Sec. 33.13.16.03. Non-Contribution Disbursements

A. Requirements. The costs in §B of this regulation will not be considered a contribution by a business entity to a political action committee that it has established and:

(1) Only solicits contributions from the employees of the business entity; or

(2) Participates in a payroll deduction program established by the business entity.

B. Disbursements. The following costs by a business entity not considered a contribution to a political action committee it has established:

(1) The cost of establishing or modifying the payroll program to permit the business entity to offer its employees the option of making contributions by payroll deduction;

(2) Providing information or written materials regarding how to participate in the payroll deduction program to the employees of the business entity;

(3) The cost of compliance training for employees who volunteer to contact other employees to explain the political purpose and operation of the political committee established by the business entity and the employee’s right to refuse to participate without reprisal;

(4) The costs associated with soliciting employees to participate in the payroll deduction program including:

(a) The use of office space in the business entity; or

(b) Personnel of the business entity; or

(5) The cost of legal services concerning the requirements of Election Law Article, Title 13, Annotated Code of Maryland.

C. Restrictions. A solicitation permitted under §B of this regulation by a business entity shall be limited to:

(1) Current or active employees, not spouses of the employees or retirees;

(2) Appeals for voluntary contributions without promise of reimbursement, reward, or other inducement from the business entity or labor organization in exchange for the employee’s participation; and

(3) Without actual or threatened penalty, coercion, discrimination, or other reprisal for the employee’s non-participation.