SENATE BILL No. 631

 

 

July 16, 2003, Introduced by Senators PATTERSON, BIRKHOLZ, TOY, GILBERT, GEORGE, STAMAS, VAN WOERKOM, HAMMERSTROM, BISHOP, McMANUS, KUIPERS, GOSCHKA and JELINEK and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

        

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1976 PA 388, entitled                                             

                                                                                

    "Michigan campaign finance act,"                                            

                                                                                

    by amending sections 15, 33, 34, and 35 (MCL 169.215, 169.233,              

                                                                                

    169.234, and 169.235), section 15 as amended by 2001 PA 250,                

                                                                                

    sections 33 and 34 as amended by 1999 PA 238, and section 35 as             

                                                                                

    amended by 2000 PA 75.                                                      

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1       Sec. 15.  (1) The secretary of state shall do all of the                    

                                                                                

2   following:                                                                  

                                                                                

3       (a) Make available through his or her offices, and furnish to               

                                                                                

4   county clerks, appropriate forms, instructions, and manuals                 

                                                                                

5   required by this act.                                                       

                                                                                

6       (b) Develop a filing, coding, and cross-indexing system for                 

                                                                                

7   the filing of required reports and statements consistent with the           

                                                                                

8   purposes of this act, and supervise the implementation of the               

                                                                                


                                                                                

1   filing systems by the clerks of the counties.                               

                                                                                

2       (c) Receive all statements and reports required by this act                 

                                                                                

3   to be filed with the secretary of state.                                    

                                                                                

4       (d) Prepare forms, instructions, and manuals required under                 

                                                                                

5   this act.                                                                   

                                                                                

6       (e) Promulgate rules and issue declaratory rulings to                       

                                                                                

7   implement this act in accordance with the administrative                    

                                                                                

8   procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328.                  

                                                                                

9       (f) Upon receipt of a written request and the required                      

                                                                                

10  filing, waive payment of a late filing fee if the request for the           

                                                                                

11  waiver is based on good cause and accompanied by adequate                   

                                                                                

12  documentation.  One or more of the following reasons constitute             

                                                                                

13  good cause for a late filing fee waiver:                                    

                                                                                

14                                                                               (i) The incapacitating physical illness, hospitalization,                           

                                                                                

15  accident involvement, death, or incapacitation for medical                  

                                                                                

16  reasons of a person required to file, a person whose                        

                                                                                

17  participation is essential to the preparation of the statement or           

                                                                                

18  report, or a member of the immediate family of these persons.               

                                                                                

19      (ii) Other unique, unintentional factors beyond the filer's                  

                                                                                

20  control not stemming from a negligent act or nonaction so that a            

                                                                                

21  reasonably prudent person would excuse the filing on a temporary            

                                                                                

22  basis.  These factors include the loss or unavailability of                 

                                                                                

23  records due to a fire, flood, theft, or similar reason and                  

                                                                                

24  difficulties related to the transmission of the filing to the               

                                                                                

25  filing official, such as exceptionally bad weather or strikes               

                                                                                

26  involving transportation systems.                                           

                                                                                

27      (2) A declaratory ruling shall be issued under this section                 


                                                                                

1   only if the person requesting the ruling has provided a                     

                                                                                

2   reasonably complete statement of facts necessary for the ruling             

                                                                                

3   or if the person requesting the ruling has, with the permission             

                                                                                

4   of the secretary of state, supplied supplemental facts necessary            

                                                                                

5   for the ruling.  A request for a declaratory ruling that is                 

                                                                                

6   submitted to the secretary of state shall be made available for             

                                                                                

7   public inspection within 48 hours after its receipt.  An                    

                                                                                

8   interested person may submit written comments regarding the                 

                                                                                

9   request to the secretary of state within 10 business days after             

                                                                                

10  the date the request is made available to the public.  Within 45            

                                                                                

11  business days after receiving a declaratory ruling request, the             

                                                                                

12  secretary of state shall make a proposed response available to              

                                                                                

13  the public.  An interested person may submit written comments               

                                                                                

14  regarding the proposed response to the secretary of state within            

                                                                                

15  5 business days after the date the proposal is made available to            

                                                                                

16  the public.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, the              

                                                                                

17  secretary of state shall issue a declaratory ruling within                  

                                                                                

18  60 business days after a request for a declaratory ruling is                

                                                                                

19  received.  If the secretary of state refuses to issue a                     

                                                                                

