Inaugural Committee

An Inaugural committee means one (1) or more persons who receive contributions and make expenditures in support of inauguration activities for any candidates  or slate of candidates elected to any state, county, city, or district office.  The committee is then responsible for submitting Election Finance Reports as required by KRS 121.180(6)(d).

Any committee which is organized under KRS Chapter 121 shall register with the Registry, by filing official notice of intention at the time of organization, giving names, address, and positions of the officers of the organization and designating the candidate or candidates, or slate of candidates being supported on forms prescribed by the Registry(KRS 121.170 (1)).  This may be accomplished by notifying the Registry that you wish to establish an inaugural committee.  The Registry will then provide form KREF 010 (Rev 06/2011) for the committees completion.

A contribution is defined in KRS 121.015(6) as any:  Payment, distribution, loan, deposit, or gift of money or any other thing of value, given to a committee;

A contribution does not include services provided without compensation by individuals volunteering a portion or all of their time on behalf of a committee;

No. According to KRS 121.150(18), no committee, except a political issues committee, nor anyone on their behalf, shall knowingly accept a contribution from a corporation, directly or indirectly, except to the extent that the contribution is designated to a state executive committee's building fund account.

Yes, subject to limitations. According to KRS 121.150(3), no committee shall accept any anonymous contribution in excess of $100.  If an anonymous contribution in excess of $100 is received, the excess must be returned to the donor, if the contributor can be traced.  If the donor cannot be determined, the excess contribution shall escheat to the state for deposit in the election campaign fund.  No committee may accept total anonymous contributions in excess of $2,000 per election.  Any anonymous contributions in excess of the aggregate limit must escheat to the state and be deposited into the election campaign fund.

Duties of a Campaign Treasurer 121.160 (2) and Reports required of committees and treasurers 121.180 (6)(a)(b)(c)(d)A committees treasurer shall designate a depository bank in which the primary account shall be maintained and deposit all contributions in that account.  Keep detailed and exact accounts of: (1) all contributions from permanent committees, (2) all contributions in excess of $100 by date, name, address, occupation and employer of each contributor, if committee is the sponsor of a statewide candidate it must also include the contributors spouse name, occupation and employer,
(3) an aggregate amount of cash contributions, the amount contributed by each contributor, and the date of each contribution; and (4) a complete statement of all expenditures authorized, and incurred or made, including An independent expenditures as defined in KRS 121.150 (1).  See also KRS 121.170(3)

An Expenditure is a disbursement or an amount paid by the committee by Check 121.160(2)(c)  All expenditures must be made from the inaugural committee's account.   Each expenditure must be recorded to reflect the date, purpose, and amount.  Accurate records must be kept and expenditures in excess of $25 must  be made by check. Expenditures of $25 or more must be itemized to reflect the name, address and occupation of the person to whom the expenditure was paid, as well as the date and purpose of each expenditure.

KRS 121.160(2)(d) The committee's treasurer must retain all receipted bills and records for six (6) years from the date the last report is filed.