.S. 18:1505.6(C) shall be applicable to any violation of this Subsection. 

(d)(i) In addition to all other applicable penalties, the violation of this Subsection by any person to whom the Subsection is applicable pursuant to Paragraph (3) of this Subsection shall be reported by the supervisory committee to the gaming division of the office of state police, the Riverboat Gaming Commission and the board of directors of the Louisiana Economic Development and Gaming Corporation. 

(ii) Such a violation of this Subsection shall be prohibited conduct under the Louisiana Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Control Act, the Louisiana Economic Development and Gaming Corporation Act, and the Video Draw Poker Devices Control Law that renders the violator unsuitable to hold the license which made him subject to the provisions of this Subsection. 

(6)(a) The gaming enforcement section of the office of state police of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, with the technical assistance of the supervisory committee, shall provide written notification of the provisions of this Subsection to each person issued or granted a permit, license, or contract as provided in Paragraph (3)(a)(i) and (ii) of this Subsection. 

(b) The Louisiana Economic Development and Gaming Corporation, with the technical assistance of the supervisory committee, shall provide written notification of the provisions of this Subsection to each person issued or granted a permit, license, or contract as provided in Paragraph (3)(a)(iii) of this Subsection. 

M. (1) No foreign national shall, directly or through any other person, make any contribution of money or other thing of value, or promise expressly or impliedly, any such contribution, in connection with an election to any political office or in connection with any primary election, convention, or caucus held to select candidates for any political office; nor shall any person solicit, accept, or receive any such contribution from such foreign national. 

(2) As used in this Subsection, “foreign national” means: 

(a) A foreign principal such as a government of a foreign country or a foreign political party, except that “foreign national” shall not mean any individual. 

(b) A partnership, association, corporation, organization, or other combination of persons organized under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country, unless authorized and qualified to do business in Louisiana. 

(c) An individual who is not a citizen of the United States and who is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence and accorded the privilege of residing permanently in the United States as an immigrant. 

(3)(a) Any person who makes a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds in violation of this Subsection shall be subject to the penalties provided in R.S. 18:1505.5 and R.S. 18:1505.6. 

(b) If a candidate, committee, or person required to file reports is notified by the supervisory committee that a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds to such candidate, committee, or person was made in violation of this Subsection, such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds shall escheat to the state. Any such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds, or an amount equal thereto, shall be paid over to the state by the recipient candidate, committee, or other person required to file reports within ten business days after the recipient candidate, committee, or person required to file reports is notified by the supervisory committee that the contribution, loan, or transfer of funds was made by a person prohibited by this Subsection from making such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds. 

N. Any interest payments made to a candidate from campaign funds of such candidate or any political committee of such candidate on loans made by the candidate to his campaign or to his political committee shall not be considered as having been spent for personal use to the extent that the interest charged on such loans does not exceed the judicial interest rate at the time the loan was made. 

O. (1) A fine, fee, or penalty assessed for a violation of this Chapter shall be paid only by the person against whom the fine, fee, or penalty was assessed. All such fines, fees, or penalties may be paid only with the personal funds of such person or with contributions in accordance with Subsection I of this Section; however, the supervisory committee may prohibit a candidate or elected official from using contributions received by, or other campaign funds of, such candidate or elected official or the principal or a subsidiary campaign committee of such candidate or elected official to pay a fine, fee, or penalty, assessed for a violation of this Chapter upon a finding that the violation was intentional or egregious. 

(2) “Intentional” for the purposes of this Subsection shall mean actions which, in the considered opinion of the supervisory committee, were designed to avoid full and accurate compliance with the provisions of this Chapter. “Egregious” for the purposes of this Subsection shall mean actions which, in the considered opinion of the supervisory committee, significantly injured the public’s right to full and accurate disclosure of the financing of election campaigns. 

P. No funds contributed which are subject to the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971,⁴ as amended, to or for a person who seeks election to an office subject to the provisions of said Act shall be transferred, loaned, or contributed by a candidate, his agent, or his federal campaign committee to the candidate, any political committee of such candidate, or to any other political committee which supports the candidate; nor shall the candidate, his federal campaign committee, or his agent use such funds to otherwise support his candidacy. 

Q. (1) No legislator or any principal or subsidiary committee of a legislator shall accept or deposit a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds or accept and use any in-kind contribution, as defined in this Chapter, for his own campaign during a regular legislative session. 

(2) If a legislator or any principal or subsidiary committee of a legislator receives a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds during a regular legislative session in violation of this Subsection, the legislator shall return such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds to the contributor within ten days after the receipt of such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds. Any contribution, loan, or transfer of funds so returned shall not be deemed to be accepted. 

(3)(a)(i) The provisions of this Subsection shall not prohibit an expenditure by a legislator for his own campaign or a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds by a legislator to his own political committee. 

(ii) The provisions of this Subsection shall not prohibit a legislator from obtaining a loan for his own campaign from a state bank, a federally chartered depository institution, or a depository institution the deposits or accounts of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or the National Credit Union Administration, any licensed lender under the Louisiana Consumer Credit Law, or an insurance company, made in accordance with applicable law and in the ordinary course of business, provided that the legislator is the sole endorser or guarantor of the loan and that the loan is made on a basis which assures repayment evidenced by a written instrument, is subject to a due date or amortization schedule, and bears the usual and customary interest rate of the lending institution. 