20  declaratory ruling, the secretary of state shall notify the                 

                                                                                

21  person making the request of the reasons for the refusal and                

                                                                                

22  shall issue an interpretative statement providing an                        

                                                                                

23  informational response to the question presented within the same            

                                                                                

24  time limitation applicable to a declaratory ruling.  A                      

                                                                                

25  declaratory ruling or interpretative statement issued under this            

                                                                                

26  section shall not state a general rule of law, other than that              

                                                                                

27  which is stated in this act, until the general rule of law is               


                                                                                

1   promulgated by the secretary of state as a rule under the                   

                                                                                

2   administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to           

                                                                                

3   24.328, or under judicial order.                                            

                                                                                

4       (3) Under extenuating circumstances, the secretary of state                 

                                                                                

5   may issue a notice extending for not more than 30 business days             

                                                                                

6   the period during which the secretary of state shall respond to a           

                                                                                

7   request for a declaratory ruling.  The secretary of state shall             

                                                                                

8   not issue more than 1 notice of extension for a particular                  

                                                                                

9   request.  A person requesting a declaratory ruling may waive, in            

                                                                                

10  writing, the time limitations provided by this section.                     

                                                                                

11      (4) The secretary of state shall make available to the public               

                                                                                

12  an annual summary of the declaratory rulings and interpretative             

                                                                                

13  statements issued by the secretary of state.                                

                                                                                

14      (5) A person may file with the secretary of state a complaint               

                                                                                

15  that alleges a violation of this act.  Within 5 business days               

                                                                                

16  after a complaint that meets the requirements of subsection (6)             

                                                                                

17  is filed, the secretary of state shall give notice to the person            

                                                                                

18  against whom the complaint is filed.  The notice shall include a            

                                                                                

19  copy of the complaint.  Within 15 business days after this notice           

                                                                                

20  is provided, the person against whom the complaint was filed may            

                                                                                

21  submit to the secretary of state a response.  The secretary of              

                                                                                

22  state may extend the period for submitting a response an                    

                                                                                

23  additional 15 business days for good cause.  The secretary of               

                                                                                

24  state shall provide a copy of a response received to the                    

                                                                                

25  complainant.  Within 10 business days after receiving a copy of             

                                                                                

26  the response, the complainant may submit to the secretary of                

                                                                                

27  state a rebuttal statement.  The secretary of state may extend              


                                                                                

1   the period for submitting a rebuttal statement an additional 10             

                                                                                

2   business days for good cause.  The secretary of state shall                 

                                                                                

3   provide a copy of the rebuttal statement to the person against              

                                                                                

4   whom the complaint was filed.                                               

                                                                                

5       (6) A complaint under subsection (5) shall satisfy all of the               

                                                                                

6   following requirements:                                                     

                                                                                

7       (a) Be signed by the complainant.                                           

                                                                                

8       (b) State the name, address, and telephone number of the                    

                                                                                

9   complainant.                                                                

                                                                                

10      (c) Include the complainant's certification that, to the best               

                                                                                

11  of the complainant's knowledge, information, and belief, formed             

                                                                                

12  after a reasonable inquiry under the circumstances, each factual            

                                                                                

13  contention of the complaint is supported by evidence.  However,             

                                                                                

14  if, after a reasonable inquiry under the circumstances, the                 

                                                                                

15  complainant is unable to certify that certain factual contentions           

                                                                                

16  are supported by evidence, the complainant may certify that, to             

                                                                                

17  the best of his or her knowledge, information, or belief, there             

                                                                                

18  are grounds to conclude that those specifically identified                  

                                                                                

19  factual contentions are likely to be supported by evidence after            

                                                                                

20  a reasonable opportunity for further inquiry.                               

                                                                                

21      (7) The secretary of state shall develop a form that                        

                                                                                

22  satisfies the requirements of subsection (6) and may be used for            

                                                                                

23  the filing of complaints.                                                   

                                                                                

24      (8) A person who files a complaint with a false certificate                 

                                                                                

25  under subsection (6)(c) is responsible for a civil violation of             

                                                                                

26  this act.  A person may file a complaint under subsection (5)               

                                                                                

27  alleging that another person has filed a complaint with a false             


                                                                                

1   certificate under subsection (6)(c).                                        

                                                                                

2       (9) The secretary of state shall investigate the allegations                

                                                                                

3   under the rules promulgated under this act.  Every 60 days after            

                                                                                

4   a complaint that meets the requirements of subsection (6) is                

                                                                                

5   filed and until the matter is terminated, the secretary of state            

                                                                                

6   shall mail to the complainant and to the alleged violator notice            

                                                                                

7   of the action taken to date by the secretary of state, together             

                                                                                

8   with the reasons for the action or nonaction.                               

