POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES

Philadelphia Code tit. 20, ch. 20-1000

in effect

Philadelphia Code § 20-1001 Definitions.

§ 20-1001. Definitions. For purposes of this Chapter, the following definitions shall apply: (1) Board of Ethics or Board. The Board of Ethics created under Section 3-100(e) of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter. 64 (2) Campaign. A candidate, the candidate's candidate political committee and its officers, and agents of any of them. (3) Candidate. (a) An individual who files nomination papers or petitions for City elective office; (b) An individual who publicly announces his or her candidacy for City elective office. (4) Candidate political committee. The one political committee used by a candidate to receive all contributions and make all expenditures as required by Section 20-1003. (5) City Commissioners. The City Commissioners acting in their capacity as the County Board of Elections. 65 (6) City elective office. The offices of Mayor, District Attorney, City Controller, Sheriff, City Commissioner or City Council. 66 (7) Contribution. Money, gifts, forgiveness of debts, loans, or things having a monetary value incurred or received by (i) a campaign for use in advocating or influencing the election of the candidate or (ii) a former candidate to retire debt incurred to influence a covered election or to pay costs related to transition or inauguration to City elective office. (8) Covered election. Every primary, general or special election for City elective office. 67 (9) Electioneering communication. Any publicly distributed broadcast, cable, radio, print, Internet, or satellite communication (a) that promotes, attacks, supports, or opposes a candidate, or (b) that, within 50 days of a covered election, names, refers to, includes, or depicts a candidate in that covered election. The term shall not include: (i) sponsorship or organization of a candidate debate or forum; (ii) any news story, commentary, or editorial by any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, or other periodical publication, including any Internet periodical publication, unless the station, newspaper, magazine, or publication is owned or controlled by a candidate, political committee, campaign, or political party. 68 (10) Excess pre-candidacy contributions. The amount of a person or committee's pre-candidacy contributions to a particular political committee that, had the contributions been made to a campaign for elective City office, would have been in excess of the contribution limitations set forth in subsection 20-1002(1) or 20-1002(2). (11) Expenditure: 69 (a) The payment, distribution, loan or advancement of money or any valuable thing by a candidate, political committee, campaign or other person for the purpose of influencing the outcome of a covered election or to retire debt incurred to influence the outcome of a covered election or to cover expenses related to transition or inauguration to City elective office, including any expenditure for an electioneering communication; (b) The provision of a service or other valuable thing for the purpose of influencing the outcome of a nomination or election of a candidate; or (c) The payment or provision of money or other valuable thing to compensate any person for services rendered to a candidate or for an electioneering communication. (12) Person. An individual, partnership, corporation, sole proprietorship, or other form of organization. (13) Political Committee. Any committee, club, association, political party, or other group of persons, including the candidate political committee of a candidate for office in a covered election, which receives contributions or makes expenditures for the purpose of influencing the outcome of a covered election. (14) Pre-candidacy contribution. A contribution made to a political committee that: (a) has been transferred to, or otherwise becomes available for expenditure by, a candidate for City elective office; and (b) was made before such candidate became a candidate. (15) Sample ballot. A ballot distributed by a campaign or political committee that lists more than one candidate in a specific covered election and recommends that voters vote for the listed candidates. 70 Notes 63 | Amended, Bill No. 060629 (approved November 16, 2006). Subsections renumbered by Code editor because of inconsistent numbering provided in Bill No. 060629 and Bill No. 050014 (approved December 15, 2005). Amended, Bill No. 100122 (approved June 16, 2010); amended, Bill No. 190083-A (approved May 1, 2019); amended, Bill No. 220361 (approved June 22, 2022). 64 | Added, Bill No. 050014 (approved December 15, 2005). Section 2 of Bill No. 050014 provides: "This Ordinance shall take effect immediately. Until the certification of the approval by the electors of the amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter providing for the creation and appointment of a Board of Ethics, the duties this Ordinance assigns to the Board of Ethics shall be carried out by the Department of Records, and all filings required to be made with the Board of Ethics shall be made with the Department of Records." The amendment creating the Board of Ethics was approved by the voters at an election held on May 16, 2006 and was certified on June 5, 2006. 65 | Added, Bill No. 050014 (approved December 15, 2005). See note 64 for effective date provisions. 66 | Amended, Bill No. 100360 (approved October 12, 2010), effective July 1, 2010. 67 | Amended, Bill No. 050301-A (approved June 9, 2005). Section 2 of Bill No. 050301-A provides: "Effective date. This Ordinance shall be effective immediately, provided, however, that contributions to candidates for District Attorney or City Controller made before this Ordinance becomes law shall not be considered in determining compliance with the contribution limits established by this Ordinance." 68 | Added, Bill No. 150368 (approved June 18, 2015), effective July 1, 2015. Enrolled bill numbered this as subsection (9.1); renumbered by Code editor. 69 | Amended, Bill No. 150368 (approved June 18, 2015), effective July 1, 2015. 70 | Added, Bill No. 100126 (became law June 17, 2010). Enrolled bill numbered this as subsection (15); renumbered by Code editor.

