§ 11-15. Requirements for certification.

(a) Application.

(1) A candidate must apply to the State Board for certification during the qualifying period in the form that the State Board requires.

(2) An applicant candidate must include with the application any documentation required by the State or, in the absence of State requirements, the following:

(i) a declaration from the applicant candidate to follow the requirements governing the use of a public contribution;

(ii) a campaign finance report that contains the information that the State Board requires for a campaign finance report and that includes:

(A) a list of each qualifying contribution received;

(B) a list of each expenditure made by the candidate during the qualifying period;

(C) a copy of the receipt associated with each contribution that identifies the contributor's name and residential address; and

(D) a copy of the receipt associated with each expenditure; and

(iii) a certificate of candidacy for Mayor, Council President, Comptroller, or City Councilmember.

(b) Qualifications.

To qualify as a certified candidate:

(1) a candidate for Mayor must collect at least:

(i) 500 qualifying contributions; and

(ii) an aggregate total of $40,000;

(2) a candidate for Council President must collect at least:

(i) 250 qualifying contributions; and

(ii) an aggregate total of $15,000;

(3) a candidate for Comptroller must collect at least:

(i) 250 qualifying contributions; and

(ii) an aggregate total of $15,000; and

(4) a candidate for City Councilmember must collect at least:

(i) 150 qualifying contributions; and

(ii) an aggregate total of $5,000.

(1) An applicant candidate must deposit all contributions into the candidate's publicly funded campaign account.

(2) An applicant candidate must deliver to the State Board a copy of a receipt for each qualifying contribution that identifies the contributor's name and residential address that is signed by the contributor directly or by a digital signature using a method approved by the State Board.

(d) Ineligibility.

An applicant candidate is ineligible for certification if the State Board, in consultation with the Commission, has determined that the applicant candidate has:

(1) failed to submit a campaign finance report in the 4 years preceding the election cycle;

(2) coordinated with a political action committee; or

(3) violated any rule or regulation adopted under this subtitle.