                                                                                

9       (10) If the secretary of state determines that there may be                 

                                                                                

10  reason to believe that a violation of this act has occurred, the            

                                                                                

11  secretary of state shall endeavor to correct the violation or               

                                                                                

12  prevent a further violation by using informal methods such as a             

                                                                                

13  conference, conciliation, or persuasion, and may enter into a               

                                                                                

14  conciliation agreement with the person involved.  Unless                    

                                                                                

15  violated, a conciliation agreement is a complete bar to any                 

                                                                                

16  further action with respect to matters covered in the                       

                                                                                

17  conciliation agreement.  If the secretary of state is unable to             

                                                                                

18  correct or prevent further violation by these informal methods,             

                                                                                

19  the secretary of state may refer the matter to the attorney                 

                                                                                

20  general for the enforcement of a criminal penalty provided by               

                                                                                

21  this act or commence a hearing as provided in subsection (11).              

                                                                                

22      (11) The secretary of state may commence a hearing to                       

                                                                                

23  determine whether a civil violation of this act has occurred.  A            

                                                                                

24  hearing shall not be commenced during the period beginning 30               

                                                                                

25  days before an election in which the committee has received or              

                                                                                

26  expended money and ending the day after that election except with           

                                                                                

27  the consent of the person suspected of committing a civil                   


                                                                                

1   violation.  The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the           

                                                                                

2   procedures set forth in chapter 4 of the administrative                     

                                                                                

3   procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.271 to 24.287.  If              

                                                                                

4   after a hearing the secretary of state determines that a                    

                                                                                

5   violation of this act has occurred, the secretary of state may              

                                                                                

6   issue an order requiring the person to pay a civil fine equal to            

                                                                                

7   the amount of the improper contribution or expenditure plus not             

                                                                                

8   more than $1,000.00 for each violation.                                     

                                                                                

9       (12) A final decision and order issued by the secretary of                  

                                                                                

10  state is subject to judicial review as provided by chapter 6 of             

                                                                                

11  the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306,                     

                                                                                

12  MCL 24.301 to 24.306.  The secretary of state shall deposit a               

                                                                                

13  civil fine imposed under this section in the general fund.  The             

                                                                                

14  secretary of state may bring an action in circuit court to                  

                                                                                

15  recover the amount of a civil fine.                                         

                                                                                

16      (13) When a report or statement is filed under this act, the                

                                                                                

17  secretary of state shall review the report or statement and may             

                                                                                

18  investigate an apparent violation of this act under the rules               

                                                                                

19  promulgated under this act.  If the secretary of state determines           

                                                                                

20  that there may be reason to believe a violation of this act has             

                                                                                

21  occurred and the procedures prescribed in subsection (10) have              

                                                                                

22  been complied with, the secretary of state may refer the matter             

                                                                                

23  to the attorney general for the enforcement of a criminal penalty           

                                                                                

24  provided by this act, or commence a hearing under subsection (11)           

                                                                                

25  to determine whether a civil violation of this act has occurred.            

                                                                                

26      (14) Unless otherwise specified in this act, a person who                   

                                                                                

27  violates a provision of this act is subject to a civil fine of              


                                                                                

1   not more than $1,000.00 for each violation.  A civil fine is in             

                                                                                

2   addition to, but not limited by, a criminal penalty prescribed by           

                                                                                

3   this act.                                                                   

                                                                                

4       (15) In addition to any other sanction provided for by this                 

                                                                                

5   act, the secretary of state may require a person who files a                

                                                                                

6   complaint with a false certificate under subsection (6)(c) to do            

                                                                                

7   either or both of the following:                                            

                                                                                

8       (a) Pay to the secretary of state some or all of the expenses               

                                                                                

9   incurred by the secretary of state as a direct result of the                

                                                                                

10  filing of the complaint.                                                    

                                                                                

11      (b) Pay to the person against whom the complaint was filed                  

                                                                                

12  some or all of the expenses, including, but not limited to,                 

                                                                                

13  reasonable attorney fees incurred by that person in proceedings             

                                                                                

14  under this act as a direct result of the filing of the                      

                                                                                