Philadelphia Code § 20-1002 Contribution Limitations.

§ 20-1002. Contribution Limitations. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 20-1002, no individual shall make total contributions per calendar year, including contributions made to or through one or more political committees or persons, of more than three thousand dollars ($3,000), cumulatively, to: 72 (a) a campaign for City elective office; or (b) to a former candidate or the candidate political committee of a former candidate for City elective office if that committee is carrying debt incurred to influence the outcome of a covered election. (2) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 20-1002, no person, other than individuals who are covered under subsection 20-1002(1), and no political committee shall make total contributions per calendar year, including contributions made to or through one or more political committees or persons, of more than twelve thousand dollars ($12,000), cumulatively, to: 73 (a) a campaign for City elective office; or (b) to the candidate committee of a former candidate for City elective office if that committee is carrying debt incurred to influence the outcome of a covered election. (3) No campaign may spend any excess pre-candidacy contributions for the purpose of influencing the outcome of a covered election in which that campaign's candidate is a candidate. (4) No campaign may spend any excess pre-candidacy contributions for the purposes of: (a) transition or inauguration expenses; or (b) retiring debt that was incurred to: (.1) influence the outcome of an already completed covered election; or (.2) cover transition or inauguration expenses related to an already completed covered election. (5) A pre-candidacy contribution made in the same calendar year that an individual becomes a candidate shall count toward the limitations on contributions set forth in subsections (1) and (2). (6) The limitations imposed by subsections 20-1002(1) and (2) shall not apply to contributions from a candidate's personal resources to the candidate's own campaign. However, if such contributions made since the more recent of (i) the most recent election cycle for the office sought by the candidate, or (ii) the last municipal election in which the candidate sought office total two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) or more, then the contribution limits set forth in subsections 20-1002(1) and (2) above shall double with respect to other campaigns for that City elective office. The contribution limits set forth in subsections 20-1002(7) and (8) below shall not double based on such a contribution of personal resources. (7) Notwithstanding the limits set forth in subsections 20-1002(1) and (2), if a campaign establishes a Litigation Fund Committee pursuant to Section 20-1009: (a) an individual may make contributions to that committee of up to, but not in excess of, three thousand dollars ($3,000) per calendar year, including contributions made through one or more political committees or persons; and (b) a person other than an individual may make contributions to that committee of up to, but not in excess of, twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) per calendar year, including contributions made through one or more political committees or persons. (8) Notwithstanding the limits set forth in subsections 20-1002(1) and (2), if a campaign or former candidate establishes a Transition and Inauguration Committee pursuant to Section 20-1011: (a) an individual may make contributions to that committee of up to, but not in excess of, three thousand dollars ($3,000) per calendar year, including contributions made through one or more political committees or persons; and (b) a person other than an individual may make contributions to that committee of up to, but not in excess of, twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) per calendar year, including contributions made through one or more political committees or persons. (9) The limitations imposed by subsections 20-1002(7) and (8) shall not apply to contributions from a candidate's personal resources or from a candidate's own candidate political committee. A campaign or former candidate shall not transfer funds to its candidate political committee from a Litigation Fund Committee or a Transition and Inauguration Committee. (10) The limitations imposed by this subsection shall not apply to volunteer labor. (11) On January 1, 2020 and on January 1 every four years thereafter, the maximum amounts set forth in this Section 20-1002 shall be adjusted, as follows. On the December 15 immediately preceding the adjustment, the Finance Director shall calculate the "CPI Multiplier" by dividing the average consumer price index for Philadelphia during the then-current calendar year by the average consumer price index for Philadelphia during calendar year 2016. To determine the average consumer price index for Philadelphia, the Finance Director shall use the latest available figures for the Consumer Price Index for all urban Consumers (CPI-U) All Items Index, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as measured by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. After calculating the CPI