Currently, individuals and committees making political contributions to
candidates for the office of justice of the supreme court are subject to limitations on
the amount or value of any contribution or contributions that may be made
cumulatively to any candidate in a campaign. The limitations are $10,000 in the case
of an individual making a contribution to a candidate and $8,625 in the case of a
committee making a contribution to a candidate. This bill replaces these limitations
with a contribution limitation of $1,000 applicable to an individual or committee
making any contribution or contributions cumulatively to any candidate for the
office of justice of the supreme court who is eligible to qualify for a public financing
benefit but who declines to accept one, per campaign.
Fundraising during state budget consideration
This bill prohibits any person from making a contribution to an incumbent
partisan state official or a candidate for a partisan state office during the period from
the date of introduction of the executive budget bill through the date of enactment
of the biennial budget act. The prohibition does not apply to an individual who is a
candidate for a partisan state office at a special election during the period beginning
on the date that the special election is ordered and ending on the date of the special
election. In addition, the prohibition does not apply to a contribution made to an
incumbent who is subject to a recall election beginning on the date on which a
petitioner registers an intent to circulate a petition for a recall election against the
incumbent and ending on the date of the recall election, except that if the circulation
period expires without offering of the recall petition for filing, the filing officer
determines not to file the petition, or the incumbent resigns, the period ends on the
date of that event. Currently, there is no such prohibition.
Violators are subject to a forfeiture (civil penalty) of treble the amount or value
of any unlawful contribution. Intentional violators are guilty of a misdemeanor and
may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than six months or
both.
Representation by former state officials
Currently, with certain exceptions, no former state public official, for 12 months
following the date on which he or she ceases to be a state public official, may, for
compensation, on behalf of anyone other than a governmental entity, make any
formal or informal appearance before, or negotiate with, any officer or employee of
the department or agency with which he or she was associated as a state public
official during the 12 months preceding the official's departure from state service.

Additional restrictions apply with respect to matters in which a former state public
official was involved while serving as a state public official.
This bill provides, in addition, that no former governor or state public official
who was appointed to his or her position by the governor, for 12 months following the
date on which he or she ceases to occupy the office of governor or the position to which
he or she was appointed by the governor may, for compensation, on behalf of anyone
other than a governmental entity, make any formal or informal appearance before,
or negotiate with, any officer or employee in the executive branch of state
government.
Service by former legislators and certain legislative employees as lobbyists
This bill prohibits any individual who serves as a member or employee of the
legislature, except a nonpartisan employee, for 12 months following the date on
which the individual ceases to hold his or her office or position, from being employed
as a lobbyist for the purpose of attempting to influence state legislative action. A
"lobbyist" means an individual who is compensated by a principal and whose duties
include lobbying on behalf of the principal, except that an individual whose duties
on behalf of a principal are not limited exclusively to lobbying is a "lobbyist" only if
the individual makes lobbying communications on each of at least five days during
a six-month reporting period.
Violators are subject to a forfeiture (civil penalty) of not more than $5,000 for
each violation. Intentional violators are guilty of a misdemeanor and are subject to
a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $5,000 or imprisonment for not more than
one year or both for each violation.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,
the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a
report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to
result if the bill is enacted.
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:
AB1212, s. 1 1Section 1. 8.35 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1212,5,92 8.35 (4) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), any unspent and unencumbered moneys
3received by a candidate from the Wisconsin election campaign fund shall be
4immediately transferred to any candidate who is appointed to replace such
5candidate, upon filing of a proper application therefor under s. 11.50 (2). If there is
6no candidate appointed or if no proper application is filed within 7 days of the date

1on which the vacancy occurs, such moneys shall revert to the state as provided in s.
211.50 (8). Notwithstanding par. (a), any unspent and unencumbered moneys
3received by a candidate from the democracy trust fund shall be immediately
4transferred to any candidate who is appointed to replace that candidate upon filing
5of a proper application therefor under s. 11.502 (1). For purposes of qualification,
6contributions received and disbursements made by the former candidate are
7considered to have been received or made by the replacement candidate. If there is
8no candidate appointed or if no proper application is filed within 7 days of the date
9on which a vacancy occurs, the moneys shall revert to the state.
