report. In such cases, the audit report will indicate that certain other matters have been referred to the Commission's Office of General Counsel. (3) The Commission will provide the candidate and the committee with copies of the agenda document containing those portions of the final audit report to be considered in open session 24 hours prior to releasing the agenda document to the public. The Commission will also provide the candidate and committee with copies of the final audit report 24 hours before releasing the report to the public.

(4) Addenda to the audit report may be issued from time to time as circumstances warrant and as additional information becomes available. Such addenda may be based, in part, on follow-up fieldwork conducted under 11 CFR 9038.1(b)(3), and will be placed on the public record.

(a) General. (1) A candidate who has received payments from the matching payment account shall pay the United States Treasury any amounts which the Commission determines to be repayable under this section. In making repayment determinations under this section, the Commission may utilize information obtained from audits and examinations conducted pursuant to 11 CFR 9038.1 and Part 9039 or otherwise obtained by the Commission in carrying out its responsibilities under this subchapter.

(2) The Commission will notify the candidate of any repayment determinations made under this section as soon as possible, but not later than 3 years after the end of the matching payment period.

(3) Once the candidate receives notice of the Commission's final repayment determination under this section, the candidate should give preference to the repayment over all other outstanding obligations of his or her committee, except for any federal taxes owed by the committee.

(b) Bases for repayment-(1) Payments in excess of candidate's entitlement. The Commission may determine that certain portions of the payments made to a candidate from the matching payment account were

in excess of the aggregate amount of payments to which such candidate was entitled. Examples of such excessive payments include, but are not limited to, the following:

(i) Payments made to the candidate after the candidate's date of ineligibility where it is later determined that the candidate had no net outstanding campaign obligations as defined in 11 CFR 9034.5;

(ii) Payments or portions of payments made to the candidate which are later determined to have been excessive due to the operation of the Commission's expedited payment procedures as set forth in the Federal Election Commission's Guideline For Presentation In Good Order;

(iii) Payments or portions of payments made on the basis of matched contributions later determined to have been non-matchable;

(iv) Payments or portions of payments made to the candidate which are later determined to have been excessive due to the candidate's failure to include funds received by a fundraising representative committee under 11 CFR 9034.8 on the candidate's statement of net outstanding campaign obligations under 11 CFR 9034.5; and

(v) Payments or portions of payments made to the candidate on the basis of the debts reflected in the candidate's statement of net outstanding campaign obligations, which debts are later settled for an amount less than that stated in the statement of net outstanding campaign obligations.

(2) Use of funds for non-qualified campaign expenses. (i) The Commission may determine that amount(s) of any payments made to a candidate from the matching payment account were used for purposes other than those set forth in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) (A)-(C) of this section:

(A) Defrayal of qualified campaign expenses;

(B) Repayment of loans which were used to defray qualified campaign expenses; and

(C) Restoration of funds (other than contributions which were received and expended to defray qualified campaign expenses) which were used to defray qualified campaign expenses.

(ii) Examples of Commission repayment determinations under 11 CFR 9038.2(b)(2) include, but are not limited to, the following:

(A) Determinations that a candidate, a candidate's authorized committee(s) or agents have made expenditures in excess of the limitations set forth in 11 CFR 9035;

(B) Determinations that funds described in 11 CFR 9038.2(b)(2)(i) were expended in violation of state or federal law; and

(C) Determinations that funds described in 11 CFR 9038.2(b)(2)(i) were expended for expenses resulting from a violation of state or federal law, such as the payment of fines or penalties.

(iii) The amount of any repayment sought under this section shall bear the same ratio to the total amount determined to have been used for nonqualified campaign expenses as the amount of matching funds certified to the candidate bears to the total amount of deposits of contributions and matching funds, as of the candidate's date of ineligibility. To determine at what point committee accounts no longer contain matching funds for the purpose of seeking repayment for non-qualified campaign expenses, the Commission will review committee expenditures from the date of the last matching fund payment to the candidate, using the assumption that the last payment has been expended on a last-in, first-out basis.

(3) Failure to provide adequate documentation. The Commission may determine that amount(s) spent by the candidate, the candidate's authorized committee(s), or agents were not documented in accordance with 11 CFR 9033.11. The amount of any repayment sought under this section shall be determined by using the formula set forth in 11 CFR 9038.2(b)(2)(iii).

(4) Surplus. The Commission may determine that the candidate's net outstanding campaign obligations, as defined in 11 CFR 9034.5, reflect a surplus.

(c) Repayment determination procedures. Commission repayment determinations will be made in accordance with the procedures set forth at 11 CFR 9038.2(c) (1) through (4), of this section.

