AB843: Bill Text

AB843, s. 53 Section 53. 11.25 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,40,10 11.25 (2) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), a registrant may accept contributions and make disbursements from a campaign depository account for the purpose of making expenditures in connection with a campaign for national office , except as provided in s. 11.24 (1w); for payment of civil penalties incurred by the registrant under this chapter but not under any other chapter; or for payment of the expenses of nonpartisan campaigns to increase voter registration or participation. Notwithstanding par. (a), a personal campaign committee or support committee may accept contributions and make disbursements from a campaign depository account for payment of inaugural expenses of an individual who is elected to state or local office. If such expenses are paid from contributions made to the campaign depository account, they are reportable under s. 11.06 (1) as disbursements. Otherwise, such expenses are not reportable under s. 11.06 (1). If contributions from the campaign depository account are used for such expenses, they are subject to s. 11.26.

AB843, s. 54 Section 54. 11.26 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,40,17 11.26 (1) No Subject to sub. (10a) and except as provided under subs. (1t), (9m), and (10), no individual may make any contribution or contributions to a candidate for election or nomination to any of the following offices who has filed an affidavit under s. 11.31 (2m) and to any individual or committee under s. 11.06 (7) acting solely in support of such a candidate or solely in opposition to the candidate's opponent to the extent of more than a total of the amounts specified per candidate:

AB843, s. 55 Section 55. 11.26 (1) (b) and (c) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB843,40,19 11.26 (1) (b) Candidates for state senator, $1,000 $1,500.

AB843,40,20 (c) Candidates for representative to the assembly, $500 $750.

AB843, s. 56 Section 56. 11.26 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,41,2 11.26 (1m) Subject to sub. (10a) and except as provided under subs. (1t) and (9m), no individual may make any contribution or contributions to a candidate for election or nomination to any of the following offices who has not filed an affidavit under s. 11.31 (2m) and to any individual or committee under s. 11.06 (7) acting solely in support of such a candidate or solely in opposition to the candidate's opponent to the extent of more than a total of the amounts specified per candidate:

AB843,41,4 (a) Candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, state superintendent, or justice, $5,000.

AB843,41,5 (b) Candidates for state senator, $750.

AB843,41,6 (c) Candidates for representative to the assembly, $375.

AB843, s. 57 Section 57. 11.26 (1t) of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,41,16 11.26 (1t) The limitations under sub. (1m) apply to any candidate who files an affidavit under s. 11.31 (2m) (a) but who the board determines is ineligible to receive a grant from the Wisconsin election campaign fund, who withdraws his or her application for a grant under s. 11.50 (2) (h), or to whom s. 11.50 (2) (i) applies, unless the candidate subsequently files an affidavit under s. 11.31 (2m) (b). If a candidate files an affidavit under s. 11.31 (2m) (b), the limitations under sub. (1) apply to that candidate beginning on the date that the affidavit is filed. Contributions made before the date on which a limitation changes under this subsection are lawful if the contributions were lawful at the time they were made.

AB843, s. 58 Section 58. 11.26 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,41,23 11.26 (2) (intro.) No Subject to sub. (10a), no committee other than a political party committee or legislative campaign committee may make any contribution or contributions to a candidate for election or nomination to any of the following offices and to any individual or committee under s. 11.06 (7) acting solely in support of such a candidate or solely in opposition to the candidate's opponent to the extent of more than a total of the amounts specified per candidate:

AB843, s. 59 Section 59. 11.26 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,42,3 11.26 (2) (a) Candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, state superintendent or justice, 4% of the value of the disbursement level specified in the schedule under s. 11.31 (1) $43,500.

AB843, s. 60 Section 60. 11.26 (2) (ae), (am), (as) and (av) of the statutes are created to read:

AB843,42,5 11.26 (2) (ae) Candidates for lieutenant governor, $12,000.

AB843,42,6 (am) Candidates for attorney general, $22,000.

AB843,42,7 (as) Candidates for state superintendent or justice, $12,000.

AB843,42,8 (av) Candidates for secretary of state or state treasurer, $8,650.

AB843, s. 61 Section 61. 11.26 (2) (b) and (c) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB843,42,10 11.26 (2) (b) Candidates for state senator, $1,000 $1,500.

AB843,42,11 (c) Candidates for representative to the assembly, $500 $750.

