AB303,10,12 6(17) "Seed money contribution" means a contribution in an amount of not more
7than $100 made to a candidate during the exploratory period or the public financing
8qualifying period, or a contribution made to a candidate consisting of personal funds
9of that candidate in an amount not more than the amount authorized under s. 11.507
10during the exploratory period or the public financing qualifying period. "Seed money
11contribution" does not include a contribution for a purpose authorized under s.
1211.506 (1m).
AB303,11,2 1311.502 Qualification and certification at primary election. (1) Before
14a candidate for the office of justice in the primary election may be certified as an
15eligible candidate to receive a public financing benefit for the primary election
16campaign period, or for the election campaign period if no spring primary election for
17the office of justice is held, the candidate shall apply to the board for a public
18financing benefit and file a sworn statement that the candidate has complied and will
19comply with all requirements of ss. 11.502 to 11.518 throughout the applicable
20campaign. If the candidate desires to receive public financing benefits by electronic
21transfer, the candidate shall include in his or her application sufficient information
22and authorization for the state treasurer to transfer payments to his or her campaign
23depository account. A candidate shall file the application and statement, together
24with the list of qualifying contributions required under s. 11.510 (1), no later than

15 p.m. on the 10th day after the last day prescribed by law for filing nomination
2papers for the office of justice.
AB303,11,7 3(2) A candidate for the office of justice shall be certified by the board as an
4eligible candidate for receipt of a public financing benefit if the candidate complies
5with sub. (1) and receives qualifying contributions from at least 500 individuals in
6amounts equal to not less than $10 nor more than $100 before the close of the public
7financing qualifying period.
AB303,11,10 8(3) The board shall verify a candidate's compliance with the requirements of
9sub. (2) by such verification and sampling techniques as the board considers
10appropriate.
AB303,11,23 11(4) Within 3 business days after the deadline provided under sub. (1), any
12person may challenge the validity of any contribution listed by a candidate by filing
13a written challenge with the board setting forth any reason why the contribution
14should not be accepted as a qualifying contribution. Within 5 business days after the
15deadline provided under sub. (1), the candidate who listed any contribution that is
16the subject of a challenge may file with the board an additional contribution within
17the total limitation prescribed under s. 11.509 for consideration as a qualifying
18contribution. If a contribution is challenged under this subsection, the board shall
19decide the validity of the challenge no later than the end of the next business day
20after the day that the challenge is filed, unless the board determines that the
21candidate whose contribution is challenged has sufficient qualifying contributions
22to be certified as an eligible candidate under this section without considering the
23challenge.
AB303,11,25 24(5) A qualifying contribution may be utilized only for the purpose of making
25a disbursement authorized by law.
AB303,12,12
111.503 Qualification and certification at spring election. (1) If a spring
2primary for the office of justice is held, and a candidate is nominated at the primary
3to have his or her name appear as a candidate for the office of justice in the spring
4election, that candidate may apply to the board to receive a public financing benefit
5for the spring election. Before a candidate may be certified as an eligible candidate
6to receive a public financing benefit for the spring election, the candidate shall file
7with the board a sworn statement that the candidate has fulfilled all the
8requirements of ss. 11.502 to 11.518 during the primary election campaign period
9and will comply with such requirements during the election campaign period. A
10candidate shall file the application and statement no later than the day after the date
11of the spring primary election or the day on which the primary election would be held
12if a primary were required.
AB303,12,15 13(2) The board shall certify a candidate as an eligible candidate for receipt of
14public financing for a spring election if the candidate qualifies under sub. (1) to
15receive the benefit and the candidate complies with sub. (1).
AB303,12,19 1611.506 Requirements imposed upon candidates. (1) Except provided in
17sub. (1m), an eligible candidate may not accept private contributions other than seed
18money contributions and qualifying contributions that the candidate accepts during
19the exploratory period and the public financing qualifying period.
AB303,13,3 20(1m) An eligible candidate may accept private contributions at any time for the
21purpose of payment of legal expenses in connection with a civil investigation or
22prosecution for an alleged violation of this chapter by the candidate or his or her
23personal campaign committee, payment of civil penalties incurred under this
24chapter by the candidate or his or her personal campaign committee, payment of
25recount expenses incurred by the candidate or his or her personal campaign

1committee, or payment of inaugural expenses of the candidate, subject to applicable
2contribution limitations under s. 11.26. This subsection does not preclude payment
3of such expenses in any other lawful manner.