15  complaint.                                                                  

                                                                                

16      (16) There is no private right of action, either in law or in               

                                                                                

17  equity, under this act.  The remedies provided in this act are              

                                                                                

18  the exclusive means by which this act may be enforced and by                

                                                                                

19  which any harm resulting from a violation of this act may be                

                                                                                

20  redressed.                                                                  

                                                                                

21      (17) The secretary of state may waive the filing of a                       

                                                                                

22  campaign statement required under section 33, 34, or 35 if the              

                                                                                

23  closing date of the particular campaign statement falls on the              

                                                                                

24  same or a later date as the closing date of the next campaign               

                                                                                

25  statement filed by the same person, or if the period that would             

                                                                                

26  be otherwise covered by the next campaign statement filed by the            

                                                                                

27  same person is 10 days or less.                                             


                                                                                

1       (18) The clerk of each county shall do all of the following:                

                                                                                

2       (a) Make available through the county clerk's office the                    

                                                                                

3   appropriate forms, instructions, and manuals required by this               

                                                                                

4   act.                                                                        

                                                                                

5       (b) Under the supervision of the secretary of state,                        

                                                                                

6   implement the filing, coding, and cross-indexing system                     

                                                                                

7   prescribed for the filing of reports and statements required to             

                                                                                

8   be filed with the county clerk's office.                                    

                                                                                

9       (c) Receive all statements and reports required by this act                 

                                                                                

10  to be filed with the county clerk's office.                                 

                                                                                

11      (d) Upon written request, waive the payment of a late filing                

                                                                                

12  fee if the request for a waiver is based on good cause as                   

                                                                                

13  prescribed in subsection (1)(f).                                            

                                                                                

14      (19) An individual who waives or reduces a late filing fee                  

                                                                                

15  other than for reasons allowed by this section or who does not              

                                                                                

16  make a good faith attempt to collect a late filing fee is guilty            

                                                                                

17  of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90            

                                                                                

18  days or a fine of not more than $2,500.00, or both.                         

                                                                                

19      Sec. 33.  (1) A committee, other than an independent                        

                                                                                

20  committee or a political committee required to file with the                

                                                                                

21  secretary of state, supporting or opposing a candidate shall file           

                                                                                

22  complete campaign statements as required by this act and the                

                                                                                

23  rules promulgated under this act.  The campaign statements shall            

                                                                                

24  be filed according to the following schedule:                               

                                                                                

25      (a) A preelection campaign statement shall be filed not later               

                                                                                

26  than the eleventh day before an election.  The closing date for a           

                                                                                

27  campaign statement filed under this subdivision shall be the                


                                                                                

1   sixteenth day before the election.                                          

                                                                                

2       (b) A postelection campaign statement shall be filed not                    

                                                                                

3   later than the thirtieth day following the election.  The closing           

                                                                                

4   date for a campaign statement filed under this subdivision shall            

                                                                                

5   be the twentieth day following the election.  A committee                   

                                                                                

6   supporting a candidate who loses the primary election shall file            

                                                                                

7   closing campaign statements in accordance with this section.  If            

                                                                                

8   all liabilities of such a candidate or committee are paid before            

                                                                                

9   the closing date and additional contributions are not expected,             

                                                                                

10  the campaign statement may be filed at any time after the                   

                                                                                

11  election, but not later than the thirtieth day following the                

                                                                                

12  election.                                                                   

                                                                                

13      (2) For the purposes of subsection (1):                                     

                                                                                

14      (a) A candidate committee shall file a preelection campaign                 

                                                                                

15  statement and a postelection campaign statement for each election           

                                                                                

16  in which the candidate seeks nomination or election, except if an           

                                                                                

17  individual becomes a candidate after the closing date for the               

                                                                                

18  preelection campaign statement only the postelection campaign               

                                                                                

19  statement is required for that election.                                    

                                                                                

20      (b) A committee other than a candidate committee shall file a               

                                                                                

21  campaign statement for each period during which expenditures are            

                                                                                

22  made for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of           

                                                                                

23  a candidate or for the qualification, passage, or defeat of a               

                                                                                

24  ballot question.                                                            

                                                                                

25      (3) An independent committee or a political committee other                 

                                                                                

26  than a house political party caucus committee or senate political           

                                                                                

27  party caucus committee required to file with the secretary of               


                                                                                

1   state shall file campaign statements as required by this act                

                                                                                

2   according to the following schedule:                                        

                                                                                

3       (a) In an odd numbered year:                                                

                                                                                

4                                                                                (i) Not later than January 31 of that year with a closing                           

                                                                                

5   date of December 31 of the previous year.                                   

