Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2001, c. 465, §4, is further 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 who are enrolled in the candidate's political party 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 who are enrolled in the candidate's political party 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 who are enrolled in the candidate's political party must support the candidacy by providing a qualifying contribution to that candidate.; or

D.__For a candidate who is not enrolled in a qualified political party, at least 5,000 qualifying contributions must be raised for a gubernatorial candidate, 300 for a State Senate candidate and 100 for a State House of Representatives 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.

Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§15 is enacted to read:

15.__Certain prior candidates ineligible.__Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a candidate is ineligible to receive revenues from the fund if:

A.__That candidate received revenues from the fund in a prior election;