AB303,13,11 4(2) In addition to reports required to be filed under ss. 11.12 (5) and 11.20, a
5candidate who receives a public financing benefit shall furnish complete financial
6records, including records of seed money contributions, qualifying contributions, and
7disbursements, to the board on the 15th or the last day of the month that
8immediately follows the receipt of the contribution or the making of the
9disbursement, whichever comes first, except that during July, August, and
10September records need only be furnished on the last day of the month. Each such
11candidate shall cooperate with any audit or examination by the board.
AB303,13,18 12(3) In addition to complying with ss. 11.06 (5) and 11.12 (3), a candidate who
13receives a public financing benefit shall maintain records of all seed money and
14qualifying contributions received. These records shall contain the full name of the
15contributor and the contributor's full home address. In addition, if a contributor's
16aggregate contributions to any candidate exceed $50 for any campaign, the
17candidate shall also maintain a record of the contributor's principal occupation and
18the name and business address of the contributor's place of employment.
AB303,13,21 19(4) Failure to record any information pertaining to a contribution under sub.
20(3) or to provide the board with that information upon request disqualifies the
21contribution from being counted as a qualifying contribution under s. 11.502 (2).
AB303,13,25 22(5) No eligible candidate and no person acting on an eligible candidate's behalf
23may deposit in the candidate's campaign depository account any contribution unless
24the information pertaining to that contribution required under sub. (3) has first been
25recorded by the candidate.
AB303,14,4
1(6) No eligible candidate may accept more than $25 in cash from any
2contributor and no such candidate may accept cash from all sources in a total amount
3greater than one-tenth of 1% of the public financing benefit for the office of justice
4or $500, whichever is greater.
AB303,14,7 511.507 Personal funds of candidates. (1) The personal funds of a candidate
6contributed as seed money contributions may not exceed an aggregate amount of
7$5,000.
AB303,14,10 8(2) No eligible candidate may make any disbursement derived from personal
9funds after the close of the public financing qualifying period, except for a purpose
10authorized under s. 11.506 (1m).
AB303,14,15 1111.508 Seed money contributions. An eligible candidate may accept seed
12money contributions from any individual or committee prior to the end of the public
13financing qualifying period. The total seed money contributions accepted by a
14candidate from one contributor, except personal funds authorized under s. 11.507 (1),
15may not exceed $100.
AB303,14,24 1611.509 Disbursements from seed money and qualifying contributions;
17excess contributions.
An eligible candidate may make disbursements not
18exceeding a total of $25,000 from seed money and qualifying contributions received
19by the candidate at any time after the beginning of the exploratory period. An
20eligible candidate shall remit to the board all seed money and qualifying
21contributions received by the candidate exceeding a total of $25,000 within 48 hours
22after the end of the exploratory period. The board shall deposit all contributions
23received under this section in the democracy trust fund. This section does not apply
24to disbursements for a purpose specified in s. 11.506 (1m).
AB303,15,7
111.510 Certification by candidate. (1) To apply for a public financing
2benefit, a candidate shall, no later than the time specified in s. 11.502 (1), submit a
3list identifying the requisite number of qualifying contributions under s. 11.502 (2)
4that have been received by the candidate, and shall certify to the board that the
5candidate has made all disclosures required as of the time of application. The
6candidate's request for certification shall be signed by the candidate and the
7candidate's campaign treasurer.
AB303,15,9 8(2) The board shall process applications for public financing benefits in the
9order received.
AB303,15,14 10(3) The board shall determine a candidate's eligibility to receive a public
11financing benefit for a spring primary no later than 3 business days after the time
12that the candidate files the list of qualifying contributions and the certification
13required under sub. (1) or, if a challenge is filed under s. 11.502 (4), no later than 6
14business days after the deadline specified in s. 11.502 (1).
AB303,15,18 15(4) The board shall determine a candidate's eligibility to receive a public
16financing benefit for a spring election no later than 2 business days after the date of
17the spring primary, or if no spring primary is held, no later than the time prescribed
18under sub. (3).
