AB265,16,4 22(3) If the board finds that there is probable cause to believe that an eligible
23candidate has made excess disbursements or has accepted excess contributions
24contrary to sub. (1) or (2), the board shall attempt for a period of not more than 14
25days after its finding to correct the matter by informal methods of conference and

1conciliation and to enter into a settlement and conciliation agreement under s. 5.05
2(1) (c) with the person involved. A settlement and conciliation agreement made
3pursuant to this subsection shall be a matter of public record. Unless violated, a
4settlement and conciliation agreement is a bar to any civil action under sub. (4).
AB265,16,10 5(4) If the board has probable cause to believe that an eligible candidate has
6made excess disbursements or has accepted excess contributions and the board is
7unable to correct the matter by informal methods within the time prescribed in sub.
8(3), the board shall make a public finding of probable cause in the matter. After
9making a public finding, the board may bring a civil action against the eligible
10candidate as provided in s. 5.05 (1) (c).
AB265,16,18 11(5) If an elector believes that an eligible candidate has violated ss. 11.502 to
1211.522 and the elector is entitled to vote for or against the eligible candidate in the
13election in connection with which the violation is alleged to occur, the elector may file
14a complaint with the board requesting it to take remedial action. If the board refuses
15to take remedial action or, within 30 days after the filing of such a complaint, fails
16to take remedial action, the elector may commence a civil action requesting the court
17to impose a forfeiture under sub. (1) or (2) in circuit court for the county where the
18board is authorized to bring an action under s. 5.05 (1) (c).
AB265,16,21 19(6) The board and courts shall expedite all proceedings under ss. 11.502 to
2011.522 so that all complaints brought prior to an election are resolved, to the extent
21possible, before the election is held.
AB265,16,25 22(7) If a complaint brought under ss. 11.502 to 11.522 is resolved against the
23complainant and is found to have been brought in bad faith and without reasonable
24basis therefor, the board or court may assess costs, including reasonable attorney
25fees, against the complainant.
AB265,17,6
111.518 Prohibited acts. (1) Notwithstanding s. 11.61 (1) (c), if an eligible
2candidate or agent of a candidate knowingly accepts more contributions than the
3candidate is entitled to receive, or makes disbursements exceeding the total amount
4of the public financing benefit received by the candidate and the qualifying and seed
5money contributions lawfully received by the candidate, the candidate or agent is
6guilty of a Class G felony.
AB265,17,10 7(2) Notwithstanding s. 11.61 (1) (c), if in connection with the receipt or
8disbursement of a public financing benefit for an election campaign, any person
9knowingly provides false information to the board, or knowingly conceals or
10withholds information from the board, that person is guilty of a Class G felony.
AB265,17,14 1111.522 Contributions to nonparticipating candidates. A
12nonparticipating candidate may accept contributions from private sources without
13limitation, except that no person may make any contribution or contributions to a
14nonparticipating candidate exceeding a total of $1,000 during any campaign.
AB265,13 15Section 13. 11.60 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB265,17,2216 11.60 (4) Except as otherwise provided in ss. 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. and 16. and (h),
175.08, and 5.081, actions under this section or 11.517 may be brought by the board or
18by the district attorney for the county where the defendant resides or, if the
19defendant is a nonresident, by the district attorney for the county where the violation
20is alleged to have occurred. For purposes of this subsection, a person other than a
21natural person resides within a county if the person's principal place of operation is
22located within that county.
AB265,14 23Section 14. 11.61 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB265,18,524 11.61 (2) Except as otherwise provided in ss. 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. and 16. and (i),
255.08, and 5.081, all prosecutions under this section or s. 11.518 shall be conducted

1by the district attorney for the county where the defendant resides or, if the
2defendant is a nonresident, by the district attorney for the county where the violation
3is alleged to have occurred. For purposes of this subsection, a person other than a
4natural person resides within a county if the person's principal place of operation is
5located within that county.
AB265,15 6Section 15. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place,
7insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table PDF - See PDF for table PDF - See PDF for table PDF - See PDF for table PDF - See PDF for table PDF - See PDF for table PDF
AB265,16
1Section 16. 20.511 (1) (r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB265,19,32 20.511 (1) (r) Democracy trust fund administration. From the democracy trust
3fund, the amounts in the schedule for the administration of ss. 11.501 to 11.522.
AB265,17 4Section 17. 20.585 (1) (q) of the statutes is created to read:
AB265,19,75 20.585 (1) (q) Public financing benefits; candidates for justice. From the
6democracy trust fund, a sum sufficient to provide for payment of public financing
7benefits to eligible candidates under ss. 11.501 to 11.522.
AB265,18 8Section 18. 20.585 (1) (r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB265,19,109 20.585 (1) (r) Democracy trust fund administration. From the democracy trust
10fund, the amounts in the schedule for the administration of ss. 11.501 to 11.522.
AB265,19 11Section 19. 20.855 (4) (ba) of the statutes is created to read:
AB265,19,1412 20.855 (4) (ba) Democracy trust fund payments. A sum sufficient equal to the
13amounts determined under s. 71.10 (3) to be paid into the democracy trust fund
14annually on August 15.
AB265,20 15Section 20. 20.855 (4) (bb) of the statutes is created to read:
AB265,19,2116 20.855 (4) (bb) Democracy trust fund transfer. A sum sufficient equal to the
17difference between the unencumbered balance in the democracy trust fund and the
18amounts required to provide public financing benefits that candidates qualify to
19receive from the democracy trust fund, to be transferred from the general fund to the
20democracy trust fund no later than the time required to make payments of grants
21under s. 11.51 (2) and (3).
AB265,21 22Section 21. 25.17 (1) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB265,19,2323 25.17 (1) (cm) Democracy trust fund (s. 25.421);
AB265,22 24Section 22. 25.421 of the statutes is created to read:
AB265,20,4
125.421 Democracy trust fund. All moneys appropriated under s. 20.855 (4)
2(ba) and (bb) and all moneys deposited in the state treasury under ss. 11.509, 11.51
3(4), and 11.511 (5r) constitute the democracy trust fund, to be expended for the
4purposes of ss. 11.501 to 11.522.
AB265,23 5Section 23. 71.10 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
AB265,20,106 71.10 (3) Campaign fund. (a) Every individual filing an income tax return who
7has a tax liability or is entitled to a tax refund may designate $2 for the democracy
8trust fund for the use of eligible candidates under s. 11.51. If the individuals filing
9a joint return have a tax liability or are entitled to a tax refund, each individual may
10make a designation of $2 under this subsection.
AB265,20,1811 (b) The secretary of revenue shall provide a place for those designations on the
12face of the individual income tax return and shall provide next to that place a
13statement that a designation will not increase tax liability. Annually on August 15,
14the secretary of revenue shall certify to the government accountability board, the
15department of administration and the state treasurer the total amount of
16designations made during the preceding fiscal year. If any individual attempts to
17place any condition or restriction upon a designation, that individual is deemed not
18to have made a designation on his or her tax return.
AB265,20,2019 (c) The names of persons making designations under this subsection shall be
20strictly confidential.
AB265,24 21Section 24. Initial applicability.
AB265,21,222 (1) The treatment of section 71.10 (3) of the statutes first applies to taxable
23years beginning on January 1 of the year in which this subsection takes effect, except
24that if this subsection takes effect after July 31 the treatment first applies to taxable

1years beginning on January 1 of the year following the year in which this subsection
2takes effect.
AB265,25 3Section 25. Effective date.
AB265,21,44 (1) This act takes effect on December 1 following the date of publication.
AB265,21,55 (End)
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