AB605: Bill Text

AB605,30 Section 30. 11.20 (10) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

AB605,31 Section 31. 11.21 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB605,16,3 11.21 (2) Furnish Not earlier than 21 days and not later than 14 days prior to the applicable filing deadline under s. 11.20, provide to each registrant the prescribed forms for the making of reports and statements. Forms shall be sent by 1st class mail not earlier than 21 days and not later than 14 days prior to the applicable filing deadline under s. 11.20, and addressed to the attention of the treasurer or other person indicated on the registration statement. Forms need not be sent to a registrant who has made an indication that aggregate contributions, disbursements and obligations will not exceed the amount specified under s. 11.05 (2r) or to a registrant who has been granted a suspension under s. 11.19 (2). Forms for reports shall not be sent by the board to a registrant if the registrant is required to file reports with the board in an electronic format. Whenever any notice of filing requirements under this chapter is sent to a candidate's campaign treasurer, the board shall also send a notice to the candidate if he or she has appointed a separate treasurer. Failure to receive any form or notice does not exempt a registrant from compliance with this chapter electronically or, at the registrant's request, by 1st class mail addressed to the treasurer indicated on the registration statement.

AB605,32 Section 32. 11.21 (16) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB605,17,3 11.21 (16) Require each registrant for whom the board serves as filing officer and who or which accepts contributions in a total amount or value of $20,000 $10,000 or more during a campaign period to file each campaign finance report that is required to be filed under this chapter in an electronic format, and accept from any other registrant for whom the board serves as a filing officer any campaign finance report that is required to be filed under this chapter in an electronic format. A registrant who or which becomes subject to a requirement to file reports in an electronic format under this subsection shall initially file the registrant's report in an electronic format for the period which includes the date on which the registrant becomes subject to the requirement. To facilitate implementation of this subsection, the board shall specify, by rule, a type of software that is suitable for compliance with the electronic filing requirement under this subsection. The software shall allow an authorized individual to provide an electronic signature, as defined in s. 137.11 (8), that is subject to a security procedure, as defined in s. 137.11 (13). The board shall provide copies of the software to registrants at a price fixed by the board that may not exceed cost. A registrant who or which files a report under this subsection in an electronic format may file with the board that portion of the report signed by an authorized individual rather than submit the electronic signature of that individual. The board shall provide complete instructions to any registrant who or which files a report under this subsection. In this subsection, the "campaign period" of a candidate, personal campaign committee or support committee begins and ends with the "campaign" of the candidate whose candidacy is supported, as defined in s. 11.26 (17), and the "campaign period" of any other registrant begins on January 1 of each odd-numbered year and ends on December 31 of the following year.

AB605,33 Section 33. 11.22 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB605,17,19 11.22 (3) Furnish Not earlier than 21 days and not later than 14 days prior to the applicable filing deadline under s. 11.20, provide to each registrant the prescribed forms for the making of reports and statements. Forms shall be sent by 1st class mail not earlier than 21 days and not later than 14 days prior to the applicable filing deadline under s. 11.20 and addressed to the attention of the treasurer or other person indicated on the registration statement. Forms need not be sent to a registrant who has made an indication that aggregate contributions, disbursements and obligations will not exceed the amount specified under s. 11.05 (2r) or to a registrant who has been granted a suspension under s. 11.19 (2). Whenever any notice of the filing requirements under this chapter is sent to a candidate's campaign treasurer, the filing officer shall also send a notice to the candidate if he or she has appointed a separate treasurer. Failure to receive any form or notice does not exempt a registrant from compliance with this chapter electronically or, at the registrant's request, by 1st class mail addressed to the treasurer indicated on the registration statement.

AB605,34 Section 34. 11.26 (2) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 11.26 (2) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB605,17,22 11.26 (2) (a) (intro.) Candidates for governor, lieutenant the following:

AB605,17,23 2. Lieutenant governor, secretary $12,939.

AB605,18,3 3. Secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, state superintendent, or justice, 4 percent of the value of the disbursement level specified in the schedule under s. 11.31 (1) $8,625.

AB605,35 Section 35. 11.26 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is created to read:

AB605,18,5 11.26 (2) (a) 1. Governor, $43,128.

AB605,36 Section 36. 11.26 (2) (a) 4. of the statutes is created to read:

AB605,18,7 11.26 (2) (a) 4. Attorney general, $21,560.

