[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 122 (Friday, June 24, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41196-41200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14877]


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FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION

11 CFR Part 111

[Docket No. 2016-04]


Civil Monetary Penalties Inflation Adjustments

AGENCY: Federal Election Commission.

ACTION: Interim final rules.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation 
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, the Federal Election 
Commission is adopting interim final rules to adjust for inflation

[[Page 41197]]

the civil monetary penalties established under the Federal Election 
Campaign Act, the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act, and the 
Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account Act. The civil monetary 
penalties being adjusted are those negotiated by the Commission or 
imposed by a court for certain statutory violations; and those imposed 
by the Commission for late filing of or failure to file certain reports 
required by the Federal Election Campaign Act. The adjusted civil 
monetary penalties are calculated according to a statutory formula and 
the adjusted amounts will apply to penalties assessed after the 
effective date of these rules.

DATES: The interim final rules are effective on August 1, 2016. 
Comments must be submitted on or before July 25, 2016.

ADDRESSES: All comments must be in writing. Commenters are encouraged 
to submit comments electronically via the Commission's Web site at 
http://www.fec.gov/fosers, reference REG 2016-02, or by email to 
[email protected]. Alternatively, commenters may submit 
comments in paper form, addressed to the Federal Election Commission, 
Attn.: Neven F. Stipanovic, Acting Assistant General Counsel, 999 E 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20463.
    Each commenter must provide, at a minimum, his or her first name, 
last name, city, state, and zip code. All properly submitted comments, 
including attachments, will become part of the public record, and the 
Commission will make comments available for public viewing on the 
Commission's Web site and in the Commission's Public Records Office. 
Accordingly, commenters should not provide in their comments any 
information that they do not wish to make public, such as a home street 
address, personal email address, date of birth, phone number, social 
security number, or driver's license number, or any information that is 
restricted from disclosure, such as trade secrets or commercial or 
financial information that is privileged or confidential.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Neven F. Stipanovic, Acting 
Assistant General Counsel, or Ms. Esther D. Gyory, Attorney, Office of 
General Counsel, 999 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20463, (202) 694-1650 
or (800) 424-9530.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation 
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (the ``2015 Act'') \1\ amended 
the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (the 
``Inflation Adjustment Act'') \2\ to improve the effectiveness of civil 
monetary penalties and to maintain their deterrent effect. Prior to the 
2015 Act, the Inflation Adjustment Act required federal agencies, 
including the Commission, to adjust for inflation the civil monetary 
penalties within their jurisdiction at least once every four years 
according to detailed formulas. The Commission last adjusted its civil 
monetary penalties for inflation in 2013. Civil Monetary Penalties 
Inflation Adjustments, 78 FR 44419 (July 24, 2013). As amended by the 
2015 Act, the Inflation Adjustment Act now requires federal agencies to 
make a one-time ``catch-up'' adjustment to civil monetary penalties, 
which must take effect no later than August 1, 2016, and to adjust 
civil monetary penalties annually thereafter using newly prescribed 
formulas.\3\
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    \1\ Public Law 114-74, sec. 701, 129 Stat. 584, 599.
    \2\ Public Law 101-410, 104 Stat. 890 (codified at 28 U.S.C. 
2461 note), as amended by Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, 
Public Law 104-134, sec. 31001(s)(1), 110 Stat. 1321, 1373; Federal 
Reports Elimination Act of 1998, Public Law 105-362, sec. 1301, 112 
Stat. 3280.
    \3\ Inflation Adjustment Act secs. 4(b), 5.
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    The Inflation Adjustment Act defines a civil monetary penalty as 
``any penalty, fine, or other sanction'' that (1) ``is for a specific 
amount'' or ``has a maximum amount'' under federal law; and (2) that a 
federal agency assesses or enforces ``pursuant to an administrative 
proceeding or a civil action'' in federal court.\4\ Under the Federal 
Election Campaign Act, 52 U.S.C. 30101-46 (``FECA''), the Commission 
may assess and enforce civil monetary penalties for violations of FECA, 
the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act, 26 U.S.C. 9001-13, and the 
Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account Act, 26 U.S.C. 9031-42. 
As required by the Inflation Adjustment Act, and pursuant to guidance 
issued by the Office of Management and Budget,\5\ the Commission is now 
making a one-time catch-up adjustment to the civil monetary penalties 
within its jurisdiction, according to the prescribed formulas. The 
Commission will implement annual inflation adjustments beginning in 
January 2017.
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    \4\ Inflation Adjustment Act sec. 3(2).
    \5\ See Inflation Adjustment Act sec. 7(a) (requiring OMB to 
``issue guidance to agencies on implementing the inflation 
adjustments required under this Act''); see also Memorandum from 
Shaun Donovan, Director, Office of Management and Budget, to Heads 
of Executive Departments and Agencies, M-16-06 at 3 (Feb. 24, 2016) 
(``OMB Memorandum''), https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/memoranda/2016/m-16-06.pdf.
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Administrative Procedure Act