AB843, s. 62 Section 62. 11.26 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,42,17 11.26 (3) The contribution limitations of subs. (1) , (1m), and (2) apply cumulatively to the entire primary and election campaign in which a candidate participates, whether or not there is a contested primary election. The total limitation may be apportioned in any manner desired between the primary and election. All moneys cumulate regardless of the time of contribution.

AB843, s. 63 Section 63. 11.26 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,42,23 11.26 (4) No Subject to sub. (10a), no individual may make any contribution or contributions to all candidates for state and local offices and to any individuals who or committees which are subject to a registration requirement under s. 11.05, including legislative campaign committees and committees of a political party, to the extent of more than a total of $10,000 in any calendar year.

AB843, s. 64 Section 64. 11.26 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,43,7 11.26 (5) The contribution limits provided in subs. (1), (1m), and (4) 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.

AB843, s. 65 Section 65. 11.26 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,43,15 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), (1m), (2), and (9). The limitations prescribed in subs. (1), (1m), (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.

AB843, s. 66 Section 66. 11.26 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,43,23 11.26 (8) (a) No Subject to sub. (10a), no political party as defined in s. 5.02 (13) may receive more than a total of $150,000 $450,000 in value of its contributions in any biennium from all other committees, excluding contributions from legislative campaign committees and transfers between party committees of the same party. In this paragraph, a "biennium commences" means the time period commencing with January 1 of each odd-numbered year and ends ending with December 31 of each even-numbered year.

AB843,44,3 (b) No Subject to sub. (10a), no such political party may receive more than a total of $6,000 $18,000 in value of its contributions in any calendar year from any specific committee or its that specific committee's subunits or affiliates, excluding legislative campaign and political transfers between party committees of the same party.

AB843,44,7 (c) No Subject to sub. (10a), no committee, other than a political party or legislative campaign committee, may make any contribution or contributions, directly or indirectly, to a political party under s. 5.02 (13) in a calendar year exceeding a total value of $6,000 $18,000.

AB843, s. 67 Section 67. 11.26 (9) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,44,14 11.26 (9) (a) No Except as provided in sub. (9m), no individual who is a candidate for state or local office may receive and accept more than 65% of the value of the total disbursement level determined under s. 11.31 (1), adjusted as provided under s. 11.31 (9), for the office for which he or she is a candidate during any primary and election campaign combined from all committees subject to a filing requirement, including political party and legislative campaign committees.

AB843, s. 68 Section 68. 11.26 (9) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,44,21 11.26 (9) (b) No Except as provided under sub. (9m), no individual who is a candidate for state or local office may receive and accept more than 45% of the value of the total disbursement level determined under s. 11.31 (1), adjusted as provided under s. 11.31 (9), for the office for which he or she is a candidate during any primary and election campaign combined from all committees other than political party and legislative campaign committees subject to a filing requirement.

AB843, s. 69 Section 69. 11.26 (9m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,45,11 11.26 (9m) If s. 11.31 (3n) applies to a candidate in any campaign or if the board issues a determination under s. 11.31 (3r) applicable to a candidate in any campaign, the limitations applicable to contributions made to that candidate are 200% of the applicable amounts specified in sub. (1) and (1m). In addition, except as otherwise provided in this subsection, sub. (9) does not apply to any contributions received by the candidate that the candidate intends to use to make disbursements in response to an opposing candidate's disbursements exceeding the level or limitation applicable to that candidate, as described under s. 11.31 (3n), or an applicable independent expenditure described under s. 11.31 (3r), as reported by the candidate under s. 11.06 (1) (cm), to the extent that the contributions do not exceed the amount of those disbursements described under s. 11.31 (3n) or that independent expenditure described under s. 11.31 (3r). A candidate to whom this subsection applies may not receive contributions in excess of 200% of the limitations specified in sub. (9).

AB843, s. 70 Section 70. 11.26 (10) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,46,5 11.26 (10) No candidate for state office who files a sworn statement and an application to receive a grant from the Wisconsin election campaign fund and an affidavit under s. 11.31 (2m) (a) may make contributions of more than 200% of the amounts applicable amount specified in sub. (1) to the candidate's own campaign 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, unless the board determines that the candidate is not eligible to receive a grant, the candidate withdraws his or her application under s. 11.50 (2) (h), or s. 11.31 (3n) or 11.50 (2) (i) applies to the candidate. For purposes of this subsection, any contribution received by a candidate or his or her personal campaign committee from a committee which is registered with the federal elections commission as the authorized committee of the candidate under 2 USC 432 (e) shall be treated as a contribution made by the candidate to his or her own campaign. The contribution limit of sub. (4) applies to amounts contributed by such a candidate personally to the candidate's own campaign and to other campaigns, except that a candidate may exceed the limitation if authorized under this subsection to contribute more than the amount specified to the candidate's own campaign, up to the amount of the limitation.