AB303,15,23 19(5) If the board determines that a candidate is eligible to receive a public
20financing benefit under sub. (3) or (4), the board shall immediately issue a check for
21or transfer to the candidate's campaign depository account an amount equal to the
22initial public financing benefit for which the candidate qualifies and shall notify all
23other candidates for the office of justice of its determination.
AB303,16,6 24(6) If a candidate who receives a public financing benefit intentionally violates
25the requirements of ss. 11.502 to 11.518, the board shall require the candidate to

1repay all public funds received by the candidate to the board. If a candidate who
2receives a public financing benefit otherwise violates the requirements of ss. 11.502
3to 11.518, the board shall require the candidate to repay a portion of the public funds
4received by the candidate to the board. The amount of any such repayment shall be
5commensurate with the severity of the violation. The board shall deposit all
6repayments received under this subsection in the democracy trust fund.
AB303,16,17 711.511 Public financing benefits. (1) The board shall provide to each
8eligible candidate who qualifies to receive a public financing benefit for the primary
9or election campaign period separate checks or transfers equal to the public
10financing benefits payable to the candidate for the primary or election campaign
11periods in the amounts specified in this section, subject to any required adjustment
12under s. 11.512 (2) or 11.513 (3). An eligible candidate may use a public financing
13benefit to finance any lawful disbursements during the primary and election
14campaign periods to further the election of the candidate in that primary or election.
15An eligible candidate may not use a public financing benefit to repay any loan or use
16a public financing benefit in violation of ss. 11.502 to 11.518 or any other applicable
17law.
AB303,16,19 18(2) The initial public financing benefit for a primary election campaign period
19is $100,000.
AB303,16,21 20(3) The initial public financing benefit for an election campaign period is
21$300,000.
AB303,16,24 22(4) If there is no spring primary election for the office of justice, no eligible
23candidate may receive a public financing benefit for the primary election campaign
24period.
AB303,17,5
1(5) An eligible candidate who receives a public financing benefit in the primary
2election campaign period and whose name is certified to appear on the ballot at the
3election following that primary may utilize any unencumbered balance of the public
4financing benefit received by the candidate in the primary election campaign period
5for the election campaign period.
AB303,17,6 6(6) (a) In this subsection:
AB303,17,97 1. "Consumer price index" means the average of the consumer price index over
8each 12-month period, all items, U.S. city average, as determined by the bureau of
9labor statistics of the U.S. department of labor.
AB303,17,1210 2. "Voting age population of this state" means the voting age population of this
11state, as determined by the federal election commission in its most recent
12determination prior to the date of any calculation under this subsection.
AB303,18,213 (b) The dollar amounts of the public financing benefits provided for in subs. (2)
14and (3) shall be subject to a biennial adjustment to be determined by rule of the board
15in accordance with this subsection. To determine the adjustment, the board shall
16calculate the percentage difference between the voting age population of this state
17on December 31 of each odd-numbered year and the voting age population of this
18state on December 31, 2003. The board shall then calculate the percentage difference
19between the consumer price index for the 12-month period ending on December 31
20of each odd-numbered year and the consumer price index for calendar year 2003.
21The board shall then multiply the public financing benefits by the percentage
22difference in the voting age populations. The board shall then multiply that product
23by the percentage difference in the consumer price indexes. For each biennium
24beginning on July 1 of an even-numbered year, the board shall adjust the public
25financing benefits provided for in subs. (2) and (3) by rounding that result to the

1nearest multiple of $25 and substituting that result for the existing amounts if
2different from the adjusted amounts.
AB303,19,3 311.512 Financial activity by nonparticipating candidates. (1) In
4addition to other reports required by law, a nonparticipating candidate for the office
5of justice at a primary or election shall file a report with the board no later than 7
6days after receiving notice from the board under s. 11.510 (5). The report shall
7contain a statement of the total contributions received and disbursements made by
8the candidate since that date of the candidate's most recent report and cumulatively
9for the campaign as of the date of the report. In addition, a nonparticipating
10candidate who makes disbursements that equal or exceed 90% of the public financing
11benefit for the office of justice for the primary election campaign period or for the
12election campaign period shall, within 7 days of making disbursements that equal
13or exceed that amount for that period, file a report with the board containing a
14statement of the total contributions received and disbursements made by the
15candidate. A nonparticipating candidate shall file additional reports after the
16candidate receives each additional $1,000 of contributions, or the candidate makes
17each additional $1,000 of disbursements. Such reports shall be made within 24 hours
18after each instance in which such contributions are received or such disbursements
19are made, except that if a nonparticipating candidate receives notification under s.
