§ 11-17. Distribution of public contribution.

(a) In general.

Only after consulting with the Commission, the Director must distribute a public contribution from the Fund to each certified candidate in a contested election only during the distribution period as follows:

(1) for a certified candidate for either Mayor, Council President, or Comptroller, the matching dollars must equal:

(i) $9 for each dollar of a qualifying contribution received for the first $25 of each qualifying contribution;

(ii) $5 for each dollar of a qualifying contribution received for the next $50 of each qualifying contribution; and

(iii) $2 for each dollar of a qualifying contribution received for the final $75 of each qualifying contribution.

(2) for a certified candidate for City Councilmember, the matching dollars must equal:

(i) $9 for each dollar of a qualifying contribution received for the first $25 of each qualifying contribution;

(ii) $5 for each dollar of a qualifying contribution received for the next $50 of each qualifying contribution; and

(iii) $0 for each dollar of a qualifying contribution received for the final $75 of each qualifying contribution.

(b) Qualifying boost.

(1) In general.

In addition to any public contributions made under subsection (a)(1) of this section, within 5 days of certification, the Director must disburse from the Fund a qualifying boost of:

(i) $200,000 for a candidate for Mayor; and

(ii) $50,000 for a candidate for Council President or a candidate for Comptroller.

(2) Multiple boosts prohibited.

A candidate may not receive more than 1 qualifying boost during an election cycle.

(1) In general.

Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the total public contribution payable to a certified candidate for either a primary or a general election may not exceed:

(i) $1,500,000 for a candidate for Mayor;

(ii) $375,000 for a candidate for Council President;

(iii) $200,000 for a candidate for Comptroller; and

(iv) $125,000 for a candidate for City Councilmember.

(2) Exclusion.

The limits specified in this subsection do not include the qualifying boost received by a candidate for Mayor or Council President.

(d) Prohibited public contributions.

The Director may not distribute a public contribution based on:

(1) a contribution or loan from the candidate or the candidate's spouse; or

(2) an in-kind contribution of property, goods, or services.

(e) Fund insufficiency.

(1) On or before July 1 of each year preceding a primary election, the Director must determine if the amount in the Fund is sufficient to meet the maximum public contributions and qualifying boosts reasonably expected to be required during the next election cycle.

(2) If the Director determines that the total amount available for distribution in the Fund is insufficient to meet the allocations required by this section, the Director must reduce each public contribution and qualifying boost to a certified candidate by the same percentage of the total public contribution.

(f) Disbursements after the primary election.

Within 3 business days of the primary election, the Director must continue to disburse the appropriate public contribution for the general election to each participating candidate.

(g) Return of unspent funds.

(1) Primary election candidates.

Within 30 days of the certification by the City Board of the results of the primary election, a participating candidate who is not certified to be on the ballot for the general election must return to the Fund any unspent money in the candidate's publicly funded campaign account.

(2) General election candidates.

On or before December 31 after the general election, a participating candidate must return to the Fund any unspent money in the candidate's publicly funded campaign account.

(h) Petition-nominated and non-principal political party candidates.

(1) In this subsection, "principal political party" has the meaning stated in State Election Law Article, § 1-101 {"Definitions: Principal political parties"}.

(2) A certified candidate nominated by petition or by a party that is not a principal political party may receive a public contribution for the general election if the candidate's nomination is certified by the City Board.

(3) A certified candidate under this subsection must qualify as a certified candidate at least 45 days before the date of the general election.