A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to make various changes related to campaign finance laws.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 163‑278.23 reads as rewritten:
"§ 163‑278.23.  Duties of Executive Director of Board.
The Executive Director of the Board shall inspect or cause to be inspected each statement filed with the Board under this Article within 30 days after the date it is filed. The Executive Director shall advise, or cause to be advised, no more than 30 days and at least five days before each report is due, each candidate or treasurer whose organizational report has been filed, of the specific date each report is due. He shall immediately notify any individual, candidate, treasurer, political committee, referendum committee, media, or other entity that may be required to file a statement under this Article if:
(1)	It appears that the individual, candidate, treasurer, political committee, referendum committee, media, or other entity has failed to file a statement as required by law or that a statement filed does not conform to this Article; or
(2)	A written complaint is filed under oath with the Board by any registered voter of this State alleging that a statement filed with the Board does not conform to this Article or to the truth or that an individual, candidate, treasurer, political committee, referendum committee, media, or other entity has failed to file a statement required by this Article.
The entity that is the subject of the complaint will be given an opportunity to respond to the complaint before any action is taken requiring compliance.
This section applies to Articles 22B, 22D, 22E, and 22F of the General Statutes to the same extent that it applies to this Article."
SECTION 1.(b)  Article 22A of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 163.278.23A.  Advisory opinions.
(a)	At the request of any person affected by this Article, the Executive Director shall render advisory opinions on specific questions involving the meaning and application of this Article. The request shall be in writing, electronic or otherwise, and relate prospectively to real or reasonably anticipated fact settings or circumstances. On its own motion, the Executive Director may render advisory opinions on specific questions involving the meaning and application of this Article. The Executive Director shall issue advisory opinions having prospective application only. Reliance upon a requested written advisory opinion on a specific matter shall immunize the person or persons requesting the written advisory opinion, on that matter, from investigation by the State Board.
(b)	The Executive Director shall publish advisory opinions at least once a year. These advisory opinions shall be edited for publication purposes as necessary to protect the identities of the individuals requesting opinions.
(c)	Except as provided under subsection (b) of this section, requests for advisory opinions, and advisory opinions issued under this section, are confidential and not public records.
(d)	For purposes of this section, the term "Article" shall mean Articles 22A, 22B, 22D, 22E, and 22F of this Chapter.
SECTION 2.  G.S. 163‑278.22(7) reads as rewritten:
"(7)	To make investigations to the extent the Board deems necessary with respect to statements filed under the provisions of this Article and with respect to alleged failures to file any statement required under the provisions of this Article, and, upon complaint under oath by any registered voter, with respect to alleged violations of any part of this Article. Information obtained by the Board during its investigation shall be treated as confidential by the Board until a hearing is held, if any."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 163‑278.11(a) reads as rewritten:
"§ 163‑278.11.  Contents of treasurer's statement of receipts and expenditures.
(a)	Statements filed pursuant to provisions of this Article shall set forth the following:
(1)	Contributions. – Except as provided in subsection (a1) of this section, a list of all contributions received by or on behalf of a candidate, political committee, or referendum committee. The statement shall list the name and complete mailing address of each contributor, the amount contributed, the principal occupation of the contributor, and the date such contribution was received. The total sum of all contributions to date shall be plainly exhibited. Forms for required reports shall be prescribed by the Board. As used in this section, "principal occupation of the contributor" means the contributor's:
a.	Job title or profession; and
b.	Employer's name or employer's specific field of business activity.
The State Board of Elections shall prepare a schedule of specific fields of business activity, adapting or modifying as it deems suitable the business activity classifications of the Internal Revenue Code or other relevant classification schedules. In reporting a contributor's specific field of business activity, the treasurer shall use the classification schedule prepared by the State Board.
(2)	Expenditures. – A list of all expenditures required under G.S. 163‑278.8 made by or on behalf of a candidate, political committee, or referendum committee. The statement shall list the name and complete mailing address of each payee, the amount paid, the purpose, and the date such payment was made. The total sum of all expenditures to date shall be plainly exhibited. Forms for required reports shall be prescribed by the Board. In accounting for all expenditures in accordance with G.S. 163‑278.8(e) and G.S. 163‑278.8(f), the payee shall be the individual or person to whom the candidate, political committee, or referendum committee is obligated to make the expenditure. If the expenditure is to a financial institution for revolving credit or a reimbursement for a payment to a financial institution for revolving credit, the statement shall also include a specific itemization of the goods and services purchased with the revolving credit. If the obligation is for more than one good or service, the statement shall include a specific itemization of the obligation so as to provide a reasonable understanding of the obligation.
(3)	Loans. – Every candidate and treasurer shall attach to the campaign transmittal submitted with each report an addendum listing all proceeds derived from loans for funds used or to be used in this campaign. The addendum shall be in the form as prescribed by the State Board of Elections and shall list the amount of the loan, the source, the period, the rate of interest, and the security pledged, if any, and all makers and endorsers.
(4)	Unpaid obligations. – A list of financial obligations of the candidate or political committee incurred but not paid. The statement shall list the name and complete mailing address of the person to whom the obligation is owed, the amount owed, the purpose, and the date the obligation was incurred."
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.