2011.510 (5) that an opposing candidate has qualified to receive a public financing
21benefit for the primary election period, the obligation to file reports under this
22subsection terminates on the day of the primary election. If the nonparticipating
23candidate receives notification under s. 11.510 (5) that an opposing candidate has
24qualified to receive a public financing benefit for the spring election period, the
25nonparticipating candidate shall resume filing reports under this subsection no later

1than 7 days after receiving that notice. The board shall transmit copies of all reports
2received under this subsection to all candidates for the office of justice at the same
3election.
AB303,19,18 4(2) Upon receipt of any report indicating that a nonparticipating candidate has
5received total contributions or made total disbursements in excess of the public
6financing benefit for the office of justice applicable to the primary, if prior to the date
7that the spring primary for the office of justice is held or the date that the primary
8would be held if a primary were required, or applicable to the election, if on or after
9that date, the board shall promptly issue a check or transfer to each eligible opposing
10candidate who qualifies to receive a public financing benefit an additional public
11financing benefit. The amount of the additional public financing benefit shall equal
12the amount by which the total contributions received or the total disbursements
13made by the nonparticipating candidate, whichever is greater, exceed the amount of
14the initial public financing benefit for the office of justice applicable under this
15subsection to the period during which the excess contributions are received or excess
16disbursements are made, but not to exceed, when combined with any amount
17received under s. 11.513 (3), 3 times the amount of the initial public financing benefit
18for that period.
AB303,20,7 1911.513 Independent expenditures. (1) (a) If any person makes one or more
20communications to be financed with independent expenditures exceeding $2,000 in
21the aggregate, that person shall file a report with the board. The report shall be made
22whenever the person makes one or more communications financed or to be financed
23with independent expenditures exceeding $2,000 in the aggregate and whenever the
24person makes one or more additional communications financed or to be financed with
25independent expenditures exceeding $2,000 in the aggregate that are not identified

1in a previous report under this subsection. Reports required under this subsection
2shall be filed within 7 days after the date that communications financed with
3independent expenditures exceeding $2,000 in the aggregate that are not identified
4in a previous report are made, or if communications are made within 15 days of the
5date of a spring primary or election, within 24 hours after the date that
6communications financed with independent expenditures exceeding $2,000 in the
7aggregate that are not identified in a previous report are made.
AB303,20,158 (b) If a person makes or incurs an obligation to make a single independent
9expenditure for the purpose of financing communications that are to be made on
10more than one day, the person may report the entire expenditure under par. (a) for
11the day on which the person makes the first communication financed by the
12expenditure, or the person may report for each day on which the person makes one
13or more communications financed by the expenditure the proportionate amount of
14the expenditure attributable to the cost of the communication or communications
15made on that day.
AB303,20,16 16(2) Each report filed under sub. (1) shall contain the following information:
AB303,20,1817 (a) The name of each candidate who is identified in each communication
18financed by an independent expenditure.
AB303,20,2119 (b) A statement as to whether the communication is intended to support or
20oppose any candidate who is identified under par. (a) and if so, the name of that
21candidate.
AB303,20,2422 (c) The total amount or value of the independent expenditure and the
23cumulative aggregate independent expenditures made by the person with respect to
24that election.
AB303,21,11
1(3) When the sum of the aggregate independent expenditures reported made
2against an eligible candidate, and the independent expenditures made for that
3candidate's opponent, as reported under sub. (1), exceed 20% of the public financing
4benefit for the office of justice in the primary or election for which the expenditures
5are made, the board shall issue a check or transfer to that candidate an additional
6public financing benefit. The amount of the additional public financing benefit shall
7equal the total such independent expenditures made, but not to exceed, when
8combined with any amount received under s. 11.512 (2), 3 times the amount of the
9initial public financing benefit for that primary or election. The board shall issue the
10check or make the transfer required under this subsection no later than 24 hours
11after the additional public financing benefit becomes due.