Multiplier, the Finance Director shall calculate the new maximum amounts as follows: (a) The maximum amounts for purposes of subsections 20-1002(1), (7)(a), and (8)(a) shall equal three thousand dollars ($3,000), multiplied by the CPI Multiplier, rounded to the nearest one hundred dollars ($100). (b) The maximum amounts for purposes of subsections 20-1002(2), (7)(b), and (8)(b) shall equal twelve thousand dollars ($12,000), multiplied by the CPI Multiplier, rounded to the nearest one hundred dollars ($100). The Finance Director shall certify the new maximum amounts in writing to the Mayor, the City Council President, the Chief Clerk of Council, and the Board of Ethics. (12) No candidate, former candidate, candidate's candidate political committee, former candidate's candidate political committee, Litigation Fund Committee or Transition and Inauguration Committee shall accept any contribution which exceeds the contribution limits set forth in this Chapter. (13) A campaign may pay a political committee or other person to have the candidate's own name placed on a sample ballot distributed by that political committee or to conduct or organize get-out-the-vote activities (such as canvassing or the distribution of campaign literature or sample ballots) and, so long as the recipient political committee or other person offers similar services to other campaigns and the amount charged is commensurate with the services provided, any expenditures made by the political committee or other person for printing or distribution of the campaign literature or sample ballot on which the candidate appears shall not be counted as a contribution to the candidate for the purpose of calculating the contribution limits set forth in this Section and shall be permissible under Section 20-1003. In the case of such payment being made to a person other than a political committee, whether directly by the campaign or through another person, the campaign shall disclose not just that person to whom it made payment but also any persons whom that person pays or employs in order to provide the services promised. 74 (14) If a person or political committee makes an expenditure to a political committee in order that a candidate's name be placed on a sample ballot, the amount of the expenditure from that person or political committee shall be counted as a contribution to the candidate for the purpose of calculating the contribution limits set forth in this Section. Any additional expenditures made by the political committee distributing the sample ballot to print or distribute the sample ballot shall not be counted as a contribution to the candidate. If the expenditure by the person or political committee is an independent expenditure, as defined by the Pennsylvania Election Code, it is not a contribution to the candidate. 75 (15) Two or more campaigns may jointly pay for campaign literature, advertising, or get-out-the-vote activities (such as canvassing or the distribution of campaign literature or sample ballots) and, so long as each campaign contemporaneously pays its fair portion of the costs, such expenditures by each campaign shall not count towards the contribution limits of any other participating campaign and shall be permissible under Section 20-1003. Any campaign making such expenditures shall obtain and maintain appropriate documentation, including invoices and printer's samples, which shall be provided to the Board upon request. 76 Notes 71 | Amended, Bill No. 050301-A (approved June 9, 2005). See note 67 for effective date provisions. Caption and Section amended, Bill No. 060629 (approved November 16, 2006); amended, Bill No. 100122 (approved June 16, 2010); amended, Bill No. 100360 (approved October 12, 2010), effective July 1, 2010; amended, Bill No. 190083-A (approved May 1, 2019); amended, Bill No. 220361 (approved June 22, 2022). 72 | Pursuant to subsection 20-1002(11)(a), the Director of Finance on December 12, 2007, certified a new contribution limit of two thousand six hundred dollars ($2,600), effective January 1, 2008; and on December 30, 2011, and January 10, 2012, certified a new contribution limit of two thousand nine hundred dollars ($2,900), effective January 1, 2012; and on January 11, 2016, certified a new contribution limit of three thousand dollars ($3,000), effective January 1, 2016. 73 | Amended, Bill No. 110073 (approved April 14, 2011). Pursuant to subsection 20-1002(11)(b), the Director of Finance on December 12, 2007, certified a new contribution limit of ten thousand six hundred dollars ($10,600), effective January 1, 2008; and on December 30, 2011, and January 10, 2012, certified a new contribution limit of eleven thousand five hundred dollars ($11,500), effective January 1, 2012; and on January 11, 2016, certified a new contribution limit of eleven thousand nine hundred dollars ($11,900), effective January 1, 2016. The contribution limit was increased to twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) by Bill No. 190083-A (approved May 1, 2019). 74 | Added, Bill No. 100126 (became law June 17, 2010); amended, Bill No. 220049 (approved June 22, 2022). 75 | Added, Bill No. 100126 (became law June 17, 2010). 76 | Amended, Bill No. 220049 (approved June 22, 2022).