AB1212, s. 2 10Section 2. 11.01 (14m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1212,5,1311 11.01 (14m) "Partisan state office" means the office of governor, lieutenant
12governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, state senator, state
13representative to the assembly, or district attorney.
AB1212, s. 3 14Section 3. 11.12 (2) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act 177, is
15amended to read:
AB1212,5,2316 11.12 (2) Any No registrant, except a candidate who receives a public financing
17benefit from the democracy trust fund, may accept an
anonymous contribution
18exceeding $10 received by a campaign or committee treasurer or by an individual
19under s. 11.06 (7) may not be used or expended. The
. No candidate who receives a
20public financing benefit from the democracy trust fund may accept an anonymous
21contribution exceeding $5. Any anonymous
contribution that may not be accepted
22under this subsection
shall be donated to the common school fund or to any a
23charitable organization at the option of the registrant's treasurer.
AB1212, s. 4 24Section 4. 11.16 (2) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act 177, is
25amended to read:
AB1212,6,7
111.16 (2) Limitation on cash contributions. Every Except as provided in s.
211.506 (6), every
contribution of money exceeding $50 shall be made by negotiable
3instrument or evidenced by an itemized credit card receipt bearing on the face the
4name of the remitter. No treasurer may accept a contribution made in violation of
5this subsection. The treasurer shall promptly return the contribution, or donate it
6to the common school fund or to a charitable organization in the event that the donor
7cannot be identified.
AB1212, s. 5 8Section 5. 11.16 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1212,6,199 11.16 (3) Form of disbursements. Every Except as authorized under s. 11.511
10(1), every
disbursement which is made by a registered individual or treasurer from
11the campaign depository account shall be made by negotiable instrument. Such
12instrument shall bear on the face the full name of the candidate, committee,
13individual or group as it appears on the registration statement filed under s. 11.05
14and where necessary, such additional words as are sufficient to clearly indicate the
15political nature of the registrant or account of the registrant. The name of a political
16party shall include the word "party". The instrument of each committee registered
17with the board and designated under s. 11.05 (3) (c) as a special interest committee
18shall bear the identification number assigned under s. 11.21 (12) on the face of the
19instrument.
AB1212, s. 6 20Section 6. 11.24 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1212,7,221 11.24 (4m) (a) Except as provided in par. (c), no person may make a contribution
22to an incumbent partisan elective state official or to a candidate for a partisan state
23office, or to the personal campaign committee or support committee authorized
24under s. 11.05 (3) (p) of such an official or candidate during the period beginning on

1the date of introduction of the executive budget bill under s. 16.47 (1m) and ending
2on the date of enactment of the biennial budget act.
AB1212,7,53 (b) If in any year there is more than one executive budget bill, par. (a) applies
4beginning on the date of introduction of the first such bill and ending on the date of
5enactment of the last such bill.
AB1212,7,96 (c) Paragraph (a) does not apply to an individual who is a candidate for state
7office at a special election, or to the personal campaign or authorized support
8committee of such a candidate, during the period beginning on the date that the
9special election is ordered and ending on the date of the special election.
AB1212,7,1610 (d) Notwithstanding par. (a), a person may make a contribution to an
11incumbent partisan elective state official against whom a recall petition is circulated
12during the period beginning on the date that a petitioner registers an intent to
13circulate a petition under s. 9.10 (2) (d) and ending on the date of the recall election,
14except that if the circulation period expires without offering of the recall petition for
15filing, the filing officer determines not to file the petition, or the official resigns at an
16earlier date under s. 9.10 (3) (c), the period ends on the date of that event.
AB1212, s. 7 17Section 7. 11.26 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1212,7,1918 11.26 (1) (a) Candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state,
19state treasurer, attorney general, or state superintendent or justice, $10,000.
AB1212, s. 8 20Section 8. 11.26 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1212,7,2121 11.26 (1) (am) Candidates for justice, $1,000.
