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. 30. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§6, as enacted by IB 1995, c. 1, §17, is amended to read:

6. Restrictions on contributions and expenditures for certified candidates. After certification, a candidate must limit the candidate's campaign expenditures and obligations, including outstanding obligations, to the revenues distributed to the candidate from the fund and may not accept any contributions unless specifically authorized by the commission. Candidates may also accept and spend interest earned on bank accounts. All revenues distributed to certified candidates from the fund must be used for campaign-related purposes. The commission shall publish guidelines outlining permissible campaign-related expenditures.

Sec. 31. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§14, as enacted by IB 1995, c. 1, §17, is amended to read:

14. Appeals. A candidate who has been denied certification as a Maine Clean Election Act candidate or, the opponent of a candidate who has been granted certification as a Maine Clean Election Act candidate or other interested persons may challenge a certification decision by the commission as follows.

A. A challenger may appeal to the full commission within 3 7 days of the certification decision. The appeal must be in writing and must set forth the reasons for the appeal.

B. Within 5 days after an appeal is properly made and after notice is given to the challenger and any opponent, the commission shall hold a hearing. The appellant has the burden of providing evidence to demonstrate that the commission decision was improper. The commission must rule on the appeal within 3 days after the completion of the hearing.

C. A challenger may appeal the decision of the commission in paragraph B by commencing an action in Superior Court