A.__Reports required by this subsection must be filed with the commission according to a reporting schedule that the commission shall establish by rule that takes into consideration existing campaign finance reporting requirements and matching fund provisions under chapter 14.__ Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

B.__The report must contain an itemized account of each contribution or expenditure aggregating in excess of $50 in any one candidate's election, the date and purpose of each contribution or expenditure and the name of each payee or creditor.__The report must state whether the contribution or expenditure is in support of or in opposition to the candidate and must include, under penalty of perjury, as provided in Title 17-A, section 451, a statement under oath or affirmation whether the contribution or expenditure is made in cooperation, consultation or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, the candidate or any authorized committee or agent of the candidate.

C.__Reports required by this subsection must be on forms prescribed and prepared by the commission.__Persons filing these reports may use additional pages if necessary, but the pages must be the same size as the pages of the form.

§1019-B.__Reports of membership communications

Any membership organization or corporation that makes a communication to its members or stockholders expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate shall report any expenses related to such communications aggregating in excess of $50 in any one candidate's election race, notwithstanding the fact that such communications are not expenditures under section 1012, subsection 3, paragraph A.__ Reports required by this section must be filed with the commission on forms prescribed and prepared by the commission and according to a reporting schedule that the commission shall establish by rule.

Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA §1020-A, sub-§5, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 483, §15, is amended to read:

A. Five thousand dollars for reports required under section 1017, subsection 2, paragraphs paragraph B, C, D, E or H; section 1017, subsection 3-A, paragraphs paragraph B, C, D or F; section 1017, subsection 4; and section 1019 1019-A;

Sec. 4. 21-A MRSA §1122, sub-§§8 and 9, as enacted by IB 1995, c. 1, §17, are amended to read:

8. Qualifying period. "Qualifying period" means the following.

A. For a gubernatorial participating candidate, the qualifying period begins November 1st immediately preceding the election year and ends at 5:00 p.m. on March 16th April 15th of the election year unless the candidate is unenrolled, in which case the period ends at 5:00 p.m. on June 2nd of the election year.

B. For State Senate or State House of Representatives participating candidates, the qualifying period begins January 1st of the election year and ends at 5:00 p.m. on March 16th April 15th of that election year unless the candidate is unenrolled, in which case the period ends at 5:00 p.m. on June 2nd of the election year.

9. Seed money contribution. "Seed money contribution" means a contribution of no more than $100 per individual made to a candidate, including a contribution from the candidate or the candidate's family. To be eligible for certification, a candidate may collect and spend only seed money contributions subsequent to becoming a candidate as defined by section 1, subsection 5 and throughout the qualifying period. A candidate may not collect or spend seed money contributions after certification as a Maine Clean Election Act candidate. The primary purpose of a seed money contribution is to enable a participating candidate to collect qualifying contributions. A seed money contribution must be reported according to procedures developed by the commission.

Sec. 5. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§§3 and 7, as enacted by IB 1995, c. 1, §17, are amended to read:

3. Qualifying contributions. Participating candidates must obtain qualifying contributions during the qualifying period as follows:

A. For a gubernatorial candidate, at least 2,500 verified registered voters of this State must support the candidacy by providing a qualifying contribution to that candidate;

B. For a candidate for the State Senate, at least 150 verified registered voters from the candidate's electoral division must support the candidacy by providing a qualifying contribution to that candidate; or

C. For a candidate for the State House of Representatives, at least 50 verified registered voters from the candidate's electoral division must support the candidacy by providing a qualifying contribution to that candidate.

A payment, gift or anything of value may not be given in exchange for a qualifying contribution. A candidate may pay the fee for a money order in the amount of $5, which is a qualifying contribution, as long as the donor making the qualifying contribution pays the $5 amount reflected on the money order.__ Any money order fees paid by a participating candidate must be paid for with seed money and reported in accordance with commission rules.

7. Timing of fund distribution. The commission shall distribute to certified candidates revenues from the fund in amounts determined under subsection 8 in the following manner.

A. Within 3 days after certification, for candidates certified prior to March 16th 15th of the election year, revenues from the fund must be distributed as if the candidates are in an uncontested primary election.

B. Within 3 days after March 16th of the election year, for primary election certified candidates certification, for all candidates certified between March 15th and April 15th of the election year, revenues from the fund must be distributed according to whether the candidate is in a contested or uncontested primary election, reduced by any amounts previously distributed under paragraph A.

B-1.__For candidates in contested primary elections receiving a distribution under paragraph A, additional revenues from the fund must be distributed within 3 days of March 15th of the election year.

C. Within 3 days after the primary election, for general election certified candidates, revenues from the fund must be distributed according to whether the candidate is in a contested or uncontested general election. Funds may not be distributed for uncontested general elections.

Funds may be distributed to certified candidates under this section by any mechanism that is expeditious, ensures accountability and safeguards the integrity of the fund.

Sec. 6. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§8, ¶D, as enacted by IB 1995, c. 1, §17, is amended to read:

D. Revenues may not be distributed for For uncontested general elections, the amount of revenues to be distributed from the fund is 1/3 of the amount distributed to a participating candidate in a contested general election.

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 electioneering expenditures reported under section 1019 1019-A, 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. 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 April 15th 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 April 15th 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 April 15th 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.

Sec. 8. 21-A MRSA §1126, as enacted by IB 1995, c. 1, §17, is amended to read:

§1126. Commission to adopt rules

The commission shall adopt rules to ensure effective administration of this chapter. These rules must include but must not be limited to procedures for obtaining qualifying contributions, certification as a Maine Clean Election Act candidate, circumstances involving special elections, vacancies,

recounts, withdrawals or replacements, collection of revenues for the fund, distribution of fund revenue to certified candidates, return of unspent fund disbursements, disposition of equipment purchased with clean election funds and compliance with the Maine Clean Election Act.

SUMMARY

This bill expands the scope of reporting for independent electioneering expenditures and clarifies which expenditures trigger matching funds under the Maine Clean Election Act. It extends the qualifying period from March 16th to April 15th for those intending to be participating candidates under the Maine Clean Election Act. It also strikes language that states that the primary purpose of seed money is to enable a candidate to collect qualifying contributions. The bill permits participating candidates to pay the fees for money orders donated by contributors as long as those fees are reported. It also states that money from the Maine Clean Election Fund may be distributed to participating candidates in uncontested general elections in an amount equal to 1/3 of the amount distributed for contested races.