§ 10-03 Board Determinations Concerning Violations, Infractions, Penalties, and Repayment of Public Funds.
(a) Notice and opportunity to contest. The Board will notify the candidate, the TIE, or the independent spender and its authorized representative, as applicable, in writing of any infractions or violations alleged to have been committed by such party, as well as any corresponding recommended penalties, and any recommended public funds repayment. Such notice shall:
(i) set forth in detail the factual and legal basis for staff's recommendation that a violation, infraction, or public funds repayment obligation be found;
(ii) inform the party that hearings are conducted in accordance with the requirements for adjudications contained in Section 1046 of the Charter unless such procedures are waived by, as applicable: the participant or nonparticipant, the elected candidate, the independent spender or authorized representative, or an agent thereof;
(iii) notify the party of the opportunity to submit information and documentation for the Board's consideration within a time period to be specified in such notice; and
(iv) notify the party of the opportunity to appear at a hearing before the Board or an administrative law judge to contest the alleged violations or infractions, penalties, and public funds repayment obligation.
(b) Response to the notice.
(i) The noticed party must submit a complete response to the notice by the due date. Extensions may be granted for good cause shown. Extension requests must be made in writing and must be submitted prior to the deadline.
(ii) Unless specifically notified to the contrary by the Board, the opportunity to submit information and documentation in response to the notice shall be the only such opportunity, and any information and documentation that is not timely received by the Board shall be disregarded. Under extraordinary circumstances, the Board may, at its sole discretion, choose to accept information or documentation not timely received.
(c) Final Board determination. Based on the evidence, the Board will make a final Board determination as to the party's violations or infractions, penalties, and public funds repayment obligation, and shall provide the party with a written copy of its determination. Such determination shall notify the party that it may be appealed within four months as set forth in Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules.
(d) Payment. If the Board has determined that the party must pay penalties or repay public funds, the party must make payment by the deadline set forth in the final Board determination. If these amounts are not paid by the payment deadline, they may be sought through appropriate legal action or, in the case of civil penalties against participants, by deduction from any public funds otherwise due for any election.
(e) Penalty Guidelines. The Board shall publicize schedule of civil penalties to be recommended for certain violations of the Charter, Act, and these rules, subject to consideration of aggravating and mitigating factors that may be considered in determining the appropriate penalty assessment for the violation.
(Added City Record 8/16/2019, eff. 9/15/2019; amended City Record 1/23/2026, eff. 2/22/2026)