AB843, s. 71 Section 71. 11.26 (10a) of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,46,9 11.26 (10a) (a) In this subsection, "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 U.S. department of labor.

AB843,46,25 (b) The dollar amounts of the limitations under subs. (1), (1m), (2), (4), and (8) are subject to a quadrennial adjustment to be determined by rule of the board in accordance with this subsection. To determine the adjustment, the board shall, in each year that the adjustment is made, calculate the percentage difference between the consumer price index for the 12-month period ending on December 31 of the preceding year and the consumer price index for calendar year 2001. Beginning in 2006 and every 4 years thereafter, the board shall multiply the amount of each limitation under subs. (1), (1m), (2), (4), and (8) by the percentage difference in the consumer price indices. The board shall adjust the amount of each limitation to substitute that result for the existing amount to the extent required to reflect any difference, rounded to the nearest multiple of $5. The amount so determined shall then 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.

AB843, s. 72 Section 72. 11.26 (15) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,47,6 11.26 (15) The fact that 2 or more committees, other than personal campaign committees, utilize common policies and practices concerning the endorsement of candidates or agree to make contributions only to such endorsed candidates does not affect the right of each committee independently to make contributions up to the applicable amount specified under sub. (1), (1m), or (2).

AB843, s. 73 Section 73. 11.26 (17) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,47,10 11.26 (17) (a) For purposes of application of the limitations imposed in subs. (1), (1m), (2), (9), (9m), and (10), the "campaign" of a candidate begins and ends at the times specified in this subsection.

AB843, s. 74 Section 74. 11.265 of the statutes is repealed.

AB843, s. 75 Section 75. 11.27 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,47,15 11.27 (1) No person may prepare or submit a false report or statement to a filing officer under this chapter. This subsection does not apply to any information reported by a person making an independent expenditure under s. 11.065 (2).

AB843, s. 76 Section 76. 11.30 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,47,19 11.30 (4) No owner or other person with a financial interest in a communications medium may utilize such medium in support of or in opposition to a candidate or referendum except as provided in this chapter.

AB843,47,23 (4m) This chapter shall not be construed to restrict fair coverage of bona fide news stories, interviews with candidates and other politically active individuals, editorial comment or endorsement. Such activities need not be reported as a contribution or disbursement.

AB843, s. 77 Section 77. 11.31 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,48,5 11.31 (1) Schedule. (intro.) The following levels of disbursements are established with reference to the candidates listed below. The levels are subject to adjustment under sub. (9). Except as provided in sub. (2), such levels do not operate to restrict the total amount of disbursements which are made or authorized to be made by any candidate in any primary or other election.

AB843, s. 78 Section 78. 11.31 (1) (a) to (c) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB843,48,7 11.31 (1) (a) Candidates for governor, $1,078,200 $2,750,000.

AB843,48,8 (b) Candidates for lieutenant governor, $323,475 $400,000.

AB843,48,9 (c) Candidates for attorney general, $539,000 $750,000.

AB843, s. 79 Section 79. 11.31 (1) (cg) and (cr) of the statutes are created to read:

AB843,48,11 11.31 (1) (cg) Candidates for justice, $400,000.

AB843,48,12 (cr) Candidates for state superintendent, $400,000.

AB843, s. 80 Section 80. 11.31 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,48,15 11.31 (1) (d) Candidates for secretary of state, or state treasurer, justice or state superintendent, $215,625 $300,000.

AB843, s. 81 Section 81. 11.31 (1) (dm) of the statutes is repealed.

AB843, s. 82 Section 82. 11.31 (1) (e) and (f) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB843,48,20 11.31 (1) (e) Candidates for state senator, $34,500 total in the primary and election, with disbursements not exceeding $21,575 for either the primary or the election $112,500.

AB843,48,23 (f) Candidates for representative to the assembly, $17,250 total in the primary and election, with disbursements not exceeding $10,775 for either the primary or the election $45,000.

