Permanent Committee (PAC)

Political Advertising is any advertisement advocating the election or defeat of any candidate, political party, or public issue. For example, Political Advertising would NOT include the announcement of a fish fry sponsored by a political organization unless the advertisement stated that the fish fry endorses a candidate.​

A PAC is a Political Action Committee, also referred to as a Permanent Committee under Kentucky law. These committees are made up of a group of people sharing a common interest and supporting those interests by advocating the election or defeat of candidates, slates of candidates, or political parties. A PAC may contribute up to $2,100 per election to any candidate.

PACs may contribute up to $2,100 to any candidate or slate of candidates per election. This means that the PAC may contribute $2,100 in a primary and, if the candidate or slate wins the primary, the PAC may contribute $2,100 in the general election. PACs may contribute up to $2,100 per year in the aggregate to non-affiliated PACs. For example, if a PAC contributed $2,100 on January 1 of any year to another PAC, it could not make any more contributions to other PACs until January 1 of the next year. PACs may contribute up to $5,000 per year in the aggregate to a political party executive committee. This includes state and county executive committees. Because state and county executive committees are affiliated, if a contribution of $5,000 is made to a state party committee, the PAC could make no contributions to any of the county executive committees of that party in the same calendar year. PACs may contribute up to $5,000 per year in the aggregate to a caucus campaign committee. There are four caucus campaign committees. Because they are not affiliated, each caucus campaign committee may receive $5,000 per year.

Yes, a Permanent Committee may change its name. To do this, the Permanent Committee must update its Political Organization Registration form with its new name, address, name of the sponsor, the major business, social or political interests, and the name of the depository bank or financial institution. This form must be signed and dated by the chairman and the treasurer. The Permanent Committee’s filer number and all financial information will stay the same.

PACs are considered affiliated based on the organization’s bylaw structure or by declaration on the PAC’s registration form. The Registry may examine the relationship between organizations to determine whether the committees are affiliated for purposes of contribution limitations. When making contributions to candidates, affiliated organizations are considered to be one (1) contributor and they are held jointly to the $2,100 contribution limit. (Example: if a state PAC made a $2,100 contribution to a candidate, the affiliated Federal PAC could not make a contribution to that candidate in that election). There are no contributions limits between affiliated PACs. The committees may transfer unlimited amounts between themselves.

No. PACs may not accept contributions from partnerships, LLCs, or LLPs.  Under Kentucky’s campaign finance law, “corporation” means any corporation, company, partnership, joint stock company, or association.  Since corporations are prohibited from making contributions directly to candidates, slates of candidates, or committees, a PAC is not permitted to accept contributions directly from a partnership.   A partnership may, however, sponsor and administer a state PAC, and pay the state PAC’s administrative expenses from its own funds.

Permanent Committees may contribute up to $2,100 to any candidate or slate of candidates per election. This means the Permanent Committee may contribute $2,100 in a primary and, if the candidate or slate wins the primary, the Permanent Committee may contribute $2,100 in the general election.

When making a contribution to candidates, affiliated organizations are considered to be one (1) contributor and they are held jointly to the $2,100 contribution limit. (Example: if a state PAC made a $2,100 contribution to a candidate, the affiliated Federal PAC could not make a contribution to that candidate in that election.)

An in-kind contribution is goods, advertising or services furnished by a PAC without charge or at a rate which is less than the rate normally charged for the goods or services. The campaign is responsible for reporting in-kind contributions on its election finance statement. An independent expenditure is the expenditure of money or other thing of value to promote a candidate, slate of candidates or committee without the campaign or any authorized person acting on behalf of the campaign having any prior knowledge of the activity. There is no limit on independent expenditures; however, an “Independent Expenditure Report” must be completed and forwarded to the Registry when the aggregate amount of the independent expenditure exceeds $500. The candidates, slate of candidates or committee are not responsible for reporting the independent expenditure on the election finance statement.

The Registry assigns a number to a candidate for each election. This number will be assigned each time the candidate notifies the Registry of his or her intent to run for office. (The Primary and General are separate elections.)