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<subtitle num="18" heading="Violations" title_num="33" title_heading="State Board of Elections">
  <chapter num="01" heading="Civil Penalties">
    <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Scope.">
      <text>This chapter applies to the violations set forth in Election Law Article, §13-604.1, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </regulation>
    <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Civil Penalties.">
      <text>1st Offense
            2nd Offense
            3rd and Subsequent Offenses
          
        
        
          
            A. Disbursement made by unauthorized individual
          
          
            (1) If made by a person other than the responsible officers or candidate
            $500
            $1,000
            $1,000
          
          
            (2)  If made by a candidate
            $1,000
            $1,000
            $1,000
          
          
            (3) If made by the chairman and not in accordance with Election Law Article, §13-218(d), Annotated Code of Maryland
            $500
            $1,000
            $1,000
          
          
            B. Failure to maintain a campaign bank account
          
          
            (1) No bank account
            $100
            $500
            $1,000
          
          
            (2)  Used personal or other account controlled by the responsible officers or candidate
            $1,000
            $1,000
            $1,000
          
          
            C. Disbursement by unauthorized methods
          
          
            (1) Credit card disbursement
            $200
            $1,000
            $1,000
          
          
            (2) Cash disbursement greater than $25
            $200
            $1,000
            $1,000
          
          
            (3) Non-check disbursement for walk-around services
            $200
            $500
            $1,000
          
          
            D. Failure to maintain account books and records
          
          
            (1) Loan documents
            $500
            $1,000
            $1,000
          
          
            (2) Bank records
            $1,000
            $1,000
            $1,000
          
          
            (3) Expenditure records
            $200
            $500
            $1,000
          
          
            (4) Campaign contribution records or receipts
            $200
            $500
            $1,000
          
          
            (5) Records for lump sum entries
            $200
            $500
            $1,000
          
          
            E. Failure to report contribution(s) on a campaign finance report
          
          
            (1) Less than 10 contributions
            $50
            $350
            $1,000
          
          
            (2) Between 10 and 20 contributions
            $150
            $600
            $1,000
          
          
            (3) More than 20 contributions
            $600
            $1,000
            $1,000
          
          
            (4) Knowingly and willfully failed to disclose a contribution
            $1,000
            $1,000
            $1,000
          
          
            F. Failure to report expenditure(s) on a campaign finance report
          
          
            (1) Less than 10 expenditures
            $50
            $350
            $1,000
          
          
            (2) Between 10 and 20 expenditures
            $150
            $600
            $1,000
          
          
            (3) More than 20 expenditures
            $600
            $1,000
            $1,000
          
          
            (4) Knowingly and willfully failed to disclose a expenditure
            $1,000
            $1,000
            $1,000
          
          
            G.  Failure to include authority line or authority line is insufficient
          
          
            (1) No Authority Line
            $250
            $1,000
            $1,000
          
          
            (2) Present but missing one or more requirements
            $50
            $300
            $750
          
          
            H. Failure to retain a copy of campaign material
            $500
            $1,000
            $1,000
          
          
            I. Failure to receive affirmative consent by the contributor or donor for a recurring contribution or donation
            $500
            $1,000
            $1,000
          
          
            J. Failure to report contribution(s) on a statement required under Election Law Article, §14-1014, or General Provisions Article, §5-716, Annotated Code of Maryland
          
          
            (1) Less than 10 contributions
            $50
            $350
            $1000
          
          
            (2) Between 10 and 20 contributions
            $150
            $600
            $1000
          
          
            (3) More than 20 contributions
            $600
            $1000
            $1000
          
          
            (4) Knowingly and willfully failed to disclose a contribution
            $1000
            $1000
            $1000
          
          
            K. Failure to make a monetary contribution or donation in United States currency in violation of Election Law Article, §13-238, Annotated Code of Maryland
            $750
            $1000
            $1000
          
