Rhode Island § 17-25-16 - Rhode Island Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting

§ 17-25-16. Enjoining of illegal acts — Forfeiture of contributions.

(a) Whenever the board of elections has reason to believe that a candidate, political party committee, or political action committee, or the campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer of the candidate or committee, has accepted a contribution or made an expenditure in violation of the provisions of this chapter, or willfully and knowingly has made a false statement in any of the reports required under this chapter or failed to file any report, or has otherwise violated this chapter, the board may, in addition to all other actions authorized by law, request the attorney general to bring an action in the name of the state of Rhode Island in the superior court against the person and/or committee to enjoin them from continuing the violation, or doing any acts in furtherance of the violation, and for any other relief that the court deems appropriate. In addition, the court may order the forfeiture of any or all contributions accepted in violation of and/or not reported as required by this chapter. All contributions so forfeited shall become the property of the state.

(b) The court shall also impose a civil penalty not exceeding three (3) times the amount of:

(1) Contributions made or accepted in violation of this chapter;

(2) Expenditures made in violation of this chapter; and/or

(3) Contributions or expenditures not reported as required by this chapter.

(c) All funds collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the fund established for the public financing of the electoral system pursuant to this chapter.