AB1212, s. 9 22Section 9. 11.26 (2) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act 177,
23is amended to read:
AB1212,8,3
111.26 (2) (a) Candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state,
2state treasurer, attorney general, or state superintendent or justice, 4 percent of the
3value of the disbursement level specified in the schedule under s. 11.31 (1).
AB1212, s. 10 4Section 10. 11.26 (2) (an) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1212,8,55 11.26 (2) (an) Candidates for justice, $1,000.
AB1212, s. 11 6Section 11. 11.26 (9) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act 177,
7is amended to read:
AB1212,8,138 11.26 (9) (a) No Except as provided in par. (ba), no individual who is a candidate
9for state or local office may receive and accept more than 65 percent of the value of
10the total disbursement level determined under s. 11.31 for the office for which he or
11she is a candidate during any primary and election campaign combined from all
12committees subject to a filing requirement, including political party and legislative
13campaign committees.
AB1212, s. 12 14Section 12. 11.26 (9) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act 177,
15is amended to read:
AB1212,8,2116 11.26 (9) (b) No Except as provided in par. (ba), no individual who is a candidate
17for state or local office may receive and accept more than 45 percent of the value of
18the total disbursement level determined under s. 11.31 for the office for which he or
19she is a candidate during any primary and election campaign combined from all
20committees other than political party and legislative campaign committees subject
21to a filing requirement.
AB1212, s. 13 22Section 13. 11.26 (9) (ba) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1212,8,2423 11.26 (9) (ba) Paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply to a candidate who receives
24a public financing benefit from the democracy trust fund.
AB1212, s. 14 25Section 14. 11.26 (13) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1212,9,3
111.26 (13) Except as provided in sub. (9), contributions received from the
2Wisconsin election campaign fund and public financing benefits received from the
3democracy trust fund
are not subject to limitation by this section.
AB1212, s. 15 4Section 15. 11.31 (1) (d) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act 177,
5is amended to read:
AB1212,9,76 11.31 (1) (d) Candidates for secretary of state, state treasurer, justice or state
7superintendent, $215,625.
AB1212, s. 16 8Section 16. 11.50 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act
9177
, is amended to read:
AB1212,9,1710 11.50 (1) (a) 1. With respect to a spring or general election, any individual who
11is certified under s. 7.08 (2) (a) as a candidate in the spring election for justice or state
12superintendent, or an individual who receives at least 6% of the vote cast for all
13candidates on all ballots for any state office, except district attorney, for which the
14individual is a candidate at the September primary and who is certified under s. 7.08
15(2) (a) as a candidate for that office in the general election, or an individual who has
16been lawfully appointed and certified to replace either such individual on the ballot
17at the spring or general election; and who has qualified for a grant under sub. (2).
AB1212, s. 17 18Section 17. 11.50 (3) (a) 2. of the statutes, as created by 2005 Wisconsin Act
19177
, is repealed.
AB1212, s. 18 20Section 18. 11.50 (3) (b) of the statutes, as created by 2005 Wisconsin Act 177,
21is amended to read:
AB1212,9,2522 11.50 (3) (b) If a vacancy occurs in the office of state superintendent or justice
23after August 15 in any year and an election is scheduled to fill the vacancy at the
24spring election in the following year, the state treasurer shall transfer an amount not
25exceeding 8 percent of the moneys transferred to the fund on the preceding August

115 to the superintendency account for the office in which the vacancy occurs, such
2moneys to be drawn from any account within the accounts created under sub. (4) in
3the amount or amounts specified by the board.
AB1212, s. 19 4Section 19. 11.501 to 11.522 of the statutes are created to read:
AB1212,10,5 511.501 Definitions. In ss. 11.501 to 11.522:
AB1212,10,7 6(1) "Allowable contribution" means a qualifying contribution, seed money
7contribution, or personal contribution authorized under ss. 11.502 to 11.522.
AB1212,10,8 8(2) "Campaign" has the meaning given in s. 11.26 (17).
AB1212,10,11 9(3) "Election campaign period" means the period beginning on the day after the
10spring primary election or the day on which a primary election would be held, if
11required, and ending on the day of the succeeding spring election.