AB605,37 Section 37. 11.26 (4) of the statutes is repealed.

AB605,38 Section 38. 11.26 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB605,18,13 11.26 (4m) (a) No individual may make any contribution or contributions in excess of $10,000 in any calendar year to any committee that makes electioneering communications or that has as its major purpose expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate.

AB605,18,15 (b) No individual may make any contribution or contributions in excess of $10,000 in any calendar year to a political party.

AB605,39 Section 39. 11.26 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB605,18,23 11.26 (5) The contribution limits provided in subs. (1) and (4) (4m) do not apply to a candidate who makes any contribution or contributions to his or her own campaign for office from the candidate's personal funds or property or the personal funds or property which are owned jointly or as marital property with the candidate's spouse, with respect to any contribution or contributions made to that candidate's campaign only. A candidate's personal contributions shall be deposited in his or her campaign depository account and reported in the normal manner.

AB605,40 Section 40. 11.26 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB605,19,7 11.26 (6) When a candidate adopts a preexisting support committee as his or her personal campaign committee, the support committee is deemed to have been the same committee as the candidate's personal campaign committee for purposes of the application of subs. (1), and (2) and (9). The limitations prescribed in subs. sub. (2) and (9) do not apply to the transfer of contributions which is made at the time of such adoption, but do apply to the contributions which have been made by any other committee to the support committee at the time of adoption.

AB605,41 Section 41. 11.26 (9) of the statutes is repealed.

AB605,42 Section 42. 11.26 (13m) (intro.) and (a) of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 11.26 (13m) and amended to read:

AB605,19,14 11.26 (13m) Contributions utilized for the following purposes are not subject to limitation by this section: (a) For the purpose of payment of legal fees and other expenses incurred as a result of a recount at an election are not subject to limitation by this section.

AB605,43 Section 43. 11.26 (13m) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 11.26 (13n) and amended to read:

AB605,19,22 11.26 (13n) For The contribution limits under this section apply to contributions used for the purpose of payment of paying legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with the circulation, offer to file or filing, or with the response to the circulation, offer to file or filing, of a petition to recall an officer prior to the time a recall primary or election is ordered, or after that time if incurred in contesting or defending the order.

AB605,44 Section 44. 11.26 (17) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB605,20,3 11.26 (17) (a) For purposes of application of the limitations imposed in subs. (1), and (2), and (9), the "campaign" of a candidate begins and ends at the times specified in this subsection.

AB605,45 Section 45. 11.30 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB605,20,12 11.30 (2) (b) Every such communication the cost of which is paid for or reimbursed by a committee or group, or for which a committee or group assumes responsibility, whether by the acceptance of a contribution or by the making of a disbursement, shall be identified by the words "Paid for by" followed by the name of the committee or group making the payment or reimbursement or assuming responsibility for the communication and, the name of the treasurer or other authorized agent of such committee or group, and the phone number and email address of such committee or group.

AB605,46 Section 46. 11.30 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB605,20,22 11.30 (2) (c) Every such communication which is directly paid for or reimbursed by an individual, including a candidate without a personal campaign committee who is serving as his or her own treasurer, or for which an individual assumes responsibility, whether by the acceptance of a contribution or by the making of a disbursement, shall be identified by the words "Paid for by" followed by the name of the candidate or other individual making the payment or reimbursement or assuming responsibility for the communication and the phone number and email address of such candidate or individual. No abbreviation may be used in identifying the name of a committee or group under this paragraph.

AB605,47 Section 47. 11.30 (2) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB605,21,4 11.30 (2) (cm) In addition to the requirements of pars. (a) to (c), in every such communication in which a specific state or local bill or resolution is referenced, the committee or group or individual or candidate shall identify the number assigned to the bill or resolution, the house of the legislature or local unit of government in which the bill or resolution was introduced, and the year in which the bill or resolution was introduced.

AB605,48 Section 48. 11.30 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB605,21,10 11.30 (2) (d) In addition to the requirements of pars. (a) to (c) (cm), a committee or individual required to file an oath under s. 11.06 (7) shall also in every communication in support of or in opposition to any clearly identified candidate or candidates include the words "Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's agent or committee".

AB605,49 Section 49. 11.31 of the statutes is repealed.