    As required by the 2015 Act, the Commission is issuing these rules 
as interim final rules. The interim final rules will take effect on 
August 1, 2016, the date by which Congress mandated that agencies make 
their catch-up adjustment effective.
    The Administrative Procedure Act's (``APA's'') notice-and-comment 
requirement does not apply here because Congress specifically directed 
agencies to make adjustments to civil monetary penalties through an 
interim final rule.\6\ Nonetheless, the public may comment on these 
interim final rules, and the Commission may address any comments 
received in a later rulemaking document. Furthermore, because the 
inflation adjustments made through the interim final rules are required 
by Congress and involve no Commission discretion or policy judgments, 
these rules do not need to be submitted to the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives or the President of the Senate under the Congressional 
Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq. Moreover, because the APA's notice-
and-comment procedures do not apply to these interim final rules, the 
Commission is not required to conduct a regulatory flexibility analysis 
under 5 U.S.C. 603 or 604. See 5 U.S.C. 601(2), 604(a). Nor is the 
Commission required to submit these revisions for congressional review 
under FECA. See 5 U.S.C. 30111(d)(1), (4) (providing for congressional 
review when Commission ``prescribe[s]'' a ``rule of law''). The new 
penalty amounts will apply to civil monetary penalties that are 
assessed after the date the increase takes effect, even if the 
associated violation predated the increase.\7\
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    \6\ See, e.g., Asiana Airlines v. FAA, 134 F.3d 393, 396-99 
(D.C. Cir. 1998) (finding APA ``notice and comment'' requirement not 
applicable where Congress clearly expressed intent to depart from 
normal APA procedures); see also Inflation Adjustment Act sec. 4(a), 
(b)(1) (requiring federal agencies to adjust civil monetary 
penalties ``through an interim final rulemaking'').
    \7\ Inflation Adjustment Act sec. 6.
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Explanation and Justification

    Under the Inflation Adjustment Act, the Commission now must adjust 
each civil monetary penalty for inflation by applying a cost-of-living-
adjustment (``COLA'') ratio. The COLA ratio is the percentage that the 
consumer price index (``CPI'') \8\ for October 2015 exceeds the CPI for 
October of the ``baseline year,'' which is the calendar year when the 
civil monetary penalty

[[Page 41198]]