(b) The provisions of Paragraphs (Q)(1) and (2) of this Subsection shall not apply to any legislator who is a candidate for the office of United States senator; the office of United States representative; an office which is to be filled by an election which occurs during the regular legislative session during which the contribution, loan, or transfer of funds or in-kind contribution is accepted or within sixty days after such regular legislative session adjourns; or an office other than that of a member of the state legislature. However, if a legislator accepts a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds or in-kind contribution during a regular legislative session for a state or local office to which the prohibition in this Subsection does not apply and the legislator chooses not to seek said office or fails to qualify for said office, such legislator shall return, in the manner prescribed by the supervisory committee, each such contribution, loan, transfer of funds, or in-kind contribution which remains unexpended or unencumbered for expenses directly related to the campaign for said office. 

R. (1) Neither the governor nor any principal or subsidiary committee of the governor shall accept or deposit a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds or accept and use any in-kind contribution, as defined in this Chapter, for his own campaign during a regular legislative session or within thirty days after such regular legislative session adjourns. 

(2) If the governor or any principal or subsidiary committee of the governor receives a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds in violation of this Subsection, the governor shall return such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds to the contributor within ten days after the receipt of such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds. Any contribution, loan, or transfer of funds so returned shall not be deemed to be accepted. 

(3)(a)(i) The provisions of this Subsection shall not prohibit an expenditure by the governor for his own campaign or a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds by the governor to his own political committee. 

(ii) The provisions of this Subsection shall not prohibit the governor from obtaining a loan for his own campaign from a state bank, a federally chartered depository institution, or a depository institution the deposits or accounts of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, or the National Credit Union Administration, any licensed lender under the Louisiana Consumer Credit Law, or an insurance company, made in accordance with applicable law and in the ordinary course of business, provided that the governor is the sole endorser or guarantor of the loan and that the loan is made on a basis which assures repayment evidenced by a written instrument, is subject to a due date or amortization schedule, and bears the usual and customary interest rate of the lending institution. 

(b) The provisions of Paragraphs (R)(1) and (2) of this Subsection shall not apply if the governor is a candidate for the office of United States senator; the office of United States representative; an office which is to be filled by an election which occurs during the regular legislative session during which the contribution, loan, or transfer of funds or in-kind contribution is accepted or within sixty days after such regular legislative session adjourns; or an office other than that of governor. However, if the governor accepts a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds or in-kind contribution during a regular legislative session or within thirty days after such a regular legislative session adjourns for a state or local office to which the prohibition in this Subsection does not apply and the governor chooses not to seek said office or fails to qualify for said office, the governor shall return, in the manner prescribed by the supervisory committee, each such contribution, loan, transfer of funds, or in-kind contribution which remains unexpended or unencumbered for expenses directly related to such campaign for said office. 

S. (1) No candidate for the office of the commissioner of insurance shall accept any campaign contribution, loan, or transfer of funds or accept and use any in-kind contribution for his or her campaign from any service provider who has contracted with the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation and which service provider subcontracts with insurance adjusters to adjust claims for the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. 

(2) Any contribution, loan, transfer of funds, or any in-kind contribution prohibited under Paragraph (1) of this Subsection made on or after January 1, 2006, shall be returned or refunded to the contributor by the candidate. 

(3) As used in this Subsection, the term “service provider” shall include any of the following entities: 

(a) An individual. 

(b) A person, whether or not incorporated. 

(c) A partnership, including the individual partners or members of the partnership. 

(d) A corporation, including its individual officers and members of the board of directors. 

(e) A limited liability company, or any of its owners, members, or officers. 

(f) Any other legal entity which contracts or subcontracts to provide services beneficial to the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. 

T. (1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, loans a candidate makes to his own campaign, as provided for in this Section, may be repaid from any campaign contributions received. 

(2) The provisions of this Subsection shall apply only to those candidates who have terminated their public service as an elected official for at least one year from the date of their last day in office. 

Acts 1980, No. 786, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981. Amended by Acts 1982, No. 266, § 1, eff. July 18, 1982; Acts 1988, No. 994, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 179, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1990, No. 180, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1990, No. 997, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 949, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1993; Acts 1993, No. 199, § 1, eff. June 1, 1993; Acts 1996, 1st Ex.Sess., No. 67, § 1, eff. July 1, 1996; Acts 1997, No. 542, § 1; Acts 1997, No. 1164, § 1; Acts 1997, No. 1420, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 62, § 1; Acts 1999, No. 830, § 1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 1999, No. 958, § 1; Acts 2001, No. 294, § 1; Acts 2001, No. 340, § 1, eff. June 8, 2001; Acts 2001, No. 800, § 1; Acts 2001, No. 1208, § 1; Acts 2002, 1st Ex.Sess., No. 126, § 1, eff. April 23, 2002; Acts 2003, No. 935, § 1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2004, No. 115, § 1, eff. June 2, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 760, § 1, eff. July 6, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 783, § 1; Acts 2006, No. 128, § 1, eff. June 2, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 849, § 1, eff. July 10, 2006; Acts 2008, 1st Ex.Sess., No. 26, § 1; Acts 2008, 1st Ex.Sess., No. 27, § 1, eff. March 30, 2008; Acts 2008, No. 821, § 1, eff. July 8, 2008; Acts 2009, No. 369, § 1; Acts 2010, No. 848, § 1, eff. June 30, 2010; Acts 2014, No. 613, § 1; Acts 2016, No. 450, § 1; Acts 2020, No. 161, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2021; Acts 2020, No. 314, § 1; Acts 2023, No. 330, § 1.

Footnotes

¹ R.S. 42:1101 et seq.

² In item (L)(3)(a)(ii), the Louisiana Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Control Act, R.S. 27:41 et seq.

³ In item (L)(3)(a)(iii), the Louisiana Economic Development and Gaming Corporation Act, R.S. 27:201 et seq.

⁴ In subsec. P, the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, 52 U.S.C.A. § 30101 et seq.