AB1058: Bill Text

LRB-4665/1

JTK:lmk:pg

2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Assembly BILL 1058

February 23, 2006 - Introduced by Representatives Freese and Travis. Referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections.

AB1058,1,3 An Act to repeal 11.50 (3) and (4); to amend 11.50 (6), 11.50 (5) and 25.42; and to create 20.855 (4) (ba) of the statutes; relating to: financing of grants from the Wisconsin election campaign fund and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Currently, state grants are available to eligible candidates for certain state offices from the Wisconsin election campaign fund if the candidates agree to limit their disbursements (expenditures) and self-contributions, with certain exceptions. The grants are funded from general purpose revenues in an annual amount equivalent to the number of state income tax filers who designate $1 to be deposited in the fund. The fund is divided into accounts for various state offices. Each eligible candidate for the same office is potentially eligible to receive an equal amount. The maximum grant that is payable to candidates for each office is specified by law. If there are insufficient moneys in the fund or in an account within the fund to make payment of the full amount of grants for which candidates qualify, the grants are prorated to the eligible candidates qualifying therefor.

This bill appropriates a sum sufficient from general purpose revenues to supplement the amounts currently available to finance grants so that each eligible candidate may receive the full amount of the grant for which the candidate qualifies by law.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB1058, s. 1 Section 1. 11.50 (3) and (4) of the statutes, as unaffected by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109, are repealed.

AB1058, s. 2 Section 2. 11.50 (5) of the statutes, as unaffected by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109, is amended to read:

AB1058,2,9 11.50 (5) Time of disbursement. The state treasurer shall make the disbursements to the campaign depository account of each eligible candidate under subs. (3) and (4) by the end of the 3rd business day following notice from the board under s. 7.08 (2) (c) or (cm). Eligible candidates for governor and lieutenant governor of the same political party may combine accounts if desired.

AB1058, s. 3 Section 3. 11.50 (6) of the statutes, as unaffected by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109, is amended to read:

AB1058,2,15 11.50 (6) Excess moneys. If the amounts which are to be apportioned to each eligible candidate under subs. (3) and (4) are more than the amount which a candidate may accept under sub. (9), or more than the amount which a candidate elects to accept under sub. (10), the excess moneys shall be retained in the fund.

AB1058, s. 4 Section 4. 20.855 (4) (ba) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1058,2,21 20.855 (4) (ba) Wisconsin election campaign fund supplement. A sum sufficient equal to the amounts required to make full payment of grants which candidates qualify to receive from the Wisconsin election campaign fund, to be transferred from the general fund to the Wisconsin election campaign fund no later than the time required to make payments of grants under s. 11.50 (5).

AB1058, s. 5 Section 5. 25.42 of the statutes, as unaffected by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109, is amended to read:

AB1058,3,8 25.42 Wisconsin election campaign fund. All moneys appropriated under s. 20.855 (4) (b) and (ba) together with all moneys reverting to the state under s. 11.50 (8) and all gifts, bequests and devises received under s. 11.50 (13) constitute the Wisconsin election campaign fund, to be expended for the purposes of s. 11.50. All moneys in the fund not disbursed by the state treasurer shall continue to accumulate indefinitely.

AB1058, s. 6 Section 6. Initial applicability.

AB1058,3,11 (1) This act first applies with respect to distribution of grants from the Wisconsin election campaign fund for elections held after August 31, 2006.

AB1058,3,12 (End)