                                                                                

6       (ii) Not later than July 25 with a closing date of July 20.                  

                                                                                

7       (iii) Not later than October 25 with a closing date of                       

                                                                                

8   October 20.                                                                 

                                                                                

9       (b) In an even numbered year:                                               

                                                                                

10                                                                               (i) Not later than April 25 of that year with a closing date                        

                                                                                

11  of April 20 of that year.                                                   

                                                                                

12      (ii) Not later than July 25 with a closing date of July 20.                  

                                                                                

13      (iii) Not later than October 25 with a closing date of                       

                                                                                

14  October 20.                                                                 

                                                                                

15      (4) A house political party caucus committee or a senate                    

                                                                                

16  political party caucus committee required to file with the                  

                                                                                

17  secretary of state shall file campaign statements as required by            

                                                                                

18  this act according to the following schedule:                               

                                                                                

19      (a) Not later than January 31 of each year with a closing                   

                                                                                

20  date of December 31 of the immediately preceding year.                      

                                                                                

21      (b) Not later than April 25 of each year with a closing date                

                                                                                

22  of April 20 of that year.                                                   

                                                                                

23      (c) Not later than July 25 of each year with a closing date                 

                                                                                

24  of July 20 of that year.                                                    

                                                                                

25      (d) Not later than October 25 of each year with a closing                   

                                                                                

26  date of October 20 of that year.                                            

                                                                                

27      (e) For the period beginning on the fourteenth day                          


                                                                                

1   immediately preceding a primary or special primary election and             

                                                                                

2   ending on the day immediately following the primary or special              

                                                                                

3   primary election, not later than 4 p.m. each business day with a            

                                                                                

4   closing date of the immediately preceding day, only for a                   

                                                                                

5   contribution received or expenditure made that exceeds $1,000.00            

                                                                                

6   per day.                                                                    

                                                                                

7       (f) For the period beginning on the fourteenth day                          

                                                                                

8   immediately preceding a general or special election and ending on           

                                                                                

9   the day immediately following the general or special election,              

                                                                                

10  not later than 4 p.m. each business day with a closing date of              

                                                                                

11  the immediately preceding day, only for a contribution received             

                                                                                

12  or expenditure made that exceeds $1,000.00 per day.                         

                                                                                

13      (5) Notwithstanding subsection (3) or (4) or section 51, if                 

                                                                                

14  an independent expenditure is made within 45 days before a                  

                                                                                

15  special election by an independent committee or a political                 

                                                                                

16  committee required to file a campaign statement with the                    

                                                                                

17  secretary of state, a report of the expenditure shall be filed by           

                                                                                

18  the committee with the secretary of state within 48 hours after             

                                                                                

19  the expenditure.  The report shall be made on a form provided by            

                                                                                

20  the secretary of state and shall include the date of the                    

                                                                                

21  independent expenditure, the amount of the expenditure, a brief             

                                                                                

22  description of the nature of the expenditure, and the name and              

                                                                                

23  address of the person to whom the expenditure was paid.  The                

                                                                                

24  brief description of the expenditure shall include either the               

                                                                                

25  name of the candidate and the office sought by the candidate or             

                                                                                

26  the name of the ballot question and shall state whether the                 

                                                                                

27  expenditure supports or opposes the candidate or ballot                     


                                                                                

1   question.  This subsection does not apply if the committee is               

                                                                                

2   required to report the independent expenditure in a campaign                

                                                                                

3   statement that is required to be filed before the date of the               

                                                                                

4   election for which the expenditure was made.                                

                                                                                

5       (6) A candidate committee or a committee other than a                       

                                                                                

6   candidate committee that files a written statement under section            

                                                                                

7   24(5) or (6) need not file a campaign statement under subsection            

                                                                                

8   (1), (3), or (4) unless it received or expended an amount in                

                                                                                

9   excess of $1,000.00.  If the committee receives or expends an               

                                                                                

10  amount in excess of $1,000.00 during a period covered by a                  

                                                                                

11  filing, the committee is then subject to the campaign filing                

                                                                                

12  requirements under this act.                                                

                                                                                

13      (7) A committee, candidate, treasurer, or other individual                  

                                                                                

14  designated as responsible for the committee's record keeping,               

                                                                                

