AB256: Bill Text

AB256,49,7 (b) The board shall scrutinize accounts and reports and records kept under this chapter to assure that applicable limitations under ss. 11.26 (9) and 11.31 (2), as adjusted under s. 11.31 (9), are not exceeded and any violation is reported. No candidate or campaign treasurer may accept grants exceeding the amount authorized by this subsection.

AB256, s. 89 Section 89. 11.50 (9) (a) 1. to 7. of the statutes are created to read:

AB256,49,9 11.50 (9) (a) 1. For a candidate for the office of governor, $875,000.

AB256,49,10 2. For a candidate for the office of lieutenant governor, $281,250.

AB256,49,11 3. For a candidate for the office of attorney general, $187,500.

AB256,49,12 4. For a candidate for the office of justice, $100,000.

AB256,49,14 5. For a candidate for the office of state superintendent, secretary of state or state treasurer, $87,500.

AB256,49,15 6. For a candidate for the office of state senator, $35,000.

AB256,49,16 7. For a candidate for the office of representative to the assembly, $15,000.

AB256, s. 90 Section 90. 11.50 (9a) of the statutes is created to read:

AB256,49,19 11.50 (9a) Adjustment of maximum initial grant amounts. (a) In this subsection:

AB256,49,22 1. "Consumer price index" means the average of the consumer price index over each 12-month period, all items, U.S. city average, as determined by the bureau of labor statistics of the federal department of labor.

AB256,49,25 2. "Voting age population of this state" means the voting age population of this state, as determined by the federal election commission in its most recent determination prior to the date of any calculation under this subsection.

AB256,50,19 (b) The dollar amounts of all maximum initial grant amounts specified in sub. (9) (a) 1. to 7. shall be subject to a biennial adjustment to be determined by rule of the board in accordance with this subsection. To determine the adjustment, the board shall calculate the percentage difference between the voting age population of this state on December 31 of each odd-numbered year and the voting age population of this state on December 31, 1999. The board shall then calculate the percentage difference between the consumer price index for the 12-month period ending on December 31 of each odd-numbered year and the consumer price index for the base period, calendar year 1999. For each biennium, the board shall first multiply the disbursement levels by the percentage difference in the voting age populations. The board shall then multiply that product by the percentage difference in the consumer price indices. The board shall adjust the maximum initial grant amounts specified in sub. (9) to substitute that result for the existing amounts to the extent required to reflect any difference, rounded to the nearest multiple of $25, which amounts shall be in effect until a subsequent rule is promulgated under this subsection. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a), (2) (b) and (3), determinations under this subsection may be promulgated as an emergency rule under s. 227.24 without providing evidence that the emergency rule is necessary for the public peace, health, safety or welfare and without a finding of emergency.

AB256, s. 91 Section 91. 11.50 (10m) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB256,50,21 11.50 (10m) (title) Return of grants prior to election.

AB256, s. 92 Section 92. 11.50 (11) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB256,51,2 11.50 (11) (d) No person may expend, authorize the expenditure of or incur any obligation to expend a grant or other contribution any moneys in the campaign depository account of a candidate after the date of any election where the moneys contained in such contribution are returnable to the state under sub. (8).

AB256, s. 93 Section 93. 11.50 (11) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB256,51,7 11.50 (11) (e) No candidate may expend, authorize the expenditure of or incur any obligation to expend any grant if he or she violates the pledge required under sub. (2) (a) as a precondition to receipt of a grant, except as authorized in sub. (2) (h) or (i) or s. 11.31 (3n).

AB256, s. 94 Section 94. 11.51 of the statutes is created to read:

AB256,51,19 11.51 Public grants to candidates for county and 1st class city offices. The board of supervisors of any county or the common council of any 1st class city may, by ordinance, provide appropriations to pay for any lawful disbursements made by a candidate for county or city office, respectively. The ordinance may impose reasonable qualifications for candidates to receive funding from the county or city. The ordinance may require any candidate, as a condition precedent to receipt of funding, to make no disbursements or contributions to his or her own campaign for office exceeding an aggregate amount or value specified in or under the ordinance. The ordinance may provide for a civil penalty for any violation of the ordinance or an agreement entered into under the ordinance not exceeding the penalty that would apply for the same offense under s. 11.60.

