You asked for a summary of Connecticut’s law prohibiting candidates from serving as their own campaign treasurer.

Since 1967, state law has banned candidates from serving as their own campaign treasurer. In 1991, the Connecticut General Assembly carved out exceptions to this absolute ban. That year PA 91-351 permitted candidates to serve as their own treasurer if they were exempt from forming a candidate committee and either certified that they would self-finance their campaign or receive or spend less than $ 500. In 2002, PA 02-130 increased the contribution and expenditure limit for the exemption from $ 500 to $ 1,000.

A candidate is exempt from forming a candidate committee if, during the entire campaign, he:

1. is one of a slate of candidates financed solely by a party or political committee and expenditures made on the candidate’s behalf are reported by the sponsoring committee,

2. does not solicit or receive contributions but instead finances his campaign entirely from his personal funds,

3. receives or spends less than $ 1,000 on his campaign, or

4. does not receive or spend any funds on his campaign.

If any of the above applies, the candidate can certify that he qualifies for an exemption, avoid the committee formation and reporting requirements, and serve as his own treasurer. He must file the certification with the secretary of the state or town clerk, as appropriate, within 10 days after he establishes his candidacy. If during the course of the campaign, the candidate no longer qualifies for the exemption, he must form a candidate committee and resign as his campaign treasurer (CGS §§ 9-333h (d) and -333f (b)).

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