was first established, or when it was most recently adjusted under a 
provision of law other than the Inflation Adjustment Act.\9\ To 
calculate the adjusted penalty, the Commission must multiply the civil 
monetary penalty amount in the baseline year by the COLA ratio.\10\ The 
civil monetary penalty, however, may not be increased by more than 150% 
of the civil monetary penalty amount in effect on November 2, 2015.\11\
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    \8\ The Inflation Adjustment Act uses the CPI ``for all-urban 
consumers published by the Department of Labor.'' Id. sec. 3.
    \9\ Id. sec. 5(b)(2)(A).
    \10\ Id. sec. 5(b)(2)(B).
    \11\ Id. sec. 5(b)(2)(C).
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    The Commission assesses two types of civil monetary penalties that 
now must be adjusted for inflation. First are those penalties that are 
either negotiated by the Commission or imposed by a court for 
violations of FECA, the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act, and 
the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account Act. These civil 
monetary penalties are set forth at 11 CFR 111.24. Second are the civil 
monetary penalties assessed through the Commission's Administrative 
Fines Program for late filing or non-filing of certain reports required 
by FECA. See 52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(4)(C) (authorizing Administrative Fines 
Program), 30104(a) (requiring political committee treasurers to report 
receipts and disbursements within certain time periods). The penalty 
schedules for these civil monetary penalties are set out at 11 CFR 
111.43 and 111.44.

1. 11 CFR 111.24--Civil Penalties

    FECA established the civil monetary penalties for violations of 
FECA and the other statutes within the Commission's jurisdiction. See 
52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(5), (6), (12). Commission regulations in 11 CFR 
111.24 provide the current inflation-adjusted amount for each such 
civil monetary penalty. To calculate the catch-up adjustment for each 
of the five civil monetary penalties in 11 CFR 111.24, the Commission 
must first identify the later of: The year the civil monetary penalty 
was first established, or the year it was last adjusted by law other 
than under the Inflation Adjustment Act. The Commission then must apply 
the COLA ratio to the amount of the civil monetary penalty in effect in 
the baseline year.\12\
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    \12\ The COLA ratios are provided in the OMB Memorandum, M-16-06 
at 6.
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    The civil monetary penalties at 11 CFR 111.24(a)(1) and 11 CFR 
24(a)(2)(i) were established by statute in 1976.\13\ The civil monetary 
penalty at 11 CFR 111.24(a)(2)(ii) was established in 2002.\14\ The 
civil monetary penalties at 11 CFR 111.24(b) were established in 
1980.\15\ None of these penalties has been adjusted since its 
establishment, other than for inflation. Accordingly, as described 
above, the Commission determines the adjusted penalty amount by 
multiplying the amount of the penalty in the baseline year by the COLA 
ratio for that year and rounding that figure to the nearest dollar. But 
the Commission may not increase the civil monetary penalty amount by 
more than 150% of the amount that was in effect for that civil monetary 
penalty on November 2, 2015. Thus, for example, in section 
111.24(a)(1), the 2015 civil monetary penalty amount was $7,500. The 
maximum the new civil monetary penalty can increase by is 150% of that 
amount, which would be an increase of $11,250, for a maximum penalty of 
$18,750. Because applying the COLA ratio to the originally established 
penalty amount would lead to an adjusted penalty of approximately 
$20,500, which exceeds the 150% cap amount, the new civil monetary 
penalty for section 111.24(a)(1) is $18,750. The actual adjustment to 
each civil monetary penalty is shown in the chart below.
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    \13\ Public Law 94-283, sec. 109, 90 Stat. 475 (codified at 52 
U.S.C. 30109(a)(5)(A)-(B)); see also Civil Monetary Penalties 
Inflation Adjustments, 78 FR 44419 (July 24, 2013) (``2013 
Adjustment); Civil Monetary Penalties Inflation Adjustments, 74 FR 
31345, 31346 (July 1, 2009), amended by Civil Monetary Penalties 
Inflation Adjustments, 74 FR 37161 (July 28, 2009) (collectively, 
``2009 Adjustment''); Inflation Adjustments for Civil Monetary 
Penalties, 70 FR 34633, 34634 (June 15, 2005) (``2005 Adjustment''); 
Adjustments to Civil Monetary Penalty Amounts, 62 FR 11316 (Mar. 12, 
1997) (``1997 Adjustment'').
    \14\ Public Law 107-155, sec. 312(a), 116 Stat. 81 (codified at 
52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(5)(B)); see also 2013 Adjustment, 78 FR at 44420; 
2009 Adjustment, 74 FR at 31346, 74 FR 37161; 2005 Adjustment, 70 FR 
at 34634.
    \15\ Public Law 96-187, sec. 108, 93 Stat. 1339 (codified at 52 
U.S.C. 30109(a)(12)); see also 2013 Adjustment, 78 FR at 44420; 2009 
Adjustment, 74 FR at 31346, 74 FR 37161; 2005 Adjustment, 70 FR at 
34635; 1997 Adjustment, 62 FR at 11316-17.

