CFR Subpart B

CFR Subpart B
in effect

11 C.F.R. § 9008.50 Scope and definitions.

(a) Scope. This subpart B governs registration and reporting by host committees and municipal funds representing convention cities. Unsuccessful efforts to attract a convention need not be reported by any city, committee or other organization. Subpart B also describes permissible sources of funds and other permissible donations to host committees and municipal funds. In addition, subpart B describes permissible disbursements by host committees and municipal funds to defray convention expenses and to promote the convention city and its commerce. (b) Definition of host committee. A host committee is any local organization, such as a local civic association, business league, chamber of commerce, real estate board, board of trade, or convention bureau, that satisfies all of the following conditions: (1) It is not organized for profit; (2) Its net earnings do not inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual; and (3) Its principal purpose is the encouragement of commerce in the convention city, as well as the projection of a favorable image of the city to convention attendees. (c) Definition of municipal fund. A municipal fund is any fund or account of a government agency, municipality, or municipal corporation whose principal purpose is the encouragement of commerce in the municipality and whose receipt and use of funds is subject to the control of officials of the State or local government.

11 C.F.R. § 9008.51 Registration and reports.

(a) Registration by host committees and municipal funds. (1) Each host committee and municipal fund shall register with the Commission by filing a Statement of Organization on FEC Form 1 within 10 days of the date on which such party chooses the convention city, or within 10 days after the formation of the host committee or municipal fund, whichever is later. In addition to the information already required to be provided on FEC Form 1, the following information shall be disclosed by the registering entity on FEC Form 1: The name and address; the name and address of its officers; and a list of the activities that the registering entity plans to undertake in connection with the convention. (2) Any such committee, organization or group which is unsuccessful in its efforts to attract the convention to a city need not register under this section. (3) Each host committee and municipal fund required to register with the Commission under paragraph (a) of this section, shall submit to the Commission a copy of any and all written contracts or agreements that it has entered into with the city, county, or State hosting the convention, a host committee, a municipal fund, or a convention committee, including subsequent written modifications to previous contracts or agreements, unless such contracts, agreements or modifications have already been submitted to the Commission by the convention committee. Each such contract or agreement or modification shall be filed with the first report due under paragraph (b) of this section after the contract or agreement or modification is executed. (b) Post-convention and quarterly reports by host committees and municipal funds; content and time of filing. (1) Each host committee or municipal fund required to register with the Commission pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section shall file a post convention report on FEC Form 4. The report shall be filed on the earlier of: 60 days following the last day the convention is officially in session; or 20 days prior to the presidential general election. This report shall be complete as of 15 days prior to the date on which the report must be filed and shall disclose all the information required by 11 CFR part 104 with respect to all activities related to a presidential nominating convention. (2) If such host committee or municipal fund has receipts or makes disbursements after the completion date of the post convention report, it shall begin to file quarterly reports no later than 15 days after the end of the following calendar quarter. This report shall disclose all transactions completed as of the close of that calendar quarter. Quarterly reports shall be filed thereafter until the host committee or municipal fund ceases all activity that must be reported under this section. (3) Such host committee or municipal fund shall file a final report with the Commission not later than 10 days after it ceases activity that must be reported under this section, unless such status is reflected in either the post-convention report or a quarterly report. (c) Post-convention statements by State and local government agencies. Each government agency of a State, municipality, or other political subdivision that provides facilities or services related to a Presidential nominating convention shall file, by letter, a statement with the Commission reporting the total amount spent to provide facilities and services for the convention under 11 CFR 9008.52(b), a list of the categories of facilities and services the government agency provided for the convention, the total amount spent for each category of facilities and services provided, and the total amount defrayed from general revenues. This statement shall be filed on the earlier of: 60 days following the last day the convention is officially in session; or 20 days prior to the presidential general election. Categories of facilities and services may include construction, security, communications, transportation, utilities, clean up, meeting rooms and accommodations. This paragraph (c) does not apply to any activities of a State or local government agency through a municipal fund that are reported pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section.

11 C.F.R. § 9008.52 Receipts and disbursements of host committees.

(a) Receipt of goods or services from commercial vendors. Host committees may accept goods or services from commercial vendors under the same terms and conditions (including reporting requirements) set forth at 11 CFR 9008.9 for convention committees. (b) Receipt of donations from businesses, organizations, and individuals. Businesses (including banks), labor organizations, and other organizations or individuals may donate funds or make in-kind donations to a host committee to be used for the following purposes: (1) To defray those expenses incurred for the purpose of promoting the suitability of the city as a convention site; (2) To defray those expenses incurred for welcoming the convention attendees to the city, such as expenses for information booths, receptions, and tours; (3) To defray those expenses incurred in facilitating commerce, such as providing the convention and attendees with shopping and entertainment guides and distributing the samples and promotional material specified in 11 CFR 9008.9(c); (4) To defray the administrative expenses incurred by the host committee, such as salaries, rent, travel, and liability insurance; (5) To provide the national committee use of an auditorium or convention center and to provide construction and convention related services for that location such as: construction of podiums; press tables; false floors; camera platforms; additional seating; lighting, electrical, air conditioning and loudspeaker systems; offices; office equipment; and decorations; (6) To defray the costs of various local transportation services, including the provision of buses and automobiles; (7) To defray the costs of law enforcement services necessary to assure orderly conventions; (8) To defray the cost of using convention bureau personnel to provide central housing and reservation services; (9) To provide hotel rooms at no charge or a reduced rate on the basis of the number of rooms actually booked for the convention; (10) To provide accommodations and hospitality for committees of the parties responsible for choosing the sites of the conventions; and (11) To provide other similar convention-related facilities and services.

11 C.F.R. § 9008.53 Receipts and disbursements of municipal funds.

(a) Receipt of goods and services provided by commercial vendors. Municipal funds may accept goods or services from commercial vendors for convention uses under the same terms and conditions (including reporting requirements) set forth at 11 CFR 9008.9 for convention committees. (b) Receipt and use of donations to a municipal fund. Businesses (including banks), labor organizations, and other organizations and individuals may donate funds or make in-kind donations to a municipal fund to pay for expenses listed in 11 CFR 9008.52(b).

11 C.F.R. § 9008.54 Examinations and audits.

The Commission shall conduct an examination and audit of each host committee registered under 11 CFR 9008.51. The Commission will follow the same procedures during the audit, and will afford the committee the same right to respond, as are provided for audits of publicly funded candidates under 11 CFR 9007.1 and 9038.1, except that the Commission will not make any repayment calculations under this section.

11 C.F.R. § 9008.55 Funding for convention committees, host committees and municipal funds.

(a) Convention committees, including any established pursuant to 11 CFR 9008.3(a)(2), are subject to 11 CFR 300.10, except that convention committees may accept in-kind donations from host committees and municipal funds provided that the in-kind donations are in accordance with the requirements of 11 CFR 9008.52 and 9008.53. (b) Host committees and municipal funds are not “agents” of national committees of political parties or convention committees, unless they satisfy the prerequisites of 11 CFR 300.2(b)(1). (c) Host committees and municipal funds are not “directly or indirectly established, financed, maintained, or controlled” by national committees of political parties or convention committees, unless they satisfy the prerequisites of 11 CFR 300.2(c). (d) In accordance with 52 U.S.C. 30125(e)(4)(A), a person described in 11 CFR 300.60 may make a general solicitation of funds, without regard to source or amount limitation, for or on behalf of any host committee or municipal fund that is described in 26 U.S.C. 501(c) and exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. 501(a) (or has submitted an application for determination of tax exempt status under such section) where such solicitation does not specify how the funds will or should be spent.

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