[HISTORY: Adopted by the County Council of Allegheny County 8-19-2003.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
CHARTER REFERENCES
For additional information regarding elected officers,
see Charter Art. III.
For additional information regarding the Legislative Branch, see Charter
Art. IV.
For additional information regarding the Executive Branch, see Charter
Art. V.
For additional information regarding accountability, conduct and ethics,
see Charter Art. XI.
ADMINISTRATIVE CODE REFERENCES
For additional information regarding the County Council, see Administrative
Code Art. 301.
For additional information regarding the Chief Executive, see Administrative
Code Art. 401.
For additional information regarding political activity and the Accountability,
Conduct and Ethics Code, see Administrative Code Art. 1013.
The following terms when used in this chapter shall have the following
meanings:
CANDIDATE
Any individual who seeks nomination or election to public office,
other than a judge of elections or inspector of elections, whether or not
such individual is nominated or elected. An individual shall be deemed to
be seeking nomination or election to such office if he has received a contribution
or made an expenditure or has given his consent for any other person or committee
to receive a contribution or make an expenditure, for the purpose of influencing
his nomination or election to such office, whether or not the individual has
made known the specific office for which he or she will seek nomination or
election at the time the contribution is received or the expenditure is made;
or taken the action necessary under the laws of the commonwealth to qualify
himself for nomination or election to such office.
POLITICAL COMMITTEE
Any committee, club, association or other group of persons which
receives contributions or makes expenditures.
Beginning January 1, 2005, it shall be the policy of the County of Allegheny
that any candidate who is required to file a campaign finance report or campaign
finance statement with the Elections Division pursuant to the Campaign Expense
Reporting Law, Act 171 of 1978, shall have access to a technical system so
that they may use electronic means to file.
Beginning January 1, 2005, it shall be the policy of the County of Allegheny
that each Treasurer of a political committee which is required to file a campaign
finance report or campaign finance statement with the Elections Division pursuant
to the Campaign Expense Reporting Law, Act 171 of 1978, shall have access
to a technical system so that they may use electronic means to file.
Beginning April 1, 2005, it shall be the policy of the County of Allegheny
that campaign finance reports and campaign finance statements filed electronically
with the Elections Division shall be posted and accessible to the public through
the County's Web site within 72 hours of each filing deadline and shall
remain accessible for a period of five years.
Beginning January 1, 2007, it shall be the policy of the County of Allegheny
that campaign finance reports and campaign finance statements, regardless
of the means by which they were filed with the Elections Division, shall be
posted and accessible to the public through the County's Web site within
72 hours of each filing deadline and shall remain accessible for a period
of five years.
Web access to the campaign finance reports and campaign finance statements
shall include a searchable database. The development of the guidelines for
submission, retrieval, storage and public disclosure of campaign finance reports
and campaign finance statements by electronic means shall be at the discretion
of the administration and shall mirror, as closely as possible, the guidelines
established by the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Commissions,
Elections and Legislation. The Elections Division shall promulgate methods
and specifications for the electronic submission of campaign finance reports
and campaign finance statements no later than June 30, 2004.
The filing of campaign finance reports and campaign finance statements
through electronic means shall be permitted and encouraged, but not required.
The Elections Division shall continue to accept reports filed by paper.