Philadelphia Code § 20-1003 Candidate Political Committee Accounts.

§ 20-1003. Candidate Political Committee Accounts. (1) Candidate Political Committee Account. A campaign shall use no more than one political committee and one checking account for the City office being sought, into which all contributions shall be made, and out of which all expenditures for that office shall be made, including expenditures for retiring debt incurred to influence the outcome of a covered election. If a campaign has or controls other political or non-political accounts, such accounts shall not be used for the purpose of influencing the outcome of a covered election, or to retire debt that was incurred to influence the outcome of a covered election. Unless specifically permitted by this Chapter, a campaign shall not make any expenditures related to a covered election through any other person or vendor. The restrictions of the subsection shall not apply to a Litigation Fund Committee established pursuant to Section 20-1009 or a Transition and Inauguration Committee established pursuant to Section 20-1011. A candidate shall be liable for any violations by the campaign of Section 20-1003. 78 (2) It shall not be a violation of this Section for a candidate for City elective office who is a ward leader to make expenditures through his or her ward's political committee for the printing or distribution of sample ballots where such sample ballots list the candidate as one of the endorsed candidates either of the candidate's party or of the candidate's ward. (3) Upon formation of a candidate political committee, the candidate immediately shall file with the Board of Ethics a statement identifying: (a) the name and address of the committee; (b) the checking account information of the committee; (c) the identity of the treasurer of the committee; (d) such other information as the Board of Ethics may require by regulation. (4) A candidate or an employee or agent of a candidate's campaign may use personal funds to make purchases for the benefit of the campaign so long as: (a) it is reasonably necessary that such purchases are not made from the candidate committee's checking account; (b) the campaign reimburses the candidate or employee or agent within 45 days of the purchase; (c) the reimbursement is disclosed and accurately described in the required campaign finance report; and (d) the candidate's campaign maintains documentation of the reimbursement and underlying purchase. A purchase that complies with the foregoing shall not violate Section 20-1003 and shall not count towards the contribution limits set forth at Section 20-1002. (5) A campaign may make expenditures for advertising through a vendor if that vendor directly pays the media outlet in or on which such advertising shall appear. For such expenditures, a campaign shall obtain and maintain receipts and documentation of where and when the relevant advertising ran, which shall be made available to the Board upon request. 79 (6) If, in the course of providing services to a campaign, a vendor incurs costs incidental to the provision of those services, an expenditure by the campaign to reimburse the vendor for those costs shall not count towards the contribution limits and shall be permissible under Section 20-1003 so long as the costs are promptly invoiced and the reimbursement is promptly made. For such reimbursements, a campaign shall obtain and maintain appropriate receipts and documentation, which shall be made available to the Board upon request. 80 Notes 77 | Amended, Bill No. 050301-A (approved June 9, 2005). See note 67 for effective date provisions. Caption and Section amended, Bill No. 060629 (approved November 16, 2006); amended, Bill No. 100122 (approved June 16, 2010); amended, Bill No. 100126 (became law June 17, 2010); amended, Bill No. 190083-A (approved May 1, 2019). 78 | Amended, Bill No. 220049 (approved June 22, 2022). 79 | Added, Bill No. 220049 (approved June 22, 2022). 80 | Added, Bill No. 220049 (approved June 22, 2022).

