C.__A certified candidate who wishes to run for a leadership position must file a letter of intent with the commission after certification under subsection 5 and within 3 days of becoming a candidate for a leadership position.__The commission shall certify the candidate as a candidate for a leadership position upon receipt of the letter of intent, the signatures required under this subsection and confirmation that the candidate is certified for the upcoming election under subsection 5;

D.__Prior to certification under this subsection, a candidate certified under subsection 5 may collect and spend up to $1,000 in seed money;

E.__Within 3 days after a candidate's certification under this subsection, the commission shall distribute $5,000 to the candidate for a leadership position to pay for operating expenses for the leadership campaign;

F.__A candidate certified under this subsection may not contribute any funds to a candidate, campaign, political committee or political action committee during the campaign for the leadership position;

G.__A candidate who receives funds under this subsection for a leadership campaign may not accept or expend any other funds in running for a leadership position for that campaign; and

H.__A candidate who receives funds under this subsection may not serve as an officer of or have control over a political action committee that contributes to a campaign in the State.

The commission may adopt routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to carry out the purposes of this subsection.

SUMMARY

This bill allows Maine Clean Election Act financing for candidates in legislative leadership races. The candidate for a leadership position must already be a Maine Clean Election Act candidate. A candidate for a Senate leadership position must obtain 9 signatures from members of the candidate's party who were nominated to seats in the Senate, and a candidate for a leadership position in the House of Representatives must collect