§3-8-2a. Detailed accounts and verified financial statements for certain inaugural events; limitations; reporting requirements.

(a) For purposes of this section:

(1) "Inaugural committee" includes any person, organization or group of persons soliciting or receiving contributions for the purpose of funding an inaugural event for a person elected to a statewide public office; and

(2) "Inaugural event" means any event or events held between the general election of a person elected to a statewide public office and ninety days after the general election, whether the event is sponsored by the inaugural committee or the state political party committee representing the party of the person elected and for which the person elected is a prominent participant or for which solicitations of contributions include the name of the person elected in prominent display.

(b) Any inaugural committee soliciting or receiving contributions for the funding of all or any part of an inaugural event for any person elected to a statewide office that receives an individual contribution in excess of $250 for any such event shall file and retain detailed records of any such contribution.

(c) No person may contribute more than $5,000 for any inaugural event. For purposes of this section, "contribution" does not include volunteer personal services but does include in-kind contributions of materials or supplies.

(d) Any inaugural committee, financial agent or any person or officer acting on behalf of such committee which is subject to the provisions of this section shall file a verified financial statement with the Secretary of State on a form prescribed by the state Election Commission within ninety days of the event. The financial statement shall contain information as may be required by the provisions of this section relating to any contribution in excess of $250. The Secretary of State shall file and retain such statements as public records for a period of not less than six years.

(e) In addition to any other information required by the state Election Commission, the report of contributions required by the provisions of this section shall include the methodology of the fund raising, the nature of the expenditures made and the names, addresses and amounts paid to any person.

(f) Amounts received by an inaugural committee for any person elected to a statewide public office in excess of the amount expended for an inaugural event may be contributed to any educational, cultural or charitable organization, or to the Governor's Mansion Fund created in section two, article four, chapter five-a of this code. The inaugural committee shall, within sixty days after filing the report required by subsection (d) of this section, expend any excess moneys and report, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, any amounts contributed to the Governor's Mansion Fund, any amounts contributed to educational, cultural or charitable organizations and the names of the organizations to which such excess moneys were contributed. The Secretary of State shall file and retain such records as public records for a period of not less than six years.