AB1212,10,17 12(4) "Eligible candidate" means a candidate for the office of justice who has an
13opponent who has qualified to have his or her name certified for placement on the
14ballot at the spring primary or election and who qualifies for public financing by
15collecting the required number of qualifying contributions, making all required
16reports and disclosures, and being certified by the board as being in compliance with
17ss. 11.502 to 11.522.
AB1212,10,20 18(5) "Excess disbursement amount" means the amount of disbursements made
19by a nonparticipating candidate in excess of the public financing benefit available to
20an eligible candidate for the same office that the nonparticipating candidate seeks.
AB1212,10,23 21(6) "Excess qualifying contribution amount" means the amount of qualifying
22contributions accepted by a candidate beyond the number or dollar amount of
23contributions required to qualify a candidate for a public financing benefit.
AB1212,11,3
1(7) "Exploratory period" means the period that begins after the date of a spring
2election and ends on the first day of the public financing qualifying period for the next
3election for justice.
AB1212,11,5 4(9) "Immediate family," when used with reference to a candidate, includes the
5candidate's spouse and children.
AB1212,11,10 6(10) "Independent disbursement" means a disbursement by a person expressly
7advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate which is made
8without cooperation or consultation with a candidate, or any authorized committee
9or agent of a candidate, and which is not made in concert with, or at the request or
10suggestion of, any candidate, or any authorized committee or agent of a candidate.
AB1212,11,13 11(11) "Nonparticipating candidate" means a candidate for the office of justice
12who does not apply for a public financing benefit or who is otherwise ineligible or fails
13to qualify for a public financing benefit under ss. 11.502 to 11.522.
AB1212,11,15 14(12) "Personal funds" means funds contributed by a candidate or a member of
15a candidate's immediate family.
AB1212,11,19 16(13) "Primary election campaign period" means the period beginning on the
17day after the last day prescribed by law for filing nomination papers for that office
18and ending on the day of the spring primary election for that office or the day on
19which the primary election would be held, if required.
AB1212,11,22 20(14) "Public financing qualifying period" means the period beginning on the
21first day of July of any year and ending on the day before the beginning of the primary
22election campaign period for that office.
AB1212,11,25 23(15) "Qualifying contribution" means a contribution made to a candidate by an
24elector of this state during the public financing qualifying period, which is
25acknowledged by written receipt identifying the contributor.
AB1212,12,6
1(16) "Seed money contribution" means a contribution in an amount of not more
2than $100 made to a candidate by an elector of the jurisdiction or district in which
3the candidate seeks office during the exploratory period or the public financing
4qualifying period, or a contribution made to a candidate consisting of personal funds
5of that candidate in an amount not more than the amount authorized under s. 11.507
6during the exploratory period or the public financing qualifying period.
AB1212,12,15 711.502 Qualification; certification. (1) Before a candidate for justice in the
8primary election may be certified as an eligible candidate to receive a public
9financing benefit for the primary election campaign period, the candidate shall apply
10to the board for a public financing benefit and file a sworn statement that the
11candidate has complied and will comply with all requirements of this section and ss.
1211.503 to 11.522 throughout the applicable campaign, which includes the primary
13and election for that office. A candidate shall file the application and statement no
14later than the beginning of the primary election campaign period for the office that
15the candidate seeks.
AB1212,12,20 16(2) A candidate shall be certified by the board as an eligible candidate for
17receipt of public financing for a primary election if the candidate complies with sub.
18(1) and receives at least 1,000 qualifying contributions in amounts equal to not less
19than $5 nor more than $100 and in an aggregate amount of not less than $5,000 nor
20more than $15,000 before the close of the public financing qualifying period.
AB1212,12,23 21(3) The board shall verify a candidate's compliance with the requirements of
22sub. (2) by such verification and sampling techniques as the board considers
23appropriate.
AB1212,12,24 24(4) Each candidate shall:
AB1212,13,2
1(a) Acknowledge each qualifying contribution by a receipt to the contributor
2which contains the contributor's name and home address.
AB1212,13,63 (b) No later than the 15th or the last day of the month which immediately
4follows the date of receipt of a qualifying contribution, whichever comes first, file a
5copy of the receipt under par. (a) with the board, except that during July, August, and
6September a copy need only be filed on the last day of the month.
