Amendment AA5-AB18

LRBa0175/1

RJM&JTK:jld:rs

2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE

ASSEMBLY AMENDMENT 5, TO 2001 ASSEMBLY BILL 18

February 15, 2001 - Offered by Committee on Campaigns and Elections.

AB18-AA5,1,1 At the locations indicated, amend the bill as follows:

AB18-AA5,1,3 1. Page 1, line 3: after "regulation" insert ", prohibited contributions and disbursements,".

AB18-AA5,1,4 2. Page 4, line 5: after that line insert:

AB18-AA5,1,5 " Section 6e. 11.38 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB18-AA5,1,7 11.38 (title) Contributions and disbursements by corporations and, cooperatives, and labor organizations.

AB18-AA5, s. 6g Section 6g. 11.38 (1) (a) and (2) (b) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB18-AA5,1,13 11.38 (1) (a) 1. No foreign or domestic corporation, or association organized under ch. 185, or labor organization, 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.

AB18-AA5,2,17 2. Notwithstanding subd. 1., any such corporation or, association, or labor organization may establish and administer a separate segregated fund and solicit contributions from individuals to the fund to be utilized by such corporation or, association, or labor organization for the purpose of supporting or opposing any candidate for state or local office but the corporation or , association, or labor organization 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, or labor organization 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, association, or labor organization 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).

AB18-AA5,2,20 3. No corporation or, association, or labor organization specified in subd. 1. may expend more than a combined total of $500 annually for solicitation of contributions to a fund established under subd. 2. or to a conduit.

AB18-AA5,2,25 (2) (b) This section does not prohibit the publication of periodicals by a corporation or a, cooperative, or labor organization in the regular course of its affairs which advise the members, shareholders or subscribers of the disadvantages or advantages to their interests of the election to office of persons espousing certain measures, without reporting such activity.

AB18-AA5, s. 6j Section 6j. 11.38 (2) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

AB18-AA5, s. 6L Section 6L. 11.38 (3) to (5) and (8) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB18-AA5,3,5 11.38 (3) A violation of this section by an officer or employee of a corporation, association, or labor organization is prima facie evidence of a violation by the corporation, association, or labor organization.

AB18-AA5,3,7 (4) Any corporation, association, or labor organization which violates this section shall forfeit double the amount of any penalty assessed under s. 11.60 (3).

AB18-AA5,3,13 (5) An action against a corporation, association, or labor organization pursuant to a violation of this section may be brought either in the circuit court for the county in which the registered office or principal place of business of the corporation, association, or labor organization is located, or in the circuit court for the county in which the violation is alleged to have occurred. The proceedings may be brought by the district attorney of either such county, by the attorney general or by the board.

AB18-AA5,3,17 (8) (a) A corporation or, association organized under ch. 185, or labor organization which accepts contributions or makes disbursements for the purpose of influencing the outcome of a referendum is a political group and shall comply with s. 11.23 and other applicable provisions of this chapter.

AB18-AA5,4,5 (b) Except as authorized in s. 11.05 (12) (b) and (13), prior to making any disbursement on behalf of a political group which is promoting or opposing a particular vote at a referendum and prior to accepting any contribution or making any disbursement to promote or oppose a particular vote at a referendum, a corporation or, association organized under ch. 185, or labor organization shall register with the appropriate filing officer specified in s. 11.02 and appoint a treasurer. The registration form of the corporation or , association, or labor organization under s. 11.05 shall designate an account separate from all other corporation or, association, or labor organization accounts as a campaign depository account, through which all moneys received or expended for the adoption or rejection of the referendum shall pass. The corporation or, association, or labor organization shall file periodic reports under s. 11.20 providing the information required under s. 11.06 (1).

AB18-AA5,4,8 (c) Expenditures by a corporation or, association, or labor organization to establish and administer a campaign depository account of a political group need not be made through the depository account and need not be reported.".

AB18-AA5,4,9 (End)