AB605,50 Section 50. 11.38 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB605,21,19 11.38 (1) (a) 1. No foreign or domestic corporation, or association organized under ch. 185 or 193, may make any contribution or disbursement, directly, or indirectly, either independently or through any political party, committee, group, candidate or individual for any purpose other than to promote or defeat a referendum, to a candidate, a legislative campaign committee, a personal campaign committee, a support committee, other than a support committee that files a statement under s. 11.06 (7), or a political party.

AB605,51 Section 51. 11.38 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB605,22,10 11.38 (1) (a) 2. Notwithstanding subd. 1., any such corporation or association may establish and administer a separate segregated fund and solicit contributions from individuals to the fund to be utilized by such corporation or association, for the purpose of supporting or opposing any candidate for state or local office but the corporation or association may not make any contribution to the fund. The fund shall appoint a treasurer and shall register as a political committee under s. 11.05. A parent corporation or association engaging solely in this activity is not subject to registration under s. 11.05, but shall register and file special reports on forms prescribed by the board disclosing its administrative and solicitation expenses on behalf of such fund. A corporation not domiciled in this state need report only its expenses for administration and solicitation of contributions in this state together with a statement indicating where information concerning other administration and solicitation expenses of its fund may be obtained. The reports shall be filed with the filing officer for the fund specified in s. 11.02 in the manner in which continuing reports are filed under s. 11.20 (4) and (8).

AB605,52 Section 52. 11.38 (1) (a) 3. of the statutes is repealed.

AB605,53 Section 53. 11.385 of the statutes is created to read:

AB605,22,23 11.385 Coordination. No person may make a disbursement for a political purpose as defined under s. 11.01 (16) (a) or for an electioneering communication that is coordinated with a candidate, personal campaign committee, candidate's agent, legislative campaign committee, or political party committee. For purposes of this section, a disbursement for a political purpose as defined under s. 11.01 (16) (a) or for an electioneering communication is coordinated with a candidate, personal campaign committee, candidate's agent, legislative campaign committee, or political party committee if the candidate, personal campaign committee, candidate's agent, legislative campaign committee, or political party committee exercises control over; or engages in substantial discussions or negotiations with the person making the disbursement regarding; any of the following:

AB605,22,24 (1) The communication's content.

AB605,22,25 (2) The communication's timing.

AB605,23,1 (3) The location, form, or intended audience of the communication.

AB605,23,2 (4) The number or frequency of communications.

AB605,54 Section 54. 11.386 of the statutes is created to read:

AB605,23,6 11.386 Reporting of electioneering communications. (1) Any committee making a disbursement of $300 or more on an electioneering communication shall submit statements to the board providing all of the following information:

AB605,23,7 (a) The dates on which the committee made the disbursement.

AB605,23,8 (b) The name and address of the person who received the disbursement.

AB605,23,9 (c) The purpose for making the disbursement.

AB605,23,11 (d) The amount spent for each electioneering communication made by committee.

AB605,23,14 (e) The name of any candidate affected by the disbursement, the office that the candidate seeks, and whether the electioneering communication supports or opposes that candidate.

AB605,23,16 (f) The name of every person who donated $300 or more to the committee in the year prior to submitting the statements under this subsection.

AB605,23,18 (g) Whether the committee coordinated or consulted with, or received the consent of the candidate or candidate's agent, regarding the disbursement.

AB605,23,21 (2) A committee required to provide statements to the board under this section shall do so no later than 48 hours after making a disbursement for an electioneering communication.

AB605,55 Section 55. 11.61 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB605,24,2 11.61 (1) (b) Whoever intentionally violates s. 11.25, 11.26, 11.27 (1), 11.30 (1) or 11.38 is guilty of a Class I felony if the intentional violation does not involve a specific figure or if the intentional violation concerns a figure which exceeds $100 $1,000 in amount or value.

AB605,56 Section 56. 11.61 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB605,24,8 11.61 (1) (c) Whoever intentionally violates any provision of this chapter other than those provided in par. (a) and whoever intentionally violates any provision under par. (b) where the intentional violation concerns a specific figure which does not exceed $100 $1,000 in amount or value may be fined not more than $1,000 $10,000 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both.

AB605,57 Section 57. Initial applicability.

AB605,24,11 (1) This act first applies to contributions received, disbursements made, and obligations incurred on or after the effective date of this subsection.

AB605,58 Section 58. Effective date.

AB605,24,13 (1) This act takes effect on January 1, 2017.

AB605,24,14 (End)