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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" citation="COMAR 33.13.10.04" title_num="33" subtitle_num="13" chapter_num="10" heading="Coordinated Expenditures.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Prohibited. A person or entity subject to Election Law Article, §§13-306, 13-307, and 13-309.1, Annotated Code of Maryland, may not, with respect to any disbursement, whether actual, planned, or promised, coordinate with:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A candidate;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A campaign finance entity of a candidate, political party or ballot issue; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>An agent of a candidate, political party, or a ballot issue committee.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Coordinated Actions. A disbursement or a promise to make a disbursement by a person or entity subject to Election Law Article, §§13-306, 13-307, and 13-309.1, Annotated Code of Maryland, shall be deemed a coordinated  expenditure if the disbursement:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Is made at the request, direction, or suggestion of the candidate or agent of the candidate, political party, or ballot issue committee;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Uses campaign material, strategies, or other campaign information that is not generally available to the public and was shared by a candidate or an agent of the candidate, political party, or ballot issue committee including information relating to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Messaging or content of an advertisement;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Polling data;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Research on a candidate or issue;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Allocation of campaign resources;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Targeted or intended audience; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Media plans for making a public communication, for example the specific media outlet to be used, the timing, frequency, or schedule for making the communication, and similar information;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Republishes nonincidental portions of campaign material prepared by the candidate, ballot issue committee, or political party;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Is made after details of the disbursement are privately discussed or disclosed with the candidate or agents of the candidate, political party, or ballot issue committee; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Involves any agreement between the person or entity and the candidate, political party or ballot issue committee regarding payment of expenses or receipt of contributions, including designs or schemes to evade Election Law disclosure requirements or contribution limits.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Use of a Vendor.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A person or entity subject to Election Law Article, §§13-306, 13-307, and 13-309.1, Annotated Code of Maryland, is presumed to have made a coordinated expenditure if the during the 18-month period preceding the disbursement, the person has retained the professional services of a vendor, an advisor, or a consultant that has provided professional services to the candidate or political party that is the beneficiary of the disbursement unless the entity employing the vendor, advisor, or consultant has established a firewall.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A firewall shall be set up to prevent individual employees of the vendor, consultant, or advisor from working on both accounts within the 18-month period.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>