N.J. Admin. Code § 19:25-15.24

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 11, June 3, 2024

Section 19:25-15.24 - Use of public funds

(a) Public funds received on behalf of qualified candidates from the fund for general election campaign expenses shall be deposited by the Commission in the candidates' public fund account and the candidates' use of such funds shall be strictly limited to the following purposes:

1. Purchase of time on radio and television stations;

2. Purchase of rental space on outdoor signs or billboards;

3. Purchase of advertising space in newspapers, regularly published magazines and periodicals, and on the internet;

4. Payment of the cost of producing the material aired or displayed on radio, television, outdoor signs or billboards, and in newspapers, regularly published magazines and periodicals;

5. Payment of the cost of printing and mailing campaign literature and brochures distributed under the name of the candidate;

6. Payment of the cost of legal and accounting expenses incurred in complying with the public financing regulations of the Commission and with the public financing provisions of the Act;

7. Payment of the cost of telephone deposits, and installation charges and monthly billings in excess of deposits. Within six months after the general election, a candidate shall return to the Commission the amount of any public funds used to pay such telephone deposits which are later returned;

8. Payment of the cost of website communications that are not used for fund-raising purposes;

9. Payment of the cost of email communications that are not used for fund-raising purposes; and

10. Payment for the purchase of lists of postal and email addresses.

(b) Expenditures made prior to the receipt of public funds, including expenditures made for the purpose of determining whether an individual should become a candidate for election to the office of Governor, which fit within (a)1 through 7 above, shall be expenses properly payable out of public funds.

(c) Any expenditure made from the candidates' public fund account which results in the purchase of time on radio and television stations pursuant to (a) above shall be documented by an invoice prepared by the radio or television station listing the media time used and the cost to the candidates. The invoice shall be obtained by the candidates, their campaign treasurer, or deputy campaign treasurer no later than 10 days following the due date for the 20-day postelection report and shall be maintained pursuant to 19:25-15.4 2.

(d) Any expenditure made from the candidates' public fund account shall be identified on election fund reports and submissions for public matching funds to include the check or transaction number, date of payment, full name of payee, full payee mailing address, amount of payment, a detailed description of the election-related purpose of the expenditure that includes the applicable permitted use of public funds contained in (a) above and the type of expenditure for each expenditure.

(e) A reimbursement made to a depository or matching fund account of the candidates from the public fund account of the candidates for an expenditure or expenditures permitted under (a) above shall:

1. Be made by individual transfer or transaction from the public fund account in the exact amount of the expenditure or expenditures being reimbursed;

2. Be specifically identified as a reimbursement, including the attachment of applicable documentation (invoice and/or certification of payee), on the report required pursuant to N.J.A. C. 19:25-15.20(b) and on campaign reports required by the Act; and

3. Contain a list of the previously paid expenditure or expenditures permissible under (a) above for which the reimbursement is being made.

(f) Contributions, other than public funds, received by or on behalf of any candidate (including contributions eligible for match) shall not be subject to the limitations of (a) above, but may be expended for any lawful purpose in furtherance or aid of the candidacy of the candidate.

(g) Transfer of public funds from the public funds account established pursuant to 19:25-15.2 0 to an interest-bearing account or other investment account or vehicle is prohibited.

N.J. Admin. Code § 19:25-15.24

As amended, R.1983 d.287, effective 7/18/1983.
See: 15 N.J.R. 616(a), 15 N.J.R. 1182(e).
New (b) added and old (b) changed to (c).
As amended, R.1984 d.561, effective 12/17/1984.
See: 16 N.J.R. 2765(a), 16 N.J.R. 3485(b).
Amended by R.1993 d.207, effective 5/17/1993.
See: 25 N.J.R. 910(a), 25 N.J.R. 1994(a).
Added new (c) through (e); redesignated existing (c) to (f).
Amended by R.1996 d.583, effective 12/16/1996.
See: 28 N.J.R. 4395(b), 28 N.J.R. 5199(a).
Changed disbursement to expenditure throughout the section.
Amended by R.1999 d.300, effective 9/7/1999.
See: 31 N.J.R. 1446(a), 31 N.J.R. 2627(b).
Added (g).
Amended by R.2000 d.322, effective 8/7/2000.
See: 32 N.J.R. 1291(a), 32 N.J.R. 2930(a).
Rewrote (b) and (c).
Amended by R.2004 d.400, effective 10/18/2004.
See: 36 N.J.R. 2985(a), 36 N.J.R. 4837(a).
In (c), rewrote the second sentence.
Amended by R.2010 d.062, effective 4/19/2010.
See: 41 N.J.R. 4682(a), 42 N.J.R. 811(a).
In the introductory paragraph of (a), and in (a)6 and (a)7, substituted "Commission" for "commission"; and in (a)6, substituted "Act; and" for "act".
Amended by R.2012 d.172, effective 10/15/2012.
See: 44 N.J.R. 1593(a), 44 N.J.R. 2380(a).
In the introductory paragraph of (a), deleted "a" preceding "qualified", and substituted "candidates" for "candidate" and "candidates' " for "candidate's" twice; in (a)3, substituted a comma for "and" following "newspapers" and inserted ", and on the internet"; in (a)6, deleted "and" from the end; in (a)7, substituted a semicolon for a period at the end; added (a)8 through (a)10; in (c) and (d), substituted "the candidates' " for "a candidate's"; in (c), substituted the first occurrence of "candidates" for the first occurrence of "candidate" and "candidates, their" for "candidate, his or her"; in the introductory paragraph of (e), substituted the first occurrence of "the candidates" for "a candidate" and the second occurrence of "the candidates" for "that candidate"; and in (f), substituted "on" for "in" preceding "behalf".

Amended by 52 N.J.R. 2190(a), effective 12/21/2020