The commission may, by rule, revise these amounts to ensure the effective implementation of this chapter.

Sec. 5. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§§3 and 4, as enacted by IB 1995, c. 1, §17, are repealed.

Sec. 6. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§5, as enacted by IB 1995, c. 1, §17, is amended to read:

5. Certification of Maine Clean Election Act candidates. Upon receipt of a final submittal of qualifying contributions by a participating candidate, the The commission shall determine whether or not the candidate has:

A. Signed and filed a declaration of intent to participate in this Act;

B. Submitted the appropriate number of valid qualifying contributions;

C. Qualified as a candidate by petition or other means;

D. Not accepted contributions, except for seed money contributions, and otherwise complied with seed money restrictions; and

E. Otherwise met the requirements for participation in this Act.

The commission shall certify a candidate complying with the requirements of this section as a Maine Clean Election Act candidate as soon as possible and no later than 3 days after final submittal of qualifying contributions.

Upon certification, a candidate must transfer to the fund any unspent seed money contributions. A certified candidate must comply with all requirements of this Act after certification and throughout the primary and general election periods. Failure to do so is a violation of this chapter.

Sec. 7. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§§9 and 10, as enacted by IB 1995, c. 1, §17, are amended to read:

9. Matching funds. When any campaign, finance or election report shows that the sum of a candidate's expenditures or obligations, or funds raised or borrowed, whichever is greater,

alone or in conjunction with independent expenditures reported under section 1019, exceeds the distribution amount under subsection 8, the commission shall issue immediately to any opposing Maine Clean Election Act candidate an additional amount equivalent to the reported excess. The fair market value of any election material, including, but not limited to, campaign signs and cards and any equipment, including, but not limited to, office equipment acquired by a candidate in a previous election and used by that candidate in a subsequent election must be included in the sum of that candidate's expenditures in a campaign, finance or election report. Matching funds are limited to 2 times the amount originally distributed under subsection 8, paragraph A or C, whichever is applicable.

10. Candidate not enrolled in a party. An unenrolled candidate certified by March 16th preceding the primary election is eligible for revenues from the fund in the same amounts and at the same time as an uncontested primary election candidate and a general election candidate as specified in subsections 7 and 8. For an unenrolled candidate not certified by March 16th at 5:00 p.m. the deadline for filing qualifying contributions is 5:00 p.m. on June 2nd preceding the general election. An unenrolled candidate certified after March 16th at 5:00 p.m. is eligible for revenues from the fund in the same amounts as a general election candidate, as specified in subsections 7 and 8.

SUMMARY

This bill makes the following changes to the Maine Clean Election Act.

1. It eliminates the requirement that a candidate collect qualifying contributions.

2. It reduces by 50% the amount of seed money contributions a candidate may accept.

3. It requires that the fair market value of election material and equipment acquired by a candidate in a previous election and used by that candidate in a subsequent election be taken into account when matching funds are awarded.