15  report preparation, or report filing who fails to file a                    

                                                                                

16  statement as required by this section shall pay a late filing               

                                                                                

17  fee.  If the committee has raised $10,000.00 or less during the             

                                                                                

18  previous 2 years, the late filing fee shall be  $25.00  $500.00             

                                                                                

19  for each business day the statement remains unfiled, but not to             

                                                                                

20  exceed  $500.00  $15,000.00.  If the committee has raised more              

                                                                                

21  than $10,000.00 during the previous 2 years, the late filing fee            

                                                                                

22  shall be $1,000.00 for each business day the statement remains              

                                                                                

23  unfiled, but not to exceed  $1,000.00, determined as follows:               

                                                                                

24  $30,000.00.                                                                 

                                                                                

25      (a) Twenty-five dollars for each business day the report                    

                                                                                

26  remains unfiled.                                                            

                                                                                

27      (b) An additional $25.00 for each business day after the                    


                                                                                

1   first 3 business days the report remains unfiled.                           

                                                                                

2       (c) An additional $50.00 for each business day after the                    

                                                                                

3   first 10 business days the report remains unfiled.                          

                                                                                

4       (8) If a candidate, treasurer, or other individual designated               

                                                                                

5   as responsible for the committee's record keeping, report                   

                                                                                

6   preparation, or report filing fails to file 2 statements required           

                                                                                

7   by this section or section 35 and both of the statements remain             

                                                                                

8   unfiled for more than 30 days, that candidate, treasurer, or                

                                                                                

9   other designated individual is guilty of a  misdemeanor,  felony            

                                                                                

10  punishable by a fine of not more than  $1,000.00  $10,000.00, or            

                                                                                

11  imprisonment for not more than  90 days  3 years, or both.                  

                                                                                

12      (9) If a candidate is found guilty of a violation of this                   

                                                                                

13  section, the circuit court for that county, on application by the           

                                                                                

14  attorney general or the prosecuting attorney of that county, may            

                                                                                

15  prohibit that candidate from assuming the duties of a public                

                                                                                

16  office or from receiving compensation from public funds, or                 

                                                                                

17  both.                                                                       

                                                                                

18      (10) If a treasurer or other individual designated as                       

                                                                                

19  responsible for a committee's record keeping, report preparation,           

                                                                                

20  or report filing knowingly files an incomplete or inaccurate                

                                                                                

21  statement or report required by this section, that treasurer or             

                                                                                

22  other designated individual is  subject to a civil  guilty of a             

                                                                                

23  misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than  $1,000.00                

                                                                                

24  $10,000.00, or imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both.             

                                                                                

25      Sec. 34.  (1) A ballot question committee shall file a                      

                                                                                

26  campaign statement as required by this act according to the                 

                                                                                

27  following schedule:                                                         


                                                                                

1       (a) A preelection campaign statement, the closing date of                   

                                                                                

2   which shall be the sixteenth day before the election, shall not             

                                                                                

3   be filed later than the eleventh day before the election.                   

                                                                                

4       (b) A postelection campaign statement, the closing date of                  

                                                                                

5   which shall be the twentieth day following the election, shall              

                                                                                

6   not be filed later than the thirtieth day following an election.            

                                                                                

7   If all liabilities of the committee are paid before the closing             

                                                                                

8   date and additional contributions are not expected, the campaign            

                                                                                

9   statement may be filed at any time after the election, but not              

                                                                                

10  later than the thirtieth day following the election.                        

                                                                                

11      (2) A ballot question committee supporting or opposing a                    

                                                                                

12  statewide ballot question shall file a campaign statement,  of              

                                                                                

13  which  the closing date of which shall be the twenty-eighth day             

                                                                                

14  after the qualification of the measure, not later than 35 days              

                                                                                

15  after the ballot question is qualified for the ballot.  If the              

                                                                                

16  ballot question fails to qualify for the ballot, the ballot                 

                                                                                

17  question committee shall file the campaign statement within 35              

                                                                                

18  days after the final deadline for qualifying, the closing date of           

                                                                                

19  which shall be the twenty-eighth day after the deadline.                    