(1) Initial determination. The Commission will provide the candidate with a written notice of its initial repayment determination(s). This notice will be included in the Commission's publicly-released audit report, pursuant to 11 CFR 9038.1(d), and will set forth the legal and factual reasons for such determination(s). Such notice

will also advise the candidate of the evidence upon which any such determination is based. If the candidate does not dispute an initial repayment determination of the Commission within 30 calendar days after service of the notice, such initial determination will be considered a final determination of the Commission.

(2) Submission of written materials. If the candidate disputes the Commission's initial repayment determination(s), he or she shall have an opportunity to submit in writing, within 30 calendar days after service of the Commission's notice, legal and factual materials to demonstrate that no repayment, or a lesser repayment, is required. The Commission will consider any written legal and factual materials submitted by the candidate within this 30 day period in making its final repayment determination(s). Such materials may be submitted by counsel if the candidate so desires.

(3) Oral presentation. A candidate who has submitted written materials under 11 CFR 9038.2(c)(2) may request that the Commission provide such candidate with an opportunity to address the Commission in open session. If the Commission decides by an affirmative vote of four (4) of its members to grant the candidate's request, it will inform the candidate of the date and time set for the oral presentation. At the date and time set by the Commission, the candidate or candidate's designated representative will be allotted an amount of time which to make an oral presentation to the Commission based upon the legal and factual materials submitted under 11 CFR 9038.2(c)(2). The candidate or representative will also have the opportunity to answer any questions from individual members of the Commission.

in

(4) Final determination. In making its final repayment determination(s),

the Commission will consider any submission made under 11 CFR 9038.2(c)(2) and any oral presentation made under 11 CFR 9038.2(c)(3). A final determination that a candidate must repay a certain amount will be accompanied by a written statement of reasons for the Commission's actions. This statement will explain the reasons underlying the Commission's determination and will summarize the results of any investigation upon which the determination is based.

(d) Repayment period. (1) Within 90 calendar days after service of the notice of the Commission's initial repayment determination(s), the candidate shall repay to the Secretary amounts which the Commission has determined to be repayable. Upon application by the candidate, the Commission may grant an extension of up to 90 calendar days in which to make repayment.

(2) If the candidate submits written materials under 11 CFR 9038.2(c)(2) disputing the Commission's initial repayment determination(s), the time for repayment will be suspended until the Commission makes its final repayment determination(s). Within 30 calendar days after service of the notice of the Commission's final repayment determination(s), the candidate shall repay to the Secretary amounts which the Commission has determined to be repayable. Upon application by the candidate, the Commission may grant an extension of up to 90 days in which to make repayment.

(e) Computation of time. The time periods established by this section shall be computed in accordance with 11 CFR 111.2.

(f) Additional repayments. Nothing in this section will prevent the Commission from making additional repayment determinations on one or more of the bases set forth at 11 CFR 9038.2(b) after it has made a final determination on any such basis. The Commission may make additional repayment determinations where there exist facts not used as the basis for a previous final determination. Any such additional repayment determination will be made in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(g) Newly-discovered assets. If, after any initial or final repayment determination made under this section, a candidate or his or her authorized committee(s) receives or becomes aware of assets not previously included in any statement of net outstanding campaign obligations submitted pursuant to 11 CFR 9034.5, the candidate or his or her authorized committee(s) shall promptly notify the Commission of such newly-discovered assets. Newly-discovered assets may include refunds, rebates, late-arriving receivables, and actual receipts for capital assets in excess of the value specified in any previously-submitted statement of net outstanding campaign obligations. Newly-discovered assets may serve as a basis for additional repayment determinations under 11 CFR 9038.2(f).

(h) Petitions for rehearing; stays pending appeal. The candidate may file a petition for rehearing of a final repayment determination in accordance with 11 CFR 9038.5(a). The candidate may request a stay of a final repayment determination in accordance with 11 CFR 9038.5(c) pending the candidate's appeal of that repayment determination.

amount received by the candidate from the matching payment account bears to the total deposits made to the candidate's accounts.

(2) For purposes of this section, total deposits shall be considered all deposits to all candidate accounts minus transfers between accounts, refunds, rebates, reimbursements, checks returned for insufficient funds, proceeds of loans and other similar amounts.

(3) Notwithstanding the payment of any amounts to the United States Treasury under this section, the Commission may make surplus repayment determination(s) which require repayment in accordance with 11 CFR 9038.2.

§ 9038.4 Extensions of time.

