HB246: Governor and Attorney General; parties to litigation with state, prohibited conduct, penalties.
HOUSE BILL NO. 246
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 2.2-3104.03 and by adding in Chapter 10 of Title 18.2 an article numbered 3.1, consisting of a section numbered 18.2-450.1, as follows:
§ 2.2-3104.03. Prohibited conduct; Governor and Attorney General; parties to litigation with the state.
Neither the Governor nor the Attorney General, nor any campaign committee or political action committee established on behalf of the Governor or Attorney General, shall knowingly solicit or accept a contribution, gift, or other item with a value greater than $50 from any person that is a party in a legal suit filed and pending in which the Commonwealth is an opposing party.
Any person who knowingly violates this section is subject to a civil penalty of $500 or up to two times the amount of the contribution or gift, whichever is greater. The attorney for the Commonwealth shall initiate civil proceedings to enforce the civil penalty. Any civil penalties collected shall be payable to the State Treasurer for deposit to the general fund.
As used in this section, "campaign committee," "contribution," "person," and "political action committee" mean the same as those terms are defined in § 24.2-945.1.
§ 18.2-450.1. Improper influence by certain litigants.
No person that is a party in a legal suit filed and pending in which the Commonwealth is an opposing party shall knowingly donate any contribution, gift, or other item with a value greater than $50 to the Governor or the Attorney General or any campaign committee or political action committee established on behalf of the Governor or Attorney General.
Any person who knowingly violates this section is subject to a civil penalty of $500 or up to two times the amount of the contribution or gift, whichever is greater. The attorney for the Commonwealth shall initiate civil proceedings to enforce the civil penalty. Any civil penalties collected shall be payable to the State Treasurer for deposit to the general fund.
As used in this section, "campaign committee," "contribution," "person," and "political action committee" mean the same as those terms are defined in § 24.2-945.1; "gift" means the same as that term is defined in § 2.2-3101.