(The Center Square) – Transparency and privacy in donations to nonprofits are addressed in legislation expected to soon be on the desk of the North Carolina governor.
The Personal Privacy Protection Act, known also as Senate Bill 416, got adjustments in the Senate on Thursday and a concurrence vote from the House of Representatives later in the afternoon. Partisan votes were the norm in both chambers, and the bill – as of 4 p.m. Friday afternoon – is yet to start its 10-day action window for first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein.
The language of the bill says it “prohibits public agencies from collecting, disclosing, or releasing personal information about members, volunteers and financial and nonfinancial donors to 501(c) nonprofit organizations, except as permitted by state or federal law or regulation.”
Impact on political donations is forefront of the critics.
There is no change to campaign-finance disclosure requirements at both the state and federal level. Responses to the IRS and the North Carolina State Board of Elections are also not changed.
Supporters discount dark money concealment attempts potentially enabled by the proposal. Rather, they say political intimidation is thwarted and civil liberties prevail.
Passage in the Senate was 24-15 with no Republicans against and Democratic Sens. Gale Adcock of Wake County and Julie Mayfield of Buncombe County for it. Passage in the House was 63-46 with no Republicans against and Democratic Reps. Carla Cunningham of Mecklenburg County, Charles Smith of Cumberland County and Shelly Willingham of Edgecombe County for it.
When the bill is presented to Stein, he’ll have 10 days to sign, veto or allow to become law without his signature. Day of presentation is Day 0.