AB303,21,18 12(4) If a person who makes an independent expenditure does not indicate
13whether an independent expenditure is made against an eligible candidate or for an
14eligible candidate's opponent, or if the report reasonably appears to be incorrect, the
15board may obtain a copy of the communication and, after examination, determine
16whether the expenditure was made against an eligible candidate or for an eligible
17candidate's opponent for purposes of sub. (3). Any determination made by the board
18under this subsection applies solely for the purpose of administration of sub. (3).
AB303,21,20 1911.515 Democracy trust fund disbursements. (1) The democracy trust
20fund shall be administered by the state treasurer.
AB303,21,25 21(2) No eligible candidate or agent of an eligible candidate may make a
22disbursement in the form of cash, except in an amount not exceeding $100 for the
23purpose of making subsequent cash disbursements in amounts not exceeding $25.
24An eligible candidate shall maintain records of all cash disbursements and shall
25report such disbursements to the board in accordance with ss. 11.06 (1) and 11.506.
AB303,22,2
111.516 Administration. Except as otherwise specifically provided in ss.
211.501 to 11.518, the board shall administer and enforce ss. 11.501 to 11.518.
AB303,22,8 311.517 Penalties; enforcement. (1) Except as authorized in s. 11.506 (1m),
4if an eligible candidate makes disbursements that exceed the total amount of the
5public financing benefit allocated to the candidate for any campaign and the total
6qualifying and seed money contributions lawfully accepted by the candidate, the
7candidate may be required to forfeit not more than 10 times the amount by which the
8disbursements exceed the allocation.
AB303,22,11 9(2) Any eligible candidate who accepts contributions in excess of any limitation
10imposed under ss. 11.502 to 11.518 may be required to forfeit not more than 10 times
11the amount by which the contributions exceed the applicable limitation.
AB303,22,19 12(3) If the board finds that there is probable cause to believe that a candidate
13has made excess disbursements or has accepted excess contributions contrary to sub.
14(1) or (2), the board shall attempt, for a period of not more than 14 days after its
15finding, to correct the matter by informal methods of conference and conciliation and
16to enter into a settlement and conciliation agreement under s. 5.05 (1) (c) with the
17person involved. A settlement and conciliation agreement made pursuant to this
18subsection shall be a matter of public record. Unless violated, a settlement and
19conciliation agreement is a bar to any civil action under sub. (4).
AB303,22,25 20(4) If the board has probable cause to believe that a candidate has made excess
21disbursements or has accepted excess contributions, and the board is unable to
22correct the matter by informal methods within the time prescribed in sub. (3), the
23board shall make a public finding of probable cause in the matter. After making a
24public finding, the board shall bring an action in the circuit court for Dane County
25to impose a forfeiture under sub. (1) or (2).
AB303,23,6
1(5) If any elector of this state believes that a candidate has violated ss. 11.502
2to 11.518, the elector may file a complaint with the board requesting it to take
3remedial action. If the board refuses to take remedial action or, within 30 days after
4the filing of such a complaint, fails to take remedial action, the elector may commence
5a civil action in the appropriate circuit court under sub. (4) requesting the court to
6impose a forfeiture under sub. (1) or (2).
AB303,23,9 7(6) The board and courts shall expedite all proceedings under ss. 11.502 to
811.518 so that all complaints brought prior to an election are resolved, to the extent
9possible, before the election is held.
AB303,23,13 10(7) If a complaint brought under ss. 11.502 to 11.518 is resolved against the
11complainant and the court finds that the complaint has been brought in bad faith and
12without a reasonable basis, the board or court may assess costs, including reasonable
13attorney fees, against the complainant.
AB303,23,20 1411.518 Prohibited acts. (1) If a candidate or agent of a candidate knowingly
15accepts more contributions than the candidate is entitled to receive, or makes
16disbursements exceeding the total amount of the public financing benefit received
17by the candidate, and the total amount of the qualifying and seed money
18contributions lawfully received by the candidate, except as authorized under s.
1911.506 (1m), the candidate or agent may be fined not more than $25,000 or
20imprisoned for not more than 5 years or both.