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                                                                          Civil                     Adjusted
                        Section                           Baseline     penalty in    COLA Ratio      penalty    2015 Penalty    150% Cap     New  civil
                                                            year        year est.       \16\        (rounded)       amt.        (rounded)      penalty
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11 CFR 111.24(a)(1)...................................          1976        $5,000       4.10774       $20,539        $7,500       $18,750       $18,750
11 CFR 111.24(a)(2)(i)................................          1976        10,000       4.10774        41,077        16,000        40,000        40,000
11 CFR 111.24(a)(2)(ii)...............................          2002        50,000       1.31185        65,593        65,000       162,500        65,593
11 CFR 111.24(b)......................................          1980         2,000       2.80469         5,609         3,200         8,000         5,609
11 CFR 111.24(b)......................................          1980         5,000       2.80469        14,023         7,500        18,750        14,023
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2. 11 CFR 111.43, 111.44--Administrative Fines
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    \16\ OMB Memorandum, Table A.
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    FECA authorizes the Commission to assess civil monetary penalties 
for violations of the reporting requirements of 52 U.S.C. 30104(a) 
according to the penalty schedules ``established and published by the 
Commission.'' 52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(4)(C)(i). The Commission has 
established two such schedules: The schedule in 11 CFR 111.43(a) 
applies to reports that are not election sensitive, and the schedule in 
11 CFR 111.43(b) applies to reports that are election sensitive.\17\ 
Each schedule contains two columns of penalties, one for late-filed 
reports and one for non-filed reports, with penalties based on the 
level of financial activity in the report and its lateness (where 
applicable).\18\ In addition, 11 CFR 111.43(c) establishes a civil 
monetary penalty for situations in which a committee fails to file a 
report and the Commission cannot calculate the relevant level of 
activity. Finally, 11 CFR 111.44 establishes a civil monetary penalty 
for failure to file timely reports of contributions received less than 
20 days, but more than 48 hours, before an election. See 52 U.S.C. 
30104(a)(6).
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    \17\ Election sensitive reports are certain reports due shortly 
before an election. See 11 CFR 111.43(d)(1).
    \18\ A report is considered to be ``not filed'' if it is never 
filed or is filed more than a certain number of days after its due 
date. See 11 CFR 111.43(e).
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    The Commission established the penalty schedules in 11 CFR 
111.43(a) and (b) in 2000, when the Commission promulgated its 
Administrative Fines program. Administrative Fines, 65 FR 31787, 31796-
97 (May 19, 2000) (``2000 Administrative Fines''). In 2003, the 
Commission adjusted these schedules to reduce certain penalties for 
political committees with low levels of financial activity. 
Administrative Fines, 68 FR 12572, 12573 (Mar. 17, 2003) (``2003 
Administrative Fines'') (establishing

[[Page 41199]]