(a) It is the policy of the Commission that extensions of time under 11 CFR Part 9038 shall not be routinely granted.

(b) Whenever a candidate has a right or is required to take action within a period of time prescribed by 11 CFR Part 9038 or by notice given thereunder, the candidate may apply in writing to the Commission for an extension of time in which to exercise such right or take such action. The candidate shall demonstrate in the application for extension that good cause exists for his or her request.

(c) An application for extension of time shall be made at least 7 calendar days prior to the expiration of the time period for which the extension is sought. The Commission may, upon a showing of good cause, grant an extension of time to a candidate who has applied for such extension in a timely manner. The length of time of any extension granted hereunder will be decided by the Commission and may be less than the amount of time sought by the candidate in his or her application.

(d) If a candidate fails to seek an extension of time, exercise a right or take a required action prior to the expiration of a time period prescribed by 11 CFR Part 9038 the Commission may, on the candidate's showing of excusable neglect:

(1) Permit such candidate to exercise his or her right(s), or take such re

quired action(s) after the expiration of the prescribed time period; and

(2) Take into consideration any information obtained in connection with the exercise of any such right or taking of any such action before making decisions or determinations under 11 CFR Part 9038.

§ 9038.5 Petitions for rehearing; stays of repayment determinations.

(a) Petitions for rehearing. (1) Following the Commission's final determination under 11 CFR 9033.10 or 9034.5(g) or the Commission's final repayment determination under 11 CFR 9038.2(c)(4), the candidate may file a petition for rehearing setting forth the relief desired and the legal and factual basis in support. To be considered by the Commission, petitions for rehearing must:

(i) Be filed within 20 calendar days after service of the Commission's final determination;

(ii) Raise new questions of law or fact that would materially alter the Commission's final determination; and

(iii) Set forth clear and convincing grounds why such questions were not and could not have been presented during the earlier determination proc

ess.

(2) If a candidate files a timely petition under this section challenging a Commission final repayment determination, the time for repayment of the amount at issue will be suspended until the Commission serves notice on the candidate of its determination on the petition. The time periods for making repayment under 11 CFR 9038.2(d)(2) shall apply to any amounts determined to be repayable following the Commission's consideration of a petition for rehearing under this section.

(b) Effect of failure to raise issues. The candidate's failure to raise an argument in a timely fashion during the initial determination process or in a petition for rehearing under this section, as appropriate, shall be deemed a waiver of the candidate's right to present such arguments in any future stage of proceedings including any petition for review filed under 26 U.S.C. 9041(a). An issue is not timely raised

in a petition for rehearing if it could have been raised earlier in response to the Commission's initial determination.

(c) Stay of repayment determination pending appeal. (1)(i) The candidate may apply to the Commission for a stay of all or a portion of the amount determined to be repayable under this section or under 11 CFR 9038.2 pending the candidate's appeal of that repayment determination pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 9041(a). The repayment amount requested to be stayed shall not exceed the amount at issue on appeal.

(ii) A request for a stay shall be made in writing and shall be filed within 30 calendar days after service of the Commission's decision on a petition for rehearing under paragraph (a), or, if no petition for rehearing is filed, within 30 calendar days after service of the Commission's final repayment determination under 11 CFR 9038.2(c)(4).

(2) The Commission's approval of a stay request will be conditioned upon the candidate's presentation of evidence in the stay request that he or she:

(i) Has placed the entire amount at issue in a separate interest-bearing account pending the outcome of the appeal and that withdrawals from the account may only be made with the joint signatures of the candidate or his or her agent and a Commission representative; or

(ii) Has posted a surety bond guaranteeing payment of the entire amount at issue plus interest; or

(iii) Has met the following criteria: (A) He or she will suffer irreparable injury in the absence of a stay; and, if so, that

(B) He or she has made a strong showing of the likelihood of success on the merits of the judicial action.

(C) Such relief is consistent with the public interest; and

(D) No other party interested in the proceedings would be substantially harmed by the stay.

(3) In determining whether the candidate has made a strong showing of the likelihood of success on the merits under paragraph (c)(2)(iii)(B) of this section, the Commission may consider

whether the issue on appeal presents a novel or admittedly difficult legal question and whether the equities of the case suggest that the status quo should be maintained.

(4) All stays shall require the payment of interest on the amount at issue. The amount of interest due shall be calculated from the date 30 days after service of the Commission's final repayment determination under 11 CFR 9038.2(c)(4) and shall be the greater of:

(i) An amount calculated in accordance with 28 U.S.C. 1961 (a) and (b); or (ii) The amount actually earned on the funds set aside under this section.