<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="13-604.2" title_number="13" title_name="Campaign Finance" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Prohibited Acts and Penalties">
  <level label="a">
    <text>A candidate for election to the central committee of a political party shall pay a civil penalty of $1,000 in accordance with subsections (b) through (f) of this section if the candidate:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>is not exempt from § 13–202 of this title and fails to conduct campaign finance activity through a campaign finance entity; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>violates § 13–221(c) or § 13–305.1 of this title.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>If the State Prosecutor or the State’s Attorney with jurisdiction determines that a candidate is required to pay a civil penalty under subsection (a) of this section, the State Prosecutor, the State’s Attorney, or both shall issue to the candidate a civil citation that contains:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the name and address of the candidate cited;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the nature, time, and place of the violation;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the manner in which the violation occurred;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>the penalty for the violation;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>the manner and time in which to pay the penalty;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>where to pay the penalty; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>a statement that the candidate receiving the citation has a right to a trial in the District Court.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The prosecuting authority who issues a citation under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall file the citation in the District Court.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The citation shall be served in accordance with the Maryland Rules.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>On receipt of the return of service, the District Court shall schedule the case for trial and notify the candidate named in the citation of the trial date.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The trial in the District Court shall be conducted in the same manner as set forth for municipal infractions under §§ 6–108, 6–109, and 6–111 through 6–115 of the Local Government Article.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>An adjudication of a violation under this subsection:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>is not a criminal conviction; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>does not carry with it any of the civil disabilities that arise from a criminal conviction.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>A candidate who is adjudicated in violation as set forth in a citation issued under subsection (b) of this section is liable for the cost of the District Court proceedings.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>If a candidate who has been served with a citation fails to appear for trial, the District Court, at the request of the prosecutor, may dismiss the citation or enter a civil judgment against the candidate:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>in favor of the State Board;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>in accordance with the Maryland Rules; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>in an amount of $1,000.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>Penalties collected under this section shall be distributed to the Fair Campaign Financing Fund established under § 15–103 of this article.</text>
  </level>
</section>