Philadelphia Code § 20-1004 Reserved. [Amended, Bill No. 050301-A (approved June 9, 2005). See note 67 for effective date provisions. Amended, Bill No. 050014 (approved December 15, 2005). See note 64 for effective date provisions. Caption and Section amended, Bill No. 060629 (approved November 16, 2006); amended, Bill No. 100360 (approved October 12, 2010), effective July 1, 2010; repealed, Bill No. 190083-A (approved May 1, 2019).]

Philadelphia Code § 20-1005 Injunctive Relief.

§ 20-1005. Injunctive Relief. Any person residing in the City of Philadelphia, including the City Solicitor may bring an action for injunctive relief in any Court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin any violations of, or to compel compliance with, the provisions of this Chapter. The Court may award to a prevailing plaintiff in any such action the plaintiff's costs of litigation, including reasonable attorney's fees. Notes 82 | Amended, Bill No. 220361 (approved June 22, 2022).

Philadelphia Code § 20-1006 Campaign Finance Disclosure.

§ 20-1006. Campaign Finance Disclosure. (1) (a) Electronic Filings Required. 84 (.1) Any time a candidate, a treasurer of a candidate political committee, or a candidate political committee is required by the Pennsylvania Election Code to file a campaign finance report or statement with the City Commissioners, that candidate, treasurer, or committee shall file a copy of the report or statement with the Board of Ethics in a digital electronic format prescribed by the Board no later than the state law due date. (.2) Any time any political committee, treasurer of a political committee, or other person is required by the Pennsylvania Election Code to file a campaign finance report with the City Commissioners or the Secretary of State, that person, treasurer, or political committee shall file a copy of that report with the Board of Ethics if the report discloses or is required to disclose any: (.a) expenditures made or debt incurred to influence the outcome of a covered election; (.b) contributions to or expenditures by the candidate political committee of a former candidate that is carrying debt incurred to influence the outcome of a covered election; (.c) contributions to or expenditures by a Litigation Fund Committee established pursuant to Section 20-1009; or (.d) contributions to or expenditures by a Transition and Inauguration Committee established pursuant to Section 20-1011. Any report required to be filed pursuant to this subsection 20-1006(1)(a)(.2) shall be filed no later than the state law due date for filing the report, and shall be filed in a digital electronic format determined by the Board. (b) In addition to any filing required by subsection (a), any political committee, including a candidate political committee, that has made expenditures within the eight months prior to a covered election shall file a report with the Board of Ethics in a digital electronic format on the sixth Tuesday before the covered election, setting forth all transactions (including contributions and expenditures) covered by subsection (d) below that occurred more than fifty (50) days prior to the election, but less than eight months prior to the election, and that have not previously been disclosed in a report filed with the Board of Ethics. (c) In addition to any filing required by subsection (a) or (b), any person, including a not-for-profit organization or political committee, other than a candidate political committee, that on or before any report due date set forth below, whether directly or through another person, makes or promises to make expenditures of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or more in the aggregate for one or more electioneering communications that are published or to be published within fifty (50) days of a covered election shall file a report with the Board of Ethics in a digital electronic format setting forth all transactions covered by subsection (d) below that occurred more than twenty-four hours before the report due date, but less than eight months prior to the election, and that have not previously been disclosed in a report filed with the Board of Ethics. If