“Hybrid” Political Committees (GPAC/SPAC)
A political committee (either a GPAC or SPAC) is permitted to accept political contributions from corporations or labor organizations and use them to make direct campaign expenditures in connection with a campaign for elective office if it files certain forms as required by state law. Before making such expenditures, the committee must include in its campaign treasurer appointment an affidavit, containing specific language. The affidavit must state that:
- The committee is not established or controlled by a candidate or an officeholder; and
- The committee will not use any political contribution from a corporation or a labor organization to make a political contribution to:
- a candidate for elective office;
- an officeholder; or
- a political committee that has not filed an affidavit stating the same.
This affidavit is included in the Commission’s campaign treasurer appointment forms (Form GTA for general-purpose committees and Form STA for specific-purpose committees) and amendments to those forms (Form AGTA and Form ASTA).
This affidavit is also required for any political committee that wishes to use political contributions from corporations or labor organizations to make direct campaign expenditures in connection with a campaign for elective office, including, if applicable, a Direct Campaign Expenditure-Only Committee.
For additional information regarding the different types of political committees and their filing requirements, please see the Campaign Finance Guide for Political Committees.DCE (Direct Campaign Expenditure) Only Committee
A political committee that intends to act exclusively as a Direct Campaign Expenditure Only Committee (DCE Only Committee) must file with the Ethics Commission an affidavit that contains the language required by section 253.105 of the Election Code [provide link to statute] before accepting a political contribution from a corporation or labor organization. A committee may create and file its own affidavit with the required language or it may request an affidavit from the Commission. These committees are commonly referred to as “Super PACs.”
This filer type uses general purpose committee forms or specific purpose committee forms forms.