``new schedules that reduce civil money penalties for . . . committees 
with less than $50,000 in activity''). Other than for inflation, these 
penalty schedules have not been adjusted since 2003.\19\ The civil 
monetary penalties in 11 CFR 111.43(c) and 111.44 were established in 
2000 and, except for inflation, have not been adjusted since.\20\
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    \19\ See 2013 Adjustment, 78 FR at 44420; 2009 Adjustment, 74 FR 
at 31346-47; 2005 Adjustment, 70 FR at 34635.
    \20\ 2000 Administrative Fines, 65 FR at 31797-98; see also 2013 
Adjustment, 78 FR at 44420; 2009 Adjustment, 74 FR at 31347; 2005 
Adjustment, 70 FR at 34635.
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    As described above, to determine the adjusted penalty amount, the 
Commission first multiplies the amount of the penalty in the baseline 
year by the COLA ratio for that year and rounds that figure to the 
nearest dollar. For certain penalties assessed at low levels of 
financial activity (up to $49,999.99) the baseline year is 2003. 2003 
Administrative Fines, 68 FR at 12573-75. For all other penalties, the 
baseline year is 2000. 2000 Administrative Fines, 65 FR at 31792-98. 
The adjusted civil monetary penalty for each level of activity is the 
baseline year penalty amount multiplied by the COLA ratio that is 
provided in the OMB Memorandum. None of these adjusted civil monetary 
penalties exceeds the 150% cap. The new civil monetary penalties are 
shown in the schedules in the revised rule text, below.

List of Subjects in 11 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedures, Elections, Law enforcement, 
Penalties.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Federal Election 
Commission amends subchapter A of chapter I of title 11 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 111--COMPLIANCE PROCEDURE (52 U.S.C. 30109, 30107(a))

0
1. The authority citation for part 111 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 52 U.S.C. 30102(i), 30109, 30107(a), 30111(a)(8); 28 
U.S.C. 2461 nt.; 31 U.S.C. 3701, 3711, 3716-3719, and 3820A, as 
amended; 31 CFR parts 285 and 900-904.


Sec.  111.24  [Amended]

0
2. Section 111.24 is amended as follows:
    In the table below, for each section indicated in the left column, 
remove the number indicated in the middle column, and add in its place 
the number indicated in the right column.

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                       Section                         Remove      Add
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111.24(a)(1)........................................    $7,500   $18,750
111.24(a)(2)(i).....................................    16,000    40,000
111.24(a)(2)(ii)....................................    65,000    65,593
111.24(b)...........................................     3,200     5,609
111.24(b)...........................................     7,500    14,023
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0
3. Section 111.43 is amended by revising paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  111.43  What are the schedules of penalties?

    (a) The civil money penalty for all reports that are filed late or 
not filed, except election sensitive reports and pre-election reports 
under 11 CFR 104.5, shall be calculated in accordance with the 
following schedule of penalties:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  If the level of activity in the     And the report was filed late, the      Or the report was not filed, the
            report was:                    civil money penalty is:                civil money penalty is:
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$1-4,999.99 \ a\..................  [$32 + ($6 x Number of days late)] x   $321 x [1 + (.25 x Number of previous
                                     [1 + (.25 x Number of previous         violations)].
                                     violations)].
$5,000-9,999.99...................  [$64 + ($6 x Number of days late)] x   $386 x [1 + (.25 x Number of previous
                                     [1 + (.25 x Number of previous         violations)].
                                     violations)].
$10,000-24,999.99.................  [$137 + ($6 x Number of days late)] x  $643 x [1 + (.25 x Number of previous
                                     [1 + (.25 x Number of previous         violations)].
                                     violations)].
$25,000-49,999.99.................  [$273 + ($26 x Number of days late)]   $1,157 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     x [1 + (.25 x Number of previous       previous violations)].
                                     violations)].
$50,000-74,999.99.................  [$410 + ($103 x Number of days late)]  $3,691 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     x [1 + (.25 x Number of previous       previous violations)].
                                     violations)].
$75,000-99,999.99.................  [$547 + ($137 x Number of days late)]  $4,784 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     x [1 + (.25 x Number of previous       previous violations)].
                                     violations)].
$100,000-149,999.99...............  [$820 + ($171 x Number of days late)]  $6,151 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     x [1 + (.25 x Number of previous       previous violations)].
                                     violations)].
$150,000-199,999.99...............  [$1,094 + ($205 x Number of days       $7,518 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
$200,000-249,999.99...............  [$1,367 + ($239 x Number of days       $8,885 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
$250,000-349,999.99...............  [$2,050 + ($273 x Number of days       $10,935 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
$350,000-449,999.99...............  [$2,734 + ($273 x Number of days       $12,302 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
$450,000-549,999.99...............  [$3,417 + ($273 x Number of days       $12,985 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
$550,000-649,999.99...............  [$4,101 + ($273 x Number of days       $13,669 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
$650,000-749,999.99...............  [$4,784 + ($273 x Number of days       $14,352 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
$750,000-849,999.99...............  [$5,468 + ($273 x Number of days       $15,036 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
$850,000-949,999.99...............  [$6,151 + ($273 x Number of days       $15,719 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
$950,000 or over..................  [$6,834 + ($273 x Number of days       $16,403 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
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\a\ The civil money penalty for a respondent who does not have any previous violations will not exceed the level
  of activity in the report.