          
            L. Failure to make a monetary disbursement or expenditure in United States currency in violation of Election Law Article, §13-250, Annotated Code of Maryland
            $750
            $1000
            $1000</text>
    </regulation>
    <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Additional Violation.">
      <paragraph num="A.">
        <text>A campaign finance entity may not receive a contribution from an anonymous source.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="B.">
        <text>The State Board of Elections shall deem a contribution as from an anonymous source if the campaign finance entity fails to maintain contribution records under Regulation .02D(4) or (5) of this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="C.">
        <text>Pursuant to Election Law Article, §13-239, Annotated Code of Maryland, the campaign finance entity may not use the contribution from an anonymous source for any purpose and shall remit the contribution to the Fair Campaign Financing Fund.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </regulation>
    <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Civil Citation.">
      <paragraph num="A.">
        <text>The assessed civil penalty shall be included in the civil citation issued by the State Board in accordance with Election Law Article, §13-604.1(i), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="B.">
        <text>The civil penalty issued under Regulation .02D(4) or (5) of this chapter shall include:</text>
        <paragraph num="(1)">
          <text>The civil citation; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(2)">
          <text>Remittance of the contribution to the Fair Campaign Financing Fund.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="C.">
        <text>The civil citation issued in accordance with Election Law Article, §13-604.1(i), Annotated Code of Maryland may not include a civil penalty greater than $500 for each violation.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="D.">
        <text>The State Board shall issue a civil citation seeking a civil penalty for violations pursuant to Election Law Article, §13-235, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="E.">
        <text>The State Board shall permit a reduction in the assessment of a civil penalty without the issuance of a civil citation if the candidate or political committee voluntarily reports or agrees to the violation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </regulation>
    <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" heading="Payment.">
      <paragraph num="A.">
        <text>Except as provided in §B of this regulation, a civil penalty imposed under Regulation .02 of this chapter shall be paid by the campaign finance entity that received the civil citation.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="B.">
        <text>If the campaign finance entity has insufficient funds to pay the full amount of the civil penalty, the remaining balance is the joint and several liability of the responsible officers.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </regulation>
    <annotations>
      <annotation type="Authority">Election Law Article, §§2-102(b)(4), 13-235, 13-238, 13-239, 13-250, and 13-604.1, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
      <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: August 4, 2014 (41:15 Md. R. 893)</annotation>
      <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02 amended effective May 29, 2023 (50:10 Md. R. 407)</annotation>
      <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02K, L adopted effective December 25, 2023 (50:25 Md. R. 1090)</annotation>
      <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .03C amended effective February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 338)</annotation>
      <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .04 amended effective February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 338)</annotation>
    </annotations>
  </chapter>
  <chapter num="02" heading="Prohibited Acts">
    <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Definitions.">
      <paragraph num="A.">
        <text>In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="B.">
        <text>Terms Defined.</text>
        <paragraph num="(1)">
          <text>“Deep fake” has the meaning stated in COMAR 33.13.07.02H(1).</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(2)">
          <text>“Political convention” means the act of a political party or central committee of the political party to select, nominate, or elect:</text>
          <paragraph num="(a)">
            <text>A replacement candidate to the ballot pursuant to Election Law Article, Title 5, Subtitles 9 and 10, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(b)">
            <text>A member to the central committee;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(c)">
            <text>A person for appointment to fill a vacancy in accordance with Article III, Section 13, of the Maryland Constitution; or</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(d)">
            <text>A candidate for the general election.</text>
          </paragraph>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </regulation>
    <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Prohibited Acts.">
      <paragraph num="A.">
        <text>A person may not directly or indirectly give, offer, or promise money, aid, a gift, an advantage, a preferment, an emolument, or any other valuable thing to another person for the purpose of inducing or procuring that person to vote or refrain from voting for or against:</text>
        <paragraph num="(1)">
          <text>An individual, question, or measure at an election or political convention; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(2)">
          <text>The election of an officer by the General Assembly.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="B.">
        <text>A person may not directly or indirectly receive, accept, request, or solicit money, aid, a gift, an advantage, a preferment, an emolument, or any other valuable thing from another person for the purpose of inducing or procuring a third person to vote or refrain from voting for or against an individual, question, or measure at an election or political convention.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="C.">
        <text>A person may not vote or refrain from voting for or against an individual, question, or measure at an election or a political convention, in consideration of money, aid, a gift, an advantage, a preferment, an emolument, or any other valuable thing paid, received, accepted, or promised to the advantage of that person or of another person.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="D.">
        <text>A person may not directly or indirectly give a contribution or contributions to a political committee in a name other than the person’s name.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="E.">
        <text>Deep Fake. A person may not willfully or knowingly influence or attempt to influence a voter’s decision to go to the polls or to cast a vote by publishing, distributing, or disseminating material constituting or containing a deep fake within 90 days before an election without meeting the same requirements imposed on political committees under COMAR 33.13.07.02H.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </regulation>
    <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Penalty.">
      <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is:</text>
      <paragraph num="A.">
        <text>Subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or both; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="B.">
        <text>Ineligible to hold any public or party office for 4 years after the date of the offense.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </regulation>
    <annotations>
      <annotation type="Authority">Election Law Article, §§2-102(b)(4), 13-602, and 16-201(a), Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
      <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 338)</annotation>
      <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01 amended effective July 11, 2022 (49:14 Md. R. 705)</annotation>
      <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02E adopted effective July 11, 2022 (49:14 Md. R. 705)</annotation>
    </annotations>
  </chapter>
</subtitle>