Code of the District of Columbia

§ 1–1163.10a. Fund balance requirements of principal campaign committees.

(a) Except as provided in § 1-1163.32h, within the limitations specified in subchapter I of Chapter 10 of this title, any surplus, residual, or unexpended campaign funds received by or on behalf of a candidate shall be:

(1) Contributed to a political party for political purposes;

(2) Within 12 months after the election, used to retire the proper debts of his or her political committee that received the funds, after which the candidate shall be personally liable for any remaining debts; provided, that:

(A) Personal liability shall not attach until the Director of Campaign Finance is no longer auditing the principal campaign committee; and

(B) Any loans made by a candidate to support his or her campaign may only be repaid up to the amount of $25,000;

(3) Transferred to:

(A) A political committee;

(B) A nonprofit organization within the meaning of section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, operating in good standing in the District for a minimum of one calendar year before the date of any transfer; or

(C) In the case of the Mayor or a Councilmember, an established constituent-service program; or

(4) Returned to the donors as follows:

(A) In the case of an individual defeated in an election, within 6 months after the election;

(B) In the case of an individual elected to office, within 6 months after the election; and

(C) In the case of an individual ceasing to be a candidate, within 6 months thereafter.

(b) No public official elected to office shall fundraise after 6 months after the election to retire the proper debts of the public official's political committee.