                                                                                

20      (3) If a ballot question committee supporting or opposing a                 

                                                                                

21  statewide ballot question fails to file a preelection statement             

                                                                                

22  under this section, that committee or its treasurer shall pay a             

                                                                                

23  late filing fee of $1,000.00 for each business day the statement            

                                                                                

24  remains  not filed in violation of this section  unfiled, not to            

                                                                                

25  exceed  $1,000.00, pursuant to the following schedule:                      

                                                                                

26  $30,000.00.                                                                 

                                                                                

27      (a) First day--$25.00.                                                      


                                                                                

1       (b) Second day--$50.00.                                                     

                                                                                

2       (c) Third day--$75.00.                                                      

                                                                                

3       (d) Fourth day and for each subsequent day that the statement               

                                                                                

4   remains unfiled--$100.00.                                                   

                                                                                

5       (4) If a treasurer or other individual designated as                        

                                                                                

6   responsible for the record keeping, report preparation, or report           

                                                                                

7   filing of a ballot question committee supporting or opposing a              

                                                                                

8   statewide ballot question fails to file a statement, other than a           

                                                                                

9   preelection statement, under this section, that committee,                  

                                                                                

10  treasurer, or other designated individual shall pay a late filing           

                                                                                

11  fee of $500.00 for each business day the statement remains                  

                                                                                

12  unfiled, not to exceed $15,000.00 If the committee has raised            

                                                                                

13  $10,000.00 or less during the previous 2 years, the late filing             

                                                                                

14  fee shall be $25.00 for each business day the campaign statement            

                                                                                

15  remains unfiled, but not to exceed $1,000.00.  If the committee             

                                                                                

16  has raised more than $10,000.00 during the previous 2 years, the            

                                                                                

17  late filing fee shall be $50.00 for each business day the                   

                                                                                

18  campaign statement remains unfiled, but not to exceed $2,000.00.            

                                                                                

19      (5) If a treasurer or other individual designated as                        

                                                                                

20  responsible for the record keeping, report preparation, or report           

                                                                                

21  filing of a ballot question committee supporting or opposing                

                                                                                

22  other than a statewide ballot question fails to file a statement            

                                                                                

23  under this section, that committee, treasurer, or other                     

                                                                                

24  designated individual shall pay a late filing fee of $1,000.00              

                                                                                

25  for each business day the report remains unfiled, not to exceed             

                                                                                

26  $30,000.00 If the committee has raised $10,000.00 or less                

                                                                                

27  during the previous 2 years, the late filing fee shall be $25.00            


                                                                                

1   for each business day the campaign statement remains unfiled, but           

                                                                                

2   not to exceed $1,000.00.  If the committee has raised more than             

                                                                                

3   $10,000.00 during the previous 2 years, the late filing fee shall           

                                                                                

4   be $50.00 for each business day the campaign statement remains              

                                                                                

5   unfiled, but not to exceed $2,000.00.                                       

                                                                                

6       (6) If a treasurer or other individual designated as                        

                                                                                

7   responsible for the record keeping, report preparation, or report           

                                                                                

8   filing of a ballot question committee fails to file a statement             

                                                                                

9   as required by subsection (1) or (2) for more than 7 days, that             

                                                                                

10  treasurer or other designated individual is guilty of a                     

                                                                                

11  misdemeanor,  felony punishable by a fine of not more than                 

                                                                                

12  $1,000.00  $10,000.00, or imprisonment for not more than  90               

                                                                                

13  days  3 years, or both.                                                     

                                                                                

14      (7) If a treasurer or other individual designated as                        

                                                                                

15  responsible for the record keeping, report preparation, or report           

                                                                                

16  filing of a ballot question committee knowingly files an                    

                                                                                

17  incomplete or inaccurate statement or report required by this               

                                                                                

18  section, that treasurer or other designated individual is                   

                                                                                

19  subject to a civil  guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine           

                                                                                

20  of not more than  $1,000.00  $10,000.00, or imprisonment for not            

                                                                                

21  more than 90 days, or both.                                                 

                                                                                

22      Sec. 35.  (1) In addition to any other requirements of this                 

                                                                                

23  act for filing a campaign statement, a committee, other than an             

                                                                                

24  independent committee or a political committee required to file             

                                                                                

25  with the secretary of state, shall also file a campaign statement           

                                                                                

26  not later than January 31 of each year.  The campaign statement             

                                                                                

27  shall have a closing date of December 31 of the previous year.              