AB256, s. 95 Section 95. 11.60 (1) to (3) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB256,51,22 11.60 (1) Any person, including any committee or group, who violates this chapter may be required to forfeit not more than $500 $1,500 for each violation.

AB256,52,2 (2) In addition to the penalty under sub. (1), any person, including any committee or group, who is delinquent in filing a report required by this chapter may be required to forfeit not more than $50 $150 or one percent 3% of the annual salary of the office for which the candidate is being supported or opposed, whichever is greater, for each day of delinquency.

AB256,52,6 (3) Notwithstanding sub. (1), any person, including any committee or group, who makes any contribution in violation of this chapter may be required to forfeit treble 9 times the amount of the contribution or portion thereof which is illegally contributed.

AB256, s. 96 Section 96. 11.61 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 283, is amended to read:

AB256,52,11 11.61 (1) (a) Whoever intentionally violates s. 11.05 (1), (2), (2g) or (2r), 11.07 (1) or (5), 11.10 (1), 11.12 (5), 11.23 (6) or 11.24 (1) may be fined not more than $10,000 $30,000 or imprisoned for not more than 4 13 years and 6 months or both.

AB256,52,16 (b) Whoever intentionally violates s. 11.25, 11.26, 11.27 (1), 11.30 (1) or 11.38 where the intentional violation does not involve a specific figure, or where the intentional violation concerns a figure which exceeds $100 in amount or value may be fined not more than $10,000 $30,000 or imprisoned for not more than 4 13 years and 6 months or both.

AB256,52,21 (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 in amount or value may be fined not more than $1,000 $3,000 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months one year in the county jail or both.

AB256, s. 97 Section 97. 13.90 (1) (m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB256,52,25 13.90 (1) (m) In cooperation with the governor, propose the creation of a bipartisan committee to study campaign finance reform whenever changing electoral dynamics and campaign finance technology demand such action.

AB256, s. 98 Section 98. 14.019 (6) of the statutes is created to read:

AB256,53,5 14.019 (6) Study of campaign finance reform. The governor shall, in cooperation with the legislature, exercise his or her authority under sub. (1) to create a bipartisan committee to study campaign finance reform whenever changing electoral dynamics and campaign finance technology demand such action.

AB256, s. 99 Section 99. 14.58 (20) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB256,53,9 14.58 (20) Election campaign system fund. Make disbursements to each candidate certified under s. 7.08 (2) (c) or (cm) by the elections board as eligible to receive moneys from the Wisconsin clean election campaign system fund.

AB256, s. 100 Section 100. 15.61 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB256,53,25 15.61 Elections board; creation. There is created an elections board consisting of persons who shall be 8 members appointed by the governor for 2-year 4-year terms as follows: one member selected by the governor; one member each designated by the chief justice of the supreme court, the speaker of the assembly, the senate majority leader, and the minority leader in each house of the legislature, and the chief officer of each political party qualifying for a separate ballot under s. 5.62 (1) (b) or (2) whose candidate for governor received at least 10% of the vote in the most recent gubernatorial election and 3 nonpartisan members. Each of the nonpartisan members shall be nominated by the governor and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed. No nonpartisan member may hold any other office or employment in the government of this state or any political subdivision thereof. No nonpartisan member, for one year immediately prior to the date of appointment, may have been, or while serving on the board may become, a member of a political party, an officer or member of a committee in any partisan political club or organization or a candidate for any partisan elective public office.

AB256, s. 101 Section 101. 19.42 (10) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB256,54,3 19.42 (10) (a) A member of the elections board whose appointment is not subject to confirmation by the senate.

