25-4153a. Contributions; limitations during legislative sessions. (a) No registered lobbyist, political committee or person, other than an individual, shall make a contribution after January 1 of each year and prior to adjournment sine die of the regular session of the legislature or at any other time in which the legislature is in session to a:
(1) Legislator;
(2) candidate for membership in the legislature;
(3) state officer elected on a statewide basis;
(4) candidate for state officer elected on a statewide basis;
(5) candidate committee of persons described in paragraphs (1) through (4); or
(6) political committee established by a state committee of any political party and designated as a recognized political committee for the senate or house of representatives.
(b) No legislator, officer, candidate or committee described in paragraphs (1) through (6) of subsection (a) shall accept or knowingly solicit any contribution as defined by K.S.A. 25-4143, and amendments thereto, from any registered lobbyist, political committee or person, other than an individual, during such period of time described in subsection (a). except that a general public solicitation which does not solicit a specific individual and is distributed via social media shall be permissible.
(c) For the purpose of this act, "social media" means an electronic medium which allows users to create and view user-generated content, including, but not limited to, uploaded or downloaded videos or photographs, blogs, audio files, instant messages or email.
History: L. 1990, ch. 306, § 10; L. 1997, ch. 191, § 1; L. 2000, ch. 124, § 13; L. 2007, ch. 25, § 1; L. 2015, ch. 85, § 6; July 1.
Law Review and Bar Journal References:
"Compelled Cost
Disclosure of Grass Roots Lobbying Expenses: Necessary Government Voyeurism or
Chilled Political Speech?" Ron Smith, 6 Kan. J.L. & Pub. Pol'y, No. 1, 115 (1996).
Governmental Ethics Commission Opinions:
Time limit for restrictions on contributions by lobbyists and political action committees discussed; special sessions. 91-19.
"Individual" construed. 97-32.
Use of campaign funds to pay costs of defending against a recall proceeding.
During legislative session legislator may not solicit contributions from lobbyist to be given after sine die. 2000-16. 1999-13.
Candidate for Insurance Commissioner may not accept campaign contribution from a personal trust during the legislative session. 2006-09.
Sets forth for whom a legislator may solicit contributions during legislative session. 2007-04.
E-mail and electronic newsletters containing link to legislator's campaign website; when not a solicitation to lobbyist. 2007-07.
Attorney General's Opinions:
Election campaign finance; contributions to legislators and legislative candidates between January 1 and May 15 by lobbyists and PACs prohibited. 91-153.