March 23, 2022
Opinion No. 2022-02
Cited herein: K.S.A. 25-4153(f).
TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS:
Pursuant to K.S.A. 25-4159, the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission issues this opinion regarding federal use of political funds subject to the Kansas campaign finance act.
ISSUE
May any political funds which have been collected and were subject to the reporting requirements of the Kansas campaign finance act be used at the federal level?
ANALYSIS AND OPINION
K.S.A. 25-4153(f) specifies:
Any political funds which have been collected and were subject to the reporting requirements of the campaign finance act shall not be used in or for the campaign of a candidate for a federal elective office.
Party committees and political committees, defined by K.S.A. 25-4143(i) and (k) respectively, may contribute political funds to federally registered political action committees and party committees without violating K.S.A. 25-4153(f) so long as those funds are not earmarked for a specific purpose that is prohibited by the Kansas campaign finance act, K.S.A. 25-4142, et seq., such as use in or for the campaign of a candidate for a federal elective office.
Sincerely,
Nick Hale, Chairman
By Direction of the Commission
NH:BB:sf
