Meetings
 
Agenda Item
Docket No. 24-037
 
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RE:
Request that the Board waive the $660 campaign finance late fee assessed against Karen Jones, an unopposed candidate for Clerk of Court for West Carrol Parish, in the October 14, 2023 election, whose 30-P campaign finance disclosure report was filed 11 days late.
Facts:
Karen Jones requests a waiver and states the following: She is the clerk of a small staffed office with one full-time employee and four part-time employees. One of the employees is a minute clerk, and another works two days a week. This is due to the need for more funding for full-time employee benefits. They are extremely busy and do more than a few jobs; they do it all. The pertinent reason why she filed untimely was that her mother was in hospice, terminally ill with cancer. Ms. Jones became overwhelmed with work, helping her mother on her lunch breaks and after work. Her mother recently passed away. She would like to apologize for her filing mishap and ask for consideration in waiving the late fee assessed against her.
Comments:
ELECTION: October 14, 2023
TYPES OF REPORT: 30-P
DAYS LATE: 11
ASSESSED FEE: $660
REPORTS DUE: September 14, 2023
REPORTS FILED: September 25, 2023
ACTIVITY REPORT: $-0 in Receipts; $-0 in Expenditures and $-0 Fund at Close of Reporting Period
OTHER LATE FILINGS: NONE


Law:
18:1505.4.A(1) Any candidate, the treasurer or chairman of a political committee, or any other person required to file any reports under this Chapter, who knowingly fails to file or who knowingly fails to timely file any such reports as are required by this Chapter may be assessed a civil penalty for each day until such report is filed.

LAC 52:1205(C) states if a report is filed more than 10 days late and the amount of activity on the report is less than the amount of the late fee to be assessed, the staff may reduce the late fee to the amount of activity or 10 times the per-day penalty, whichever is greater.


Recommendations:
Reduce to $600 based on Rule 1205C; decline to waive.
Assigned Attorney: Charles Reeves
 
 
ATTACHMENTS:
Description:
2024-037 - CF Waiver 30-P