                                                                                

1   The period covered by the campaign statement filed pursuant to              

                                                                                

2   this subsection begins the day after the closing date of the                

                                                                                

3   previous campaign statement.  A campaign statement filed pursuant           

                                                                                

4   to this subsection shall be waived if a postelection campaign               

                                                                                

5   statement has been filed that has a filing deadline within 30               

                                                                                

6   days of the closing date of the campaign statement required by              

                                                                                

7   this subsection.                                                            

                                                                                

8       (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a candidate committee                  

                                                                                

9   for an officeholder who is a judge or a supreme court justice, or           

                                                                                

10  who holds an elective office for which the salary is less than              

                                                                                

11  $100.00 a month and who does not receive any contribution or make           

                                                                                

12  any expenditure during the time that would be otherwise covered             

                                                                                

13  in the statement.                                                           

                                                                                

14      (3) A committee, candidate, treasurer, or other individual                  

                                                                                

15  designated as responsible for the record keeping, report                    

                                                                                

16  preparation, or report filing for a candidate committee of a                

                                                                                

17  candidate for state elective office or a judicial office who                

                                                                                

18  fails to file a campaign statement under this section shall be              

                                                                                

19  assessed a late filing fee.  If the committee has raised                    

                                                                                

20  $10,000.00 or less during the previous 2 years, the late filing             

                                                                                

21  fee shall be  $25.00  $500.00 for each business day the campaign            

                                                                                

22  statement remains unfiled, but not to exceed  $500.00                       

                                                                                

23  $15,000.00.  If the committee has raised more than $10,000.00               

                                                                                

24  during the previous 2 years, the late filing fee shall be                   

                                                                                

25  $50.00  $1,000.00 for each business day the campaign statement             

                                                                                

26  remains unfiled, but not to exceed  $1,000.00  $30,000.00.  The             

                                                                                

27  late filing fee assessed under this subsection shall be paid by             


                                                                                

1   the candidate, and the candidate shall not use committee funds to           

                                                                                

2   pay that fee.  A committee, treasurer, or other individual                  

                                                                                

3   designated as responsible for the record keeping, report                    

                                                                                

4   preparation, or report filing for a committee other than a                  

                                                                                

5   candidate committee of a candidate for state elective office or a           

                                                                                

6   judicial office who fails to file a campaign statement under this           

                                                                                

7   section shall pay a late filing fee of  $25.00  $250.00 for each            

                                                                                

8   business day the campaign statement remains  not filed in                   

                                                                                

9   violation of this section  unfiled.  The late filing fee shall              

                                                                                

10  not exceed  $500.00  $7,500.00.                                             

                                                                                

11      (4) A committee filing a written statement pursuant to                      

                                                                                

12  section 24(5) or (6) need not file a statement in accordance with           

                                                                                

13  subsection (1).  If a committee receives or expends more than               

                                                                                

14  $1,000.00 during a time period prescribed by section 24(5) or               

                                                                                

15  (6), the committee is then subject to the campaign filing                   

                                                                                

16  requirements under this act and shall file a campaign statement             

                                                                                

17  for the period beginning the day after the closing date of the              

                                                                                

18  last postelection campaign statement or an annual campaign                  

                                                                                

19  statement that is waived pursuant to subsection (1), whichever              

                                                                                

20  occurred earlier.                                                           

                                                                                

21      (5) If a candidate, treasurer, or other individual designated               

                                                                                

22  as responsible for the record keeping, report preparation, or               

                                                                                

23  report filing fails to file 2 statements required by this section           

                                                                                

24  or section 33 and both of the statements remain unfiled for more            

                                                                                

25  than 30 days, that candidate, treasurer, or other designated                

                                                                                

26  individual is guilty of a  misdemeanor,  felony punishable by a             

                                                                                

27  fine of not more than  $1,000.00  $10,000.00, or imprisonment for           


                                                                                

1   not more than  90 days  3 years, or both.                                   

                                                                                

2       (6) If a treasurer or other individual designated as                        

                                                                                

3   responsible for the record keeping, report preparation, or report           

                                                                                

4   filing for a committee required to file a campaign statement                

                                                                                

5   under subsection (1) knowingly files an incomplete or inaccurate            

                                                                                

6   statement or report required by this section, that treasurer or             

                                                                                

7   other designated individual is  subject to a civil  guilty of a             

                                                                                

8   misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than  $1,000.00                

                                                                                

9   $10,000.00, or imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both.             

                                                                                

10      Enacting section 1.  This amendatory act does not take                      

                                                                                

11  effect unless Senate Bill No. 630                                           

                                                                                

12                          of the 92nd Legislature is enacted into             

                                                                                

13  law.