Explanation: Capitals indicate matter added to existing law.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill
(Charter Amendment)
Introduced by: Councilmember Burnett
A Resolution Entitled
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council concerning
title
Charter Amendment - Fair Election Fund
For the purpose of authorizing the establishment of a continuing, nonlapsing Fair Election Fund, to be used exclusively to administer a public financing option for political campaigns for Baltimore City elected offices; authorizing the Mayor and City Council to dedicate revenue to the Fair Election Fund by ordinance; establishing a Fair election Fund Commission to administer the Fund; and submitting this amendment to the qualified voters of the City for adoption or rejection.
body
By proposing to add
Article I - General Provisions
Section 15
Baltimore City Charter
(1996 Edition)
Section 1. Be it resolved by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, That the City Charter is proposed to be amended to read as follows:
Baltimore City Charter
Article I. General Provisions
§ 15. Special fund for fair elections.
(a) Authorization.
(1) By Ordinance, the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore may establish a continuing, nonlapsing fund for purposes of encouraging fair elections by administering a public financing option for political campaigns for Baltimore City elected offices.
(2) These purposes include:
(i) providing direct funding to candidates for public office who meet certain qualifications;
(ii) providing technical assistance and training to individuals seeking to make use of public campaign funding;
(iii) publicizing the availability of public campaign funding; and
(iv) administering a public campaign funding program.
(b) Baltimore City Fair Election Fund Commission.
(1) The fund is administered by the Baltimore City Fair Election Fund Commission, and no funds may be dispersed from the fund without authorization by that Commission.
(2) The Baltimore City Fair Election Fund Commission consists of 11 members, including:
(i) 2 members appointed by the Mayor;
(ii) 2 members representing organizations focused on government reform, appointed by the President of the City Council;
(iii) 1 member representing an organization advocating for the interests of City business owners, appointed by the President of the City Council;
(iv) 2 additional members appointed by the President of the City Council; and
(v) 4 members appointed by majority vote of the City Council.
(3) Each member of the Commission must:
(i) be a resident of the City of Baltimore;
(ii) not be a candidate for public office;
(iii) not be a lobbyist required to register with the City;
(iv) not be the chair or treasurer for an open campaign account;
(v) be a registered voter; and
(vi) be confirmed by the City Council.
(4) The term of a member of the Commission is:
(i) for the members of the initial Commission appointed by vote of the City Council, 6 years beginning on May 1, 2019;
(ii) for all other members of the initial Commission, 4 years beginning on May 1, 2019; and
(iii) for all members appointed to a full term after May 1, 2019, 4 years from the expiration of their predecessor’s appointment.
(5) A vacancy arising during a term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment and shall be filled for the remainder of the predecessor’s term.
(6) The Commission shall elect a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson from its members.
(7) A Commission member shall not receive compensation for service on the Commission, but may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses as provided in the Ordinance of Estimates.
(c) Revenue sources.
The fund established under this section may consist of:
(1) money appropriated to the fund in the annual Ordinances of Estimates;
(2) grants or donations made to the fund; and
(3) proceeds from fines, fees, surcharges, or other revenues dedicated to the fund by Ordinance.
(d) Continuing nature of fund.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Charter, unspent portions of the fund established under this section:
(1) remain in the fund, to be used exclusively for their ordained purposes;
(2) do not revert to the general revenues of the City; and
(3) their appropriations do not lapse.
Section 2. And be it further resolved, That this proposed amendment to the City Charter be submitted to the legal and qualified voters of Baltimore City, for adoption or rejection, in accordance with Article XI-A, § 5 of the Maryland Constitution, in the form specified by the City Solicitor.