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§3-720: Covered elections prior to the year 2022

a. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the contribution limitations and public matching funds provisions, including those pertaining to the matching formula, qualifying threshold, and public funds cap, pursuant to this section shall apply to all candidates seeking office in covered elections held prior to the year 2022.

b. For non-participating candidates in a covered election held prior to the year 2022, the maximum contributions shall be as follows:

1. for the office of mayor, public advocate or comptroller, $5,100;

2. for borough president, $3,950; or

3. for member of the city council, $2,850.

c. Candidates seeking office in covered elections held prior to the year 2022 who intend to participate shall file with the campaign finance board a nonbinding written statement declaring whether they intend to select the terms, conditions, and requirements for contribution limits and for the provision of public matching funds, including those pertaining to the matching formula, qualifying threshold, public funds cap, and distribution schedule, under Option A or Option B provided in subdivision d of this section. Such statement shall be made on the date of the filing of the first disclosure report required pursuant to section 3-703 of the administrative code, provided that candidates who intend to participate in such system who filed such first disclosure report prior to January 12, 2019 shall file such non-binding written statement with the campaign finance board no later than September 15, 2019, and further provided that such non-binding written statement shall not be required if a candidate has already complied with subdivision d of this section as of the date of the filing of the first disclosure report. Failure to file the statement required pursuant to this subdivision shall not be deemed to preclude a candidate from choosing to participate in the voluntary system of campaign finance reform described in this chapter, pursuant to paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 of section 3-703, provided that if no such statement is filed then the board shall apply to such a participating candidate the terms, conditions and requirements pursuant to Option B.

d. Participating candidates seeking office in covered elections held prior to the year 2022 shall state in the written certification filed pursuant to paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 of section 3-703, whether they agree to the terms, conditions, and requirements for contribution limits and for the provision of public matching funds, including those pertaining to the matching formula, qualifying threshold, public funds cap, and distribution schedule, under Option A or Option B provided in subdivision e of this section.

e. 1. Option A. For candidates seeking office in covered elections held prior to the covered primary election to be held in the year 2021: (i) the contribution limitations pursuant to paragraph (f) of subdivision 1 of section 3-703; (ii) the matching formula provided in paragraph a of subdivision 2 of section 3-705; (iii) a public funds cap such that the principal committee of a participating candidate shall not receive public funds in excess of an amount equal to 75 percent of the expenditure limitation provided in subdivision 1 of section 3-706 for the office for which such candidate seeks nomination for election or election, as adjusted by the campaign finance board pursuant to paragraph (e) of subdivision 1 of section 3-706; and (v) the threshold for eligibility for public funding for participating candidates pursuant to subdivision 2 of section 3-703.

For candidates seeking office in a covered primary or general election to be held in the year 2021: (i) the contribution limitations pursuant to paragraph (f) of subdivision 1 of section 3-703; (ii) the matching formula pursuant to paragraph a of subdivision 2 of section 3-705; (iii) the public funds cap pursuant to paragraph b of subdivision 2 of section 3-705; and (v) the threshold for eligibility for public funding for participating candidates pursuant to subdivision 2 of section 3-703.

2. Option B. The contribution limitations and public matching funds provisions, including those pertaining to the matching formula, qualifying threshold, and public funds cap, as in effect prior to January 12, 2019.

f. For participating candidates and their principal committees seeking office in covered elections held prior to the year 2022, the campaign finance board shall administer and enforce the contribution limitations and public matching funds provisions, including those pertaining to the matching formula, qualifying threshold, and public funds cap in accordance with whether the participating candidate has chosen Option A or Option B pursuant to subdivision d, provided that: (i) candidates who received contributions prior to January 12, 2019 shall be required to refund the portion of any contribution received prior to January 12, 2019 that exceeds the limitations set forth in paragraph (f) of subdivision 1 of section 3-703 if such candidate elects Option A; and (ii) matchable contributions received prior to January 12, 2019 shall be subject to the matching formula as described in Option A if a candidate elects Option A.