[[Page 41200]]

    (b) The civil money penalty for election sensitive reports that are 
filed late or not filed shall be calculated in accordance with the 
following schedule of penalties:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  If the level of activity in the     And the report was filed late, the      Or the report was not filed, the
            report was:                    civil money penalty is:                civil money penalty is:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1-$4,999.99 \a\..................  [$64 + ($13 x Number of days late)] x  $643 x [1 + (.25 x Number of previous
                                     [1 + (.25 x Number of previous         violations)].
                                     violations)].
$5,000-$9,999.99..................  [$129 + ($13 x Number of days late)]   $771 x [1 + (.25 x Number of previous
                                     x [1 + (.25 x Number of previous       violations)].
                                     violations)].
$10,000-24,999.99.................  [$193 + ($13 x Number of days late)]   $1,157 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     x [1 + (.25 x Number of previous       previous violations)].
                                     violations)].
$25,000-49,999.99.................  [$410 + ($32 x Number of days late)]   $1,800 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     x [1 + (.25 x Number of previous       previous violations)].
                                     violations)].
$50,000-74,999.99.................  [$615 + ($103 x Number of days late)]  $4,101 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     x [1 + (.25 x Number of previous       previous violations)].
                                     violations)].
$75,000-99,999.99.................  [$820 + ($137 x Number of days late)]  $5,468 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     x [1 + (.25 x Number of previous       previous violations)].
                                     violations)].
$100,000-149,999.99...............  [$1,230 + ($171 x Number of days       $6,834 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
$150,000-199,999.99...............  [$1,640 + ($205 x Number of days       $8,201 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
$200,000-249,999.99...............  [$2,050 + ($239 x Number of days       $10,252 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
$250,000-349,999.99...............  [$3,076 + ($273 x Number of days       $12,302 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
$350,000-449,999.99...............  [$4,101+ ($273 x Number of days        $13,669 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
$450,000-549,999.99...............  [$5,126 + ($273 x Number of days       $15,036 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
$550,000-649,999.99...............  [$6,151 + ($273 x Number of days       $16,403 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
$650,000-749,999.99...............  [$7,176 + ($273 x Number of days       $17,770 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
$750,000-849,999.99...............  [$8,201 + ($273 x Number of days       $19,136 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
$850,000-949,999.99...............  [$9,227 + ($273 x Number of days       $20,503 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
$950,000 or over..................  [$10,252 + ($273 x Number of days      $21,870 x [1 + (.25 x Number of
                                     late)] x [1 + (.25 x Number of         previous violations)].
                                     previous violations)].
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\a\ The civil money penalty for a respondent who does not have any previous violations will not exceed the level
  of activity in the report.

    (c) If the respondent fails to file a required report and the 
Commission cannot calculate the level of activity under paragraph (d) 
of this section, then the civil money penalty shall be $7,518.
* * * * *


Sec.  111.44  [Amended]

0
4. In Sec.  111.44, paragraph (a)(1) is amended by removing ``$110'' 
and adding in its place ``$137''.

    Dated: June 16, 2016.

    On behalf of the Commission.
Matthew S. Petersen,
Chairman, Federal Election Commission.
[FR Doc. 2016-14877 Filed 6-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6715-01-P