AB1212,13,8 7(5) A qualifying contribution may be utilized only for the purpose of making
8a disbursement authorized by law.
AB1212,13,16 911.503 Time of application. (1) Before a candidate may be certified as
10eligible for receipt of public financing for a spring election, the candidate shall apply
11to the board and file a sworn statement that the candidate has fulfilled all the
12requirements of ss. 11.502 to 11.522 during the primary election campaign period
13and will comply with such requirements during the election campaign period.
14Except as authorized in s. 8.35 (4) (b), the application shall be filed no later than the
157th day after the date of the spring primary election or the day on which the primary
16election would be held if a primary were required.
AB1212,13,19 17(2) The board shall certify a candidate as an eligible candidate for receipt of
18public financing for a spring election if the candidate complies with sub. (1) and the
19candidate was an eligible candidate during the primary election campaign period.
AB1212,14,2 2011.505 Agreement by candidate. An eligible candidate who accepts a public
21financing benefit under ss. 11.502 to 11.522 during the primary election campaign
22period shall agree to comply with all requirements of ss. 11.502 to 11.522 throughout
23the election campaign period during the same campaign as a precondition to receipt
24of public financing. An eligible candidate who accepts a public financing benefit
25during a primary election campaign period may not elect to accept private

1contributions in violation of ss. 11.502 to 11.522 during the corresponding election
2campaign period.
AB1212,14,6 311.506 Requirements imposed upon candidates. (1) An eligible
4candidate may not accept private contributions other than seed money contributions
5and qualifying contributions that the candidate accepts during the exploratory
6period and the public financing qualifying period.
AB1212,14,14 7(2) In addition to reports required to be filed under ss. 11.12 (5) and 11.20, a
8candidate who receives a public financing benefit shall furnish complete financial
9records, including records of seed money contributions, qualifying contributions, and
10disbursements, to the board on the 15th or the last day of the month that
11immediately follows the receipt of the contribution or the making of the
12disbursement, whichever comes first, except that during July, August, and
13September records need only be furnished on the last day of the month. Each such
14candidate shall cooperate with any audit or examination by the board.
AB1212,14,23 15(3) In addition to adhering to requirements imposed under ss. 11.06 (5) and
1611.12 (3), a candidate who receives a public financing benefit shall maintain records
17of all contributions received by the candidate of more than $5 but less than $50,
18including seed money contributions and qualifying contributions, which shall
19contain the full name of the contributor and the contributor's full home address. In
20addition, if a contributor's aggregate contributions to any candidate exceed $50 for
21any campaign, the candidate shall also maintain a record of the contributor's
22principal occupation and the name and business address of the contributor's place
23of employment.
AB1212,14,25 24(4) The failure to record or provide the information specified in sub. (3)
25disqualifies a contribution from counting as a qualifying contribution.
AB1212,15,3
1(5) No eligible candidate and no person acting on a candidate's behalf may
2deposit any contribution that is not recorded in accordance with sub. (3) in a
3candidate's campaign depository account.
AB1212,15,7 4(6) No eligible candidate may accept more than $25 in cash from any
5contributor and no such candidate may accept cash from all sources in a total amount
6greater than one-tenth of 1 percent of the public financing benefit for the office that
7the candidate seeks or $500, whichever is greater.
AB1212,15,10 811.507 Personal funds of candidates. (1) The personal funds of a candidate
9contributed as seed money contributions may not exceed an aggregate amount of
10$5,000.
AB1212,15,12 11(2) No eligible candidate may make any disbursement derived from personal
12funds after the close of the public financing qualifying period.
AB1212,15,19 1311.508 Seed money contributions. (1) An eligible candidate may accept
14seed money contributions from any individual or committee prior to the end of the
15public financing qualifying period, provided the total contributions received from one
16contributor, except personal funds and qualifying contributions otherwise permitted
17under ss. 11.502 to 11.522, do not exceed $100, and the aggregate contributions,
18including personal funds, but not including qualifying contributions, do not exceed
19$5,000.
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