(1)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, amounts received as contributions by a candidate, the principal campaign committee of a candidate or the principal campaign committee of a holder of public office may be: (A) Used to defray any expenses incurred in connection with the recipient’s duties as a holder of public office; (B) Transferred to any national, state or local political committee of any political party; (C) Contributed to any organization described in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code or to any charitable corporation as defined in ORS 128.620; or (D) Used for any other lawful purpose. (b) Amounts received as contributions by a candidate, the principal campaign committee of a candidate for public office or the principal campaign committee of a holder of public office may not be: (A) Converted by any person to any personal use other than to defray any expenses incurred in connection with the person’s duties as a holder of public office or to repay to a candidate any loan the proceeds of which were used in connection with the candidate’s campaign; (B) Except as provided in this subparagraph, used to pay any money award as defined in ORS 18.005 included as part of a judgment in a civil or criminal action or any civil penalty imposed by an agency as defined in ORS 183.310 or by a local government as defined in ORS 174.116. Contributions described in this paragraph may be used to pay a civil penalty imposed under this chapter, a civil penalty imposed for campaign finance violations by a provision of a county charter or ordinance, a civil penalty imposed for campaign finance violations by a city charter or ordinance, or a civil penalty imposed by any charter or ordinance provision adopted under the authority of ORS 260.163, except that contributions described in this subsection may not be used to pay a civil penalty imposed for a violation of this section or ORS 260.409 or an equivalent provision of a county or city charter or ordinance; (C) Except as provided in this subparagraph, used to pay any legal expenses incurred by the candidate or public official in any civil, criminal or other legal proceeding or investigation that relates to or arises from the course and scope of the duties of the person as a candidate or public official. Contributions described in this paragraph may be used to pay legal expenses incurred by the candidate or public official in connection with a legal proceeding brought under ORS chapters 246 to 260, a campaign finance provision of a county charter or ordinance, a campaign finance provision of a city charter or ordinance, or any charter or ordinance provision adopted under the authority of ORS 260.163, except that contributions described in this subsection may not be used to pay legal expenses incurred in connection with a proceeding brought under this section or ORS 260.409 or an equivalent provision of a county or city charter or ordinance; or (D) Used to make payments in connection with a nondisclosure agreement relating to workplace harassment. A nondisclosure agreement made in violation of this subparagraph is void and may not be enforced by a court of this state. (2)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, amounts received as contributions by a political committee that is not a principal campaign committee may be: (A) Used to repay to the political committee any loan the proceeds of which were used in connection with the campaign; (B) Transferred to any national, state or local political committee of any political party; (C) Contributed to any organization described in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code or to any charitable corporation as defined in ORS 128.620; or (D) Used for any other lawful purpose. (b) Amounts received as contributions by the political committee may not be: (A) Converted by any person to any personal use; (B) Except as provided in this subparagraph, used to pay any money award as defined in ORS 18.005 included as part of a judgment in a civil or criminal action or any civil penalty imposed by an agency as defined in ORS 183.310 or by a local government as defined in ORS 174.116. Contributions described in this subsection may be used to pay a civil penalty imposed under this chapter, a civil penalty imposed for campaign finance violations by a provision of a county charter or ordinance, a civil penalty imposed for campaign finance violations by a city charter or ordinance, or a civil penalty imposed by any charter or ordinance provision adopted under the authority of ORS 260.163, except that contributions described in this subsection may not be used to pay a civil penalty imposed for a violation of this section or ORS 260.409 or an equivalent provision of a county or city charter or ordinance; (C) Except as provided in this subparagraph, used to pay any legal expenses incurred by a treasurer or director of a political committee in any civil, criminal or other legal proceeding or investigation that relates to or arises from the course and scope of the duties of the person as a treasurer or director. Contributions described in this subsection may be used to pay legal expenses incurred by a treasurer or director in connection with a legal proceeding brought under ORS chapters 246 to 260, a campaign finance provision of a county charter or ordinance, a campaign finance provision of a city charter or ordinance, or any charter or ordinance provision adopted under the authority of ORS 260.163, except that contributions described in this subsection may not be used to pay legal expenses incurred in connection with a proceeding brought under this section or ORS 260.409 or an equivalent provision of a county or city charter or ordinance; or (D) Used to make payments in connection with a nondisclosure agreement relating to workplace harassment. A nondisclosure agreement made in violation of this subparagraph is void and may not be enforced by a court of this state. (3)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, amounts received as contributions by a chief petitioner or treasurer of a petition committee may be: (A) Used to repay to the chief petitioner any loan the proceeds of which were used in connection with the initiative, referendum or recall petition; (B) Transferred to any national, state or local political committee of any political party; (C) Contributed to any organization described in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code or to any charitable corporation as defined in ORS 128.620; or (D) Used for any other lawful purpose. (b) Amounts received as contributions by a chief petitioner or treasurer of a petition committee may not be: (A) Converted by any person to any personal use; (B) Except as provided in this subparagraph, used to pay any money award as defined in ORS 18.005 included as part of a judgment in a civil or criminal action or any civil penalty imposed by an agency as defined in ORS 183.310 or by a local government as defined in ORS 174.116. Contributions described in this subsection may be used to pay a civil penalty imposed under this chapter, a civil penalty imposed for campaign finance violations by a provision of a county charter or ordinance, a civil penalty imposed for campaign finance violations by a city charter or ordinance, or a civil penalty imposed by any charter or ordinance provision adopted under the authority of ORS 260.163, except that contributions described in this subsection may not be used to pay a civil penalty imposed for a violation of this section or ORS 260.409 or an equivalent provision of a county or city charter or ordinance; (C) Except as provided in this subparagraph, used to pay any legal expenses incurred by a chief petitioner or the treasurer of a petition committee in any civil, criminal or other legal proceeding or investigation that relates to or arises from the course and scope of the duties of the person as a chief petitioner or treasurer. Contributions described in this subsection may be used to pay legal expenses incurred by a chief petitioner or treasurer in connection with a legal proceeding brought under ORS chapters 246 to 260, a campaign finance provision of a county charter or ordinance, a campaign finance provision of a city charter or ordinance, or any charter or ordinance provision adopted under the authority of ORS 260.163, except that contributions described in this subsection may not be used to pay legal expenses incurred in connection with a proceeding brought under this section or ORS 260.409 or an equivalent provision of a county or city charter or ordinance; or (D) Used to make payments in connection with a nondisclosure agreement relating to workplace harassment. A nondisclosure agreement made in violation of this subparagraph is void and may not be enforced by a court of this state. (4) As used in this section: (a) “Contribution” and “expenditure” include a contribution or expenditure to or on behalf of an initiative, referendum or recall petition. (b) “Funds donated” means all funds, including but not limited to gifts, loans, advances, credits or deposits of money that are donated for the purpose of supporting the activities of a holder of public office. “Funds donated” does not mean funds appropriated by the Legislative Assembly or another similar public appropriating body or personal funds of the office holder donated to an account containing only those personal funds. (c) “Public office” does not include national or political party office. (d) “Workplace harassment” means conduct that constitutes discrimination prohibited by ORS 659A.030, including conduct that constitutes sexual assault as defined in ORS 181A.323. [1995 c.1 §18; 1999 c.999 §20; 2007 c.877 §14; 2009 c.818 §17; 2010 c.9 §9; 2013 c.758 §14; 2017 c.749 §40; 2019 c.462 §1; 2024 c.56 §9]
§ ORS § 260.407Use of contributed amounts for certain purposes
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