AB843, s. 83 Section 83. 11.31 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,49,18 11.31 (2) Limitation imposed. No candidate for state office at a spring or general election who files a sworn statement and an application to receive a grant from the Wisconsin election campaign fund and an affidavit under sub. (2m) (a) may make or authorize total disbursements from the his or her campaign treasury in any campaign to the extent of more than the amount prescribed in sub. (1), adjusted as provided under sub. (9), unless the board determines that the candidate is not eligible to receive a grant, the candidate withdraws his or her application under s. 11.50 (2) (h), sub. (3n) or s. 11.50 (2) (i) applies to that candidate, or the board issues a determination under sub. (3r) applicable to the candidate. No candidate for state office at a special election who files a sworn statement and an application to receive a grant from the Wisconsin election campaign fund and an affidavit under sub. (2m) (a) may make or authorize total disbursements from the his or her campaign treasury in any campaign to the extent of more than the amount prescribed under sub. (1), adjusted as provided under sub. (9), for the preceding spring or general election for the same office, unless the board determines that the candidate is not eligible to receive a grant, the candidate withdraws his or her application under s. 11.50 (2) (h), s. 11.31 (3n) or 11.50 (2) (i) applies to that candidate, or the board issues a determination under sub. (3r) applicable to the candidate.

AB843, s. 84 Section 84. 11.31 (2m) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,49,20 11.31 (2m) (title) Voluntary limitation Affidavit of adherence to limitations.

AB843, s. 85 Section 85. 11.31 (2m) of the statutes is renumbered 11.31 (2m) (b) and amended to read:

AB843,50,6 11.31 (2m) (b) Any candidate to whom sub. (2) and s. 11.26 (10) do not apply may file an affidavit with his or her filing officer affirming that he or she has adhered and will adhere to the limitations imposed under sub. (2) and s. 11.26 (10) during the entire campaign. These limitations apply unless the candidate withdraws the affidavit by notifying his or her filing officer in writing no later than the 7th day after the date of the primary in which the person filing the affidavit is a candidate, or the 7th day after the date that the primary would be held, if no primary is required, or unless sub. (3n) applies to that candidate or the board issues a determination under sub. (3r) applicable to the candidate.

AB843, s. 86 Section 86. 11.31 (2m) (a) of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,50,17 11.31 (2m) (a) Each candidate who files an application to receive a grant from the Wisconsin election campaign fund shall file an affidavit with the board affirming that the candidate, and his or her authorized agents, have complied with the limitations imposed under sub. (2) and s. 11.26 at all times during which the limitations have applied to his or her candidacy and will continue to comply with the limitations at all times during which the limitations apply to his or her candidacy, unless the board determines that the candidate is not eligible to receive a grant from the fund, the candidate withdraws his or her application for a grant under s. 11.50 (2) (h), sub. (3n) or s. 11.50 (2) (i) applies, or the board issues a determination under sub. (3r) applicable to the candidate.

AB843, s. 87 Section 87. 11.31 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,50,24 11.31 (3) Gubernatorial campaigns. For purposes of compliance with the limitations imposed under sub. (2), candidates for governor and lieutenant governor of the same political party who both accept grants from the Wisconsin election campaign fund may agree to combine disbursement levels under sub. (1) (a) and (b), adjusted as provided under sub. (9), and reallocate the total level between them. The candidates shall each inform the board of any such agreement.

AB843, s. 88 Section 88. 11.31 (3m) of the statutes is repealed.

AB843, s. 89 Section 89. 11.31 (3n) of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,51,17 11.31 (3n) Disbursements by opposing candidates for certain state offices. If a candidate for a state office specified in sub. (1) (a) to (d), (e), or (f) in any campaign who has filed an affidavit under sub. (2m) determines that an opposing candidate who has not filed an affidavit under sub. (2m) has made disbursements exceeding the amount of the disbursement level applicable to that candidate under sub. (1), as adjusted under sub. (9), then that candidate and each of his or her opponents may make additional contributions to his or her own campaign exceeding the amount authorized under s. 11.26 (10) and may make additional disbursements in that campaign exceeding the amount authorized under sub. (1), as adjusted under sub. (9), in an amount equivalent to the lesser of the total contributions made by the opposing candidate to his or her own campaign or the amount by which the total disbursements made by the opposing candidate exceed the disbursement limitation or level applicable to that candidate under sub. (1), as adjusted under sub. (9), as reported to the board by the opposing candidate or his or her personal campaign committee. In addition, contributions to that candidate and to each of his or her opponents may be made as authorized under s