the date of dissemination of the electioneering communication precedes the date of the expenditure for it, then the date of dissemination shall be used to determine the due date of the report. Such reports shall be due (unless the same person is required to file a report under subsection (a) or (b) on the same date): (.1) on the sixth Tuesday before a covered election; (.2) on the fourth Tuesday before a covered election; (.3) on the second Friday before a covered election; (.4) on the Tuesday immediately before a covered election; (.5) on the Friday immediately before a covered election; and (.6) for any covered electioneering communication expenditures made after the last expenditure reported under subsection 20-1006(1)(c)(.5) above, by the 30th day after a covered election. (d) A report filed pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) shall be in the format required by the Board of Ethics and shall contain all information required by Section 1626(b) of the Pennsylvania Election Code, 25 P.S. § 3246(b). In addition to disclosing all contributions as required by Section 1626(b) of the Pennsylvania Election Code, 25 P.S. § 3246(b), a filer who is not a registered political committee or an individual shall also disclose all other donations of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or more received during the relevant reporting period. (e) In a report filed pursuant to subsection (c), if a person, other than a political committee or an individual, has segregated funds used to make expenditures into one or more accounts separate from funds not used to make expenditures, that person is only required to disclose the source of contributions deposited in the segregated accounts used to make expenditures. An individual who files a report pursuant to subsection (c) is only required to disclose contributions that the individual receives or solicits in order to fund the expenditures disclosed in the report. 85 (f) Any person submitting a filing to the Board of Ethics under this Section shall sign a written statement that subscribes and swears to the information set forth therein. Upon receipt of any filing, the Board of Ethics shall issue a written receipt to the person making the filing. (2) The Board of Ethics shall arrange for the publication of all information it receives under this Section on the City's official website as soon as practicable after the Board receives such information, but no later than five business days after receipt, in a format that will permit the public to easily search such information by candidate, by political committee, by contributor, and by any other means determined by the Board by regulation. 86 (3) In carrying out its duties under this Section, the Board of Ethics shall work with the City Commissioners to devise efficient means of advising candidates, campaigns, treasurers, political committees and other persons of the requirements of this Section, and to devise means of coordinating the activities of the Board of Ethics under this Section with the duties of the City Commissioners to receive, file and promptly make available for public inspection all required reports filed by candidates, campaigns, treasurers, political committees and other persons. 87 (4) The failure to file information as required by this Section, or the making of material misstatements or omissions in any filing required by this Section, shall be deemed to be a violation of Chapter 20-1300 (Penalties for Campaign Finance-Related and Ethics-Related Violations) and subject to enforcement and the imposition of penalties under that Chapter. 88 Notes 83 | Added, Bill No. 050014 (approved December 15, 2005). See note 64 for effective date provisions. Amended, Bill No. 100122 (approved June 16, 2010); amended, Bill No. 190083-A (approved May 1, 2019). 84 | Amended, Bill No. 100122 (approved June 16, 2010); subsection (1) amended, Bill No. 150368 (approved June 18, 2015), effective July 1, 2015. 85 | Amended, Bill No. 220361 (approved June 22, 2022). 86 | Enrolled bill read "of regulation". 87 | Amended, Bill No. 220361 (approved June 22, 2022). 88 | Amended, Bill No. 100125 (approved June 16, 2010).

