Title
Amending Chapter 20-1000 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Political Contributions and Expenditures," by permitting a candidate for elective office to establish a litigation fund to receive contributions and make expenditures for the defense of certain proceedings relating to the candidate's campaign, and further regulating and limiting such contributions and expenditures, all under certain terms and conditions.
Body
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 20-1000 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 20-1000. POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES.
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ยง20-1009. Litigation Funds.
(a) In addition to establishing a political committee to receive campaign contributions, a candidate 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."
(b) 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.
(c) A candidate shall establish a single committee to receive and expend litigation funds for the purposes set forth in subsection (b), above, and a single separate checking account for such purposes, except that this shall not prohibit a candidate from making expenditures from his or her candidate political committee for the purposes set forth in subsection (b),...
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