AB303,23,24 21(2) If a candidate who receives a public financing benefit, or an agent of such
22a candidate, knowingly makes a disbursement by means other than through use of
23the candidate's campaign depository account, the candidate or agent may be fined
24not more than $25,000 or imprisoned for not more than 5 years or both.
AB303,24,5
1(3) If, in connection with the receipt or disbursement of a public financing
2benefit for an election campaign, any person knowingly provides false information
3to the board or knowingly conceals or withholds information from the board, that
4person may be fined not more than $25,000 or imprisoned for not more than 5 years
5or both.
AB303, s. 19 6Section 19. 12.05 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB303,24,12 712.05 False representations affecting elections. No person may
8knowingly make or publish, or cause to be made or published, a false representation
9pertaining to a candidate or referendum which that is intended or tends to affect
10voting at an election. This section does not apply to any information reported by a
11person making an independent expenditure, as defined in s. 11.501 (10), under s.
1211.513 (2) (b).
AB303, s. 20 13Section 20. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place,
14insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table PDF - See PDF for table PDF
AB303, s. 21 15Section 21. 20.510 (1) (r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB303,25,2
120.510 (1) (r) Democracy trust fund administration. From the democracy trust
2fund, the amounts in the schedule for the administration of ss. 11.501 to 11.518.
AB303, s. 22 3Section 22. 20.585 (1) (q) of the statutes is created to read:
AB303,25,64 20.585 (1) (q) Democracy trust fund. As a continuing appropriation, from the
5democracy trust fund, the moneys determined under ss. 11.501 to 11.518 to provide
6for payments to eligible candidates.
AB303, s. 23 7Section 23. 20.585 (1) (r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB303,25,98 20.585 (1) (r) Democracy trust fund administration. From the democracy trust
9fund, the amounts in the schedule for the administration of ss. 11.501 to 11.518.
AB303, s. 24 10Section 24. 20.855 (4) (bb) of the statutes is created to read:
AB303,25,1611 20.855 (4) (bb) Democracy trust fund transfer. A sum sufficient equal to the
12amounts appropriated under ss. 20.510 (1) (r) and 20.585 (1) (r) and the amounts
13required to provide public financing benefits that candidates qualify to receive from
14the democracy trust fund, to be transferred from the general fund to the democracy
15trust fund no later than the time required to make payments of grants under ss.
1611.510 (5), 11.512 (2), and 11.513 (3).
AB303, s. 25 17Section 25. 25.17 (1) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB303,25,1818 25.17 (1) (cm) Democracy trust fund (s. 25.421);
AB303, s. 26 19Section 26. 25.421 of the statutes is created to read:
AB303,25,23 2025.421 Democracy trust fund. All moneys appropriated under s. 20.855 (4)
21(bb) and all moneys deposited in the state treasury under ss. 11.509 and 11.510 (6)
22constitute the democracy trust fund, to be expended for the purposes of ss. 11.501 to
2311.518.
AB303, s. 27 24Section 27. Nonstatutory provisions.
AB303,25,2525 (1) Nonseverability.
AB303,26,3
1(a) Notwithstanding section 990.001 (11) of the statutes, if a court finds that
2any part of section 11.513 of the statutes, as created by this act, is unconstitutional,
3that entire section is void.
AB303,26,64 (b) Notwithstanding section 990.001 (11) of the statutes, if a court finds that
5any part of section 11.512 of the statutes, as created by this act, is unconstitutional,
6this entire act is void.
AB303,26,157 (2) Use of prior balances by candidates. Notwithstanding sections 11.506 (1),
811.509, 11.511, 11.512 (2) , 11.513 (3), and 11.517 of the statutes, as created by this
9act, an eligible candidate for the office of justice who has an unencumbered balance
10in his or her campaign depository account on the effective date of this subsection that
11was lawfully received in accordance with the law in effect prior to the effective date
12of this subsection may make disbursements from that balance, but the total amount
13of the public financing benefit payable to that candidate under sections 11.511,
1411.512 (2), and 11.513 (3) of the statutes, as created by this act, is decreased by the
15amount of that balance.
AB303, s. 28 16Section 28. Effective date.
AB303,26,1817 (1) This act takes effect on July 1, 2001, or the day after publication, whichever
18is later.
AB303,26,1919 (End)
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