Posting Language
Title
Approve an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 2-2 related to campaign finance regulations.
De
Lead Department
Office of the City Clerk.
For More Information:
Caroline Webster, Assistant City Attorney, Law Department, (512) 974-1353.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
December 13, 2023 - Ethics Review Commission recommended adopting the proposed changes to City Code Chapter 2-2 (Campaign Finance), with an additional recommendation for City legal to make a few non-substantive changes for consistency and clarity, on a 7-0 vote; Chair Soberon and Commissioners Casto, Lovins and Nuñez were absent.
Additional Backup Information:
The draft ordinance includes changes requested by the Ethics Review Commission.
The proposed amendments codify changes required by a recent court decision by removing current references to the campaign-finance period for general elections and defining the voluntary campaign contract period, which applies only to candidates who opt-in to the voluntary limits on contributions and expenditures. The amendments also clarify the deadline to submit the signed contract to participate in the voluntary limitations and clarify the requirements for candidates to receive public funds from the Austin Campaign Finance Fund.
Additionally, the amendments contain general clean-up language to include references to the most recent Texas Ethics Commission reporting thresholds in TEC Rule 18.31 <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ethics.state.tx.us%2Frules%2Fcommission%2Fch18.php%2318_31&data=05%7C02%7CCaroline.Webster%40austintexas.gov%7C5cbfa8654f174879576408dc2db4e014%7C5c5e19f6a6ab4b45b1d0be4608a9a67f%7C0%7C0%7C638435502073591458%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=JE1ll%2FN%2BoqzJe%2BJrNewF8lpBNGVi%2FfK9WjZ0abKcjAE%3D&reserved=0> and to remove references to a “data file,” as candidates now submit their campaign finance reports electronically.