Advisory Opinions

GEORGIA GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY & CAMPAIGN FINANCE COMMISSION ADVISORY OPINION NO. 2017-04 In response to a Commission staff request on May 1, 2017, the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission advises that the use of a public officer’s or candidate’s personal residence for fundraising events and/or campaign office space is neither an in-kind contribution nor

The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission advises that the payment of a qualifying fee by a candidate for public office with the candidate’s personal funds is neither a campaign contribution nor a campaign expenditure under the terms of the Campaign Finance Act. O.C.G.A. 21-5-3(7), 21-5-3(12), 21-5-30.1(a)(2). Thus, such a payment is not required

GEORGIA GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY & CAMPAIGN FINANCE COMMISSION ADVISORY OPINION NO. 2017-02 In response to numerous informal requests to Commission staff, the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission advises that a public officer who is term barred from seeking re-election should follow the non-election year filing schedule for filing campaign contribution disclosure reports (“CCDR”s) and a

The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission advises that the Campaign Finance Act requires elected public officers and candidates for public office to maintain their accounting records for an “election cycle” rather than a fiscal or calendar year accounting period. Download ADVISORY OPINION: 2017-01

QUESTION PRESENTED Does the state prohibition on former legislators not being able to lobby state entities (legislature, governor’s office, etc.) apply to local government as well? BACKGROUND Prior to January 8, 2007, members of the Georgia General Assembly were, upon leaving office, allowed to immediately register as lobbyists and engage in lobbying activities. However, the

QUESTION PRESENTED Do contributions to and expenditures from a newsletter fund established under 26 U.S.C. § 527(g) that are used solely for the preparation and circulation of a newsletter, consistent with the terms of § 527(g), constitute “contributions” or “expenditures” under the Campaign Finance Act that must be disclosed under the Act? BACKGROUND Section 527(g)

QUESTION PRESENTED Does the Campaign Finance Act’s prohibition on the making of “public agency contributions” per O.C.G.A. § 21-5-30.2(b) prohibit governmental agencies from allowing equal access to their computers to all public officers or candidates for public office for the purpose of making filings with the agency? BACKGROUND Prior to 2012, it was common practice

QUESTION PRESENTED Did the deletion of O.C.G.A. § 21-5-70(a)(5)(D) from the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Act (hereinafter “Campaign Finance Act”) have the effect of exempting all employees of the executive or judicial branches of state government from any obligation to register and file as lobbyists? BACKGROUND In 2013, along with numerous other changes

Did the deletion of O.C.G.A. § 21-5-70(a)(5)(D) from the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Act (hereinafter “Campaign Finance Act”) have the effect of exempting all employees of the executive or judicial branches of state government from any obligation to register  and file as lobbyists? Download PENDING ADVISORY OPINION REQUEST 2015-03 

(1) Must a Political Action Committee register with the Commission as both an Independent Committee and as a Political Action Committee?(2) Must a Political Action Committee operate two legally distinct entities in order to make independent expenditures and direct campaign contributions to candidates for office?  Download ADVISORY OPINION NO. 2015-02