Sec. 17. (a) In addition to any other penalty imposed, a person who does any of the following is subject to a civil penalty under this section:

(1) Fails to file with a county election board a report in the manner required under IC 3-9-5.

(2) Fails to file a statement of organization required under IC 3-9-1.

(3) Is a committee or a member of a committee who disburses or expends money or other property for any political purpose before the money or other property has passed through the hands of the treasurer of the committee.

(4) Makes a contribution other than to a committee subject to this article or to a person authorized by law or a committee to receive contributions in the committee's behalf.

(5) Is a corporation or labor organization that exceeds any of the limitations on contributions prescribed by IC 3-9-2-4.

(6) Makes a contribution in the name of another person.

(7) Accepts a contribution made by one (1) person in the name of another person.

(8) Is not the treasurer of a committee subject to this article, and pays any expenses of an election or a caucus except as authorized by this article.

(9) Commingles the funds of a committee with the personal funds of an officer, a member, or an associate of the committee.

(10) Wrongfully uses campaign contributions in violation of IC 3-9-3-4.

(11) Fails to designate a contribution as required by IC 3-9-2-5(c).

(12) Violates IC 3-9-3-5.

(13) Serves as a treasurer of a committee in violation of any of the following:

(A) IC 3-9-1-13(1).

(B) IC 3-9-1-13(2).

(C) IC 3-9-1-18.

(14) Violates IC 3-9-3-2.5 by making a communication that contains a disclaimer that is not presented in a clear and conspicuous manner, as required by IC 3-9-3-2.5(d) and IC 3-9-3-2.5(e). This subdivision does not apply to a person whose sole act is, in the normal course of business, participating in the preparation, printing, distribution, or broadcast of the communication containing the disclaimer.

(b) This subsection applies to a person who is subject to a civil penalty under subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) for filing a defective report or statement. If the county election board determines that a person failed to file the report or a statement of organization not later than noon five (5) days after being given notice under section 14 of this chapter, the county election board may assess a civil penalty. The penalty is ten dollars ($10) for each day the report is late after the expiration of the five (5) day period, not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) plus any investigative costs incurred and documented by the board. The civil penalty limit under this subsection applies to each report separately.

(c) This subsection applies to a person who is subject to a civil penalty under subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) for a delinquent report or statement. If the county election board determines that a person failed to file the report or statement of organization by the deadline prescribed under this article, the board shall assess a civil penalty. The penalty is fifty dollars ($50) for each day the report is late, with the afternoon of the final date for filing the report or statement being calculated as the first day. The civil penalty under this subsection may not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) plus any investigative costs incurred and documented by the board. The civil penalty limit under this subsection applies to each report separately.

(d) This subsection applies to a person who is subject to a civil penalty under subsection (a)(3), (a)(4), (a)(6), (a)(7), (a)(8), (a)(9), or (a)(10). If the county election board determines that a person is subject to a civil penalty under subsection (a), the board may assess a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), plus any investigative costs incurred and documented by the board.

(e) This subsection applies to a person who is subject to a civil penalty under subsection (a)(5). If the county election board determines that a person is subject to a civil penalty under subsection (a)(5), the board may assess a civil penalty of not more than three (3) times the amount of the contribution in excess of the limit prescribed by IC 3-9-2-4, plus any investigative costs incurred and documented by the board.

(f) This subsection applies to a person who is subject to a civil penalty under subsection (a)(11). If the county election board determines that a corporation or a labor organization has failed to designate a contribution in violation of IC 3-9-2-5(c), the board shall assess a civil penalty equal to the greater of the following, plus any investigative costs incurred and documented by the board:

(1) Two (2) times the amount of the contributions undesignated.

(2) One thousand dollars ($1,000).

(g) This subsection applies to a person who is subject to a civil penalty under subsection (a)(12). If the county election board determines, by unanimous vote of the entire membership of the board, that a person has violated IC 3-9-3-5, the board may assess a civil penalty of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), plus any investigative costs incurred and documented by the board.

(h) This subsection applies to a person who is subject to a civil penalty under subsection (a)(13). If the county election board determines, by unanimous vote of the entire membership of the board, that a person has served as the treasurer of a committee in violation of any of the statutes listed in subsection (a)(13), the board may assess a civil penalty of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), plus any investigative costs incurred and documented by the board.

(i) This subsection applies to a person who is subject to a civil penalty under subsection (a)(14). If the board determines that a person is subject to a civil penalty under subsection (a)(14), the board may assess a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each communication circulated or published (but not for each of the copies of the communication actually circulated or published), plus any investigative costs incurred and documented by the election division.

(j) All civil penalties collected under this section shall be deposited with the county treasurer to be deposited by the county treasurer in a separate account. The funds in the account are available, with the approval of the county fiscal body, to augment and supplement the funds appropriated for the administration of this title in the county.

(k) Money in the account established under subsection (j) does not revert to the county general fund at the end of a county fiscal year.

(l) Proceedings of the county election board under this section are subject to IC 4-21.5.

As added by P.L.3-1993, SEC.90. Amended by P.L.3-1995, SEC.75; P.L.3-1997, SEC.197; P.L.66-2003, SEC.24; P.L.14-2004, SEC.73; P.L.225-2011, SEC.44; P.L.169-2015, SEC.74.