AB256, s. 102 Section 102. 20.510 (1) (q) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB256,54,8 20.510 (1) (q) Wisconsin clean election campaign system fund. As a continuing appropriation, from the Wisconsin clean election campaign system fund, the moneys determined under s. 11.50 to provide for payments to eligible candidates certified under s. 7.08 (2) (c).

AB256, s. 103 Section 103. 20.855 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB256,54,12 20.855 (4) (b) Election campaign fund payments. A sum sufficient equal to the amounts determined under s. 71.10 (3) to be paid into the Wisconsin clean election campaign system fund annually on August 15.

AB256, s. 104 Section 104. 25.17 (1) (ys) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB256,54,14 25.17 (1) (ys) Wisconsin clean election campaign system fund (s. 25.42);

AB256, s. 105 Section 105. 25.42 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB256,54,21 25.42 Wisconsin clean election campaign system fund. All moneys appropriated under s. 20.855 (4) (b) 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 clean election campaign system 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.

AB256, s. 106 Section 106. 71.10 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB256,55,2 71.10 (3) (a) Every individual filing an income tax return who has a tax liability or is entitled to a tax refund may designate $1 for the Wisconsin clean election campaign system fund for the use of eligible candidates under s. 11.50. If the individuals filing a joint return have a tax liability or are entitled to a tax refund, each individual may make a designation of $1 under this subsection.

AB256, s. 107 Section 107. 227.03 (6m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB256,55,5 227.03 (6m) Cases before an election examiner under s. 5.065 are not subject to this chapter.

AB256, s. 108 Section 108. 227.52 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

AB256,55,7 227.52 (8) The decisions of an election examiner under s. 5.065.

AB256, s. 109 Section 109. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB256,55,22 (1) Initial terms of office. Notwithstanding section 15.61, 1997 stats., and section 15.61 of the statutes, as affected by this act, the members of the elections board who are serving on the effective date of this subsection may continue to hold office until all members of the elections board who are initially appointed under this act are appointed and qualified, at which time the members who are serving on the effective date of this subsection shall cease to hold office. Notwithstanding section 15.61 of the statutes, as affected by this act, of the members of the elections board who are initially appointed under this act, the designees of the speaker of the assembly and the assembly minority leader shall serve for terms expiring on May 1, 2001, the designees of the senate majority leader and the senate minority leader shall serve for terms expiring on May 1, 2003, and the appointee of the governor shall serve for a term expiring on May 1, 2001; and of the remaining members, the governor shall designate one to serve for a term expiring on May 1, 2001, and 2 to serve for terms expiring on May 1, 2003.

AB256,56,4 (2) Study of campaign finance law enforcement. The joint legislative council is requested to review the process for detecting and penalizing violations of the state campaign finance law, with a view to detecting violations quickly and punishing violators firmly in order to promote full confidence in the election system of this state. If the council undertakes such a review, the council is requested to report its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with any proposed legislation, to the 2001 legislature when it convenes.

AB256, s. 110 Section 110. Appropriation changes.

AB256,56,11 (1) In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the elections board under section 20.510 (1) (a) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 1999, the dollar amount is increased by $-0- for fiscal year 1999-00 and the dollar amount is increased by $-0- for fiscal year 2000-01 to increase the authorized FTE positions for the elections board by 1.0 GPR position to serve as elections examiner.

AB256, s. 111 Section 111. Initial applicability.

AB256,56,15 (1) The treatment of sections 11.09 (3), 11.20 (1) and 11.38 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes first applies with respect to campaign finance reports that are required to be filed after June 30, 2001.

AB256,56,18 (2) The treatment of sections 11.31 (9) and 11.50 (9a) of the statutes first applies to adjustment of disbursement limitations and maximum grant amounts for the biennium beginning on January 1, 2002.

AB256, s. 112 Section 112. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:

AB256,56,22 (1) The treatment of section 11.61 (1) (a) and (b) of the statutes takes effect on December 31, 1999.

AB256,56,23 (End)