Philadelphia Code § 20-1007 Required Notice of Contribution Limits.

§ 20-1007. Required Notice of Contribution Limits. (1) The Board of Ethics shall display on its website a notice setting forth the contribution limits set forth in this Chapter, together with a plain English explanation of the provisions of this Chapter and the penalties and remedies for violations. Notes 89 | Added, Bill No. 060629 (approved November 16, 2006). Enrolled bill numbered this as Section 20-1006; renumbered by Code editor. Amended, Bill No. 110073 (approved April 14, 2011).

Philadelphia Code § 20-1008 Penalties.

§ 20-1008. Penalties. Penalties for violations of this Chapter shall be as set forth in Chapter 20-1300. The provisions of this Chapter shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Board of Ethics under Section 20-606, including, but not limited to, the Board's powers and duties relating to education, training, issuance of advisory opinions, receipt of complaints, investigations, referral, and adjudication. Notes 90 | Added, Bill No. 060629 (approved November 16, 2006). Enrolled bill numbered this as Section 20-1007; renumbered by Code editor. Amended, Bill No. 100125 (approved June 16, 2010).

Philadelphia Code § 20-1009 Litigation Funds.

§ 20-1009. Litigation Funds. (1) In addition to establishing a political committee to receive campaign contributions, a campaign for City elective office may establish a separate committee to solicit and receive contributions to a litigation fund. The name of such separate committee shall include the terms "Litigation Fund". (2) A litigation fund may be used solely to pay professional fees and related costs incurred in defense of a civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding arising directly out of the conduct of the candidate's election campaign or arising directly out of the candidate's participation in the election (such as a recount proceeding), including, but not limited to, an investigation or enforcement action initiated by the Board of Ethics with respect to the conduct of the candidate's campaign. A litigation fund may not be used to pay any judgment, settlement, fine, sanction, or other type of penalty arising out of any such proceeding. (3) A candidate shall establish a single committee to receive and expend litigation funds for the purposes set forth in subsection (2), above, and a single separate checking account for such purposes, except that this shall not prohibit a candidate from making expenditures from that candidate's candidate political committee for the purposes set forth in subsection (2), above. The Board of Ethics shall by regulation require a candidate to provide the Board with such information as the Board deems necessary to identify the candidate's litigation fund committee and checking account, within such period of time as the Board specifies. (4) Each litigation fund committee shall have a treasurer who shall be responsible for keeping records of contributions and expenditures to the same extent and in the same detail that records of contributions and expenditures must be kept by the candidate's candidate political committee and campaign pursuant to this Chapter or applicable State law. Notes 91 | Added, Bill No. 100124 (approved June 16, 2010); amended, Bill No. 220361 (approved June 22, 2022).

Philadelphia Code § 20-1010 Required Termination of a Litigation Fund Committee.

§ 20-1010. Required Termination of a Litigation Fund Committee. (1) A litigation fund committee must be terminated no later than six months after the date of the general election for the office which the candidate seeks, except that if any matters for which litigation funds may be expended are pending during such six month period, then the litigation fund shall be terminated within six months after the conclusion of all such matters, including any appeals. (2) Before a litigation fund committee is terminated, any remaining litigation funds shall be returned to contributors on either a "last in, first out" or "first in, first out" accounting basis, or on such other equitable basis as may be approved by the Board of Ethics, and the litigation fund checking account shall be closed. (3) The Board of Ethics may for good cause shown extend the deadline for termination of a litigation fund committee. Notes 92 | Added, Bill No. 100124 (approved June 16, 2010); renumbered and former Sections 20-1010 and 20-1011 deleted, Bill No. 190083-A (approved May 1, 2019).

Philadelphia Code § 20-1011 Transition and Inauguration Committees.

§ 20-1011. Transition and Inauguration Committees. (1) A candidate or individual elected to City office shall use a political committee that is separate from that candidate's candidate political committee to solicit and receive contributions for transition or inauguration into City elective office. The name of such committee shall contain the terms "Transition" and "Inauguration". (2) Funds held by a Transition and Inauguration Committee may only be used to pay costs incurred for the transition or inauguration into City elective office of the elected individual. (3) A candidate or individual elected to City office shall use only one committee and one checking account to receive and expend funds for expenses of that individual's transition or inauguration into City elective office, except that nothing shall prohibit a former candidate from transferring money raised while a candidate from the elected person's candidate political committee to that candidate's Transition and Inauguration Committee. The Board of Ethics shall require a candidate or individual elected to City office to provide the Board with such information as the Board deems necessary to identify the candidate's transition and inauguration committee and checking account, within three business days of formation of the committee. (4) Each Transition and Inauguration Committee shall have a treasurer who shall be responsible for keeping records of contributions and expenditures to the same extent and in the same detail that records of contributions and expenditures must be kept by a candidate's political committee and campaign pursuant to this Chapter and applicable State law. (5) A Transition and Inauguration Committee must be terminated, including closure of the committee checking account, no later than six months after the date of the former candidate's inauguration to City office. Before a Transition and Inauguration Committee is terminated, any remaining funds shall be returned to contributors on either a "last in, first out" or "first in, first out" accounting basis, or on such other equitable basis as may be approved by the Board of Ethics. The Board of Ethics may for good cause shown extend the deadline for termination of a Transition and Inauguration Committee. Notes 93 | Added, Bill No. 190083-A (approved May 1, 2019); amended, Bill No. 220361 (approved June 22, 2022).

Source: City of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Code and Home Rule Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/philadelphia/latest/philadelphia_pa/0-0-0-301192Fetched: 10/27/2026