New Jersey § 19:44a-9
Full text of New Jersey New Jersey Statutes § 19:44a-9, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 19:44a-9.
a. Unless already established, each candidate, as defined in paragraph (1) of subsection
c. of section 3 of P.L.1973, c. 83 ( C.19:44A-3 ), shall, no later than the date on which that candidate first receives any contribution
or makes or incurs any expenditures in connection with an election, establish (1)
a candidate committee, (2) a joint candidates committee, or (3) both, for the purpose
of receiving contributions and making expenditures. No person serving as the chairman of a political party committee or a legislative
leadership committee shall be eligible to be appointed or to serve as the chairman
of a candidate committee or joint candidates committee, other than a candidate committee
or joint candidates committee established to further the nomination for election or
the election of that person as a candidate for public office. Subsequent to an election, a candidate, whether or not successful in that election,
shall maintain a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee so long as contributions
are received or expenditures made by that former candidate. An elected officeholder who receives contributions and who has not maintained a
candidate committee or a joint candidates committee shall establish a candidate committee,
a joint candidates committee, or both, in a timely manner for the purpose of receiving
contributions and making expenditures. b. (1) The candidate or candidates, as the case may be, shall file with the Election
Law Enforcement Commission a certificate of organization on a form prescribed by the
commission. The certificate shall identify the name of the committee, which shall be the sole
name under which the committee receives contributions, makes expenditures and otherwise
does business and which shall include the surname or surnames, as appropriate, of
the candidate or candidates, except that in the case of a joint candidates committee,
the name of the committee need not include such surnames if it identifies the legislative
district, county, municipality or other jurisdiction in which the candidates jointly
seek nomination for election or election and, in any case in which they seek nomination
for election or election as the candidates of a political party, the name of that
party, provided that no joint candidates committee so named shall take the same name
as that of any committee of a political party or another joint candidates committee. In the case of a candidate committee, the name of the committee shall identify the
office sought by the candidate. The certificate shall provide for the initial appointment by the candidate, or candidates,
of a campaign treasurer and for the designation by the candidate, or candidates, of
that treasurer of the candidate committee, or joint candidates committee, as the campaign
treasurer of the candidate, or candidates, for the purposes of subsection a. of section
8 of P.L.1973, c. 83 ( C.19:44A-8 ) and shall generally identify and be signed by the candidate, or candidates, and
the chairman and the treasurer of the candidate committee or joint candidates committee,
as the case may be. No person serving as the chairman of a political party committee or a legislative
leadership committee shall be eligible to be appointed or to serve as the treasurer
of a candidate committee or joint candidates committee, other than a candidate committee
or joint candidates committee established to further the nomination for election or
the election of that person as a candidate for public office. The certificate shall be filed prior to or simultaneously with the filing of a notification
of the designation of a campaign depository as provided under subsection c. of this
section. Upon the filing of such a certificate of organization and until the termination
of the committee, the candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall file
the reports which the campaign treasurer or treasurers of the candidate or candidates
would otherwise be required to file under subsection a. of section 16 of P.L.1973,
c. 83 ( C.19:44A-16 ). (2) Each campaign treasurer of a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee
for a candidate, or candidates, for the Senate, the General Assembly or the office
of Governor or Lieutenant Governor shall be a trained treasurer, pursuant to subsection g. of section 6 of P.L.1973,
c. 83 ( C.19:44A-6 ), or shall acquire such training within 90 days of designation as a campaign treasurer. Any other campaign treasurer of a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee
may be a trained treasurer. c. Each candidate, or the candidates comprising a joint candidates committee, shall
designate a campaign depository. Any bank authorized by law to transact business in the State may be designated as
the campaign depository. Notification of the designation of the campaign depository shall be made by the
candidate's, candidates' or committee's filing the name and address of such depository
with the Election Law Enforcement Commission no later than the tenth day after receipt
by the candidate or the committee of any contribution on behalf of the candidate or
candidates or after the making or incurring by the candidate or candidates of any
expenditure on behalf of that candidacy, whichever comes first. d. Each candidate and campaign treasurer shall certify the correctness of each report
filed by the candidate committee or joint candidates committee with the commission
and that each report conforms with the limitations on contributions and expenditures
provided for in sections 18, 19 and 20 of P.L.1993, c. 65 ( C.19:44A-11.3 , C.19:44A-11.4 and C.19:44A-11.5 ). e. A campaign treasurer of a candidate or candidates may appoint deputy campaign treasurers
as required and may designate additional campaign depositories in each county in which
the campaign is conducted. The candidate or candidates shall file the names and addresses of deputy campaign
treasurers and additional campaign depositories with the Election Law Enforcement
Commission. f. A candidate or candidates may remove a campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer. In the case of the death, resignation or removal of a campaign treasurer, the candidate
or candidates shall appoint a successor as soon as practicable and shall file the
name and address of that person with the Election Law Enforcement Commission within
three days. A candidate may serve as his or her own campaign treasurer. One of the candidates in a joint candidates committee may serve as the campaign
treasurer of the entire committee. g. An individual who is a candidate for two or more public offices in an election
or in separate elections shall establish separate candidate committees or separate
joint candidates committees or both for each office contested. h. (1) On and after the 366th day following the effective date of P.L.1993, c. 65, no candidate shall establish, authorize the establishment of, maintain, or participate
directly or indirectly in the management or control of, any political committee or
any continuing political committee. Within one year after the enactment of this act, every candidate who maintains,
or who participates either directly or indirectly in the management or control of,
one or more political committees or one or more continuing political committees, or
both, shall wind up or cause to be wound up the affairs of those committees in accordance
with the provisions of section 8 of P.L.1973, c. 83 ( C.19:44A-8 ) and transfer all of the funds therein into a candidate committee or a joint candidates
committee. All funds thus transferred shall be subject to the provisions of section 17 of P.L.1993, c. 65 ( C.19:44A-11.2 ). (2) The person or persons having control over a legislative leadership committee shall
not be required to wind up the affairs of that committee but shall be required to
conform to the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection with regard to any
other political committees or continuing political committees under the control of
the person or persons and used by that person for the purpose of receiving contributions
and making expenditures.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey § 19:44a-9
What does New Jersey Statutes § 19:44a-9 cover?
Section 19:44a-9 is part of the New Jersey Statutes, the codified statutory law of New Jersey. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite New Jersey § 19:44a-9?
A common citation format is "New Jersey Statutes § 19:44a-9" (New Jersey). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of New Jersey law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the New Jersey official source linked on this page or consult a licensed New Jersey attorney.
How does New Jersey § 19:44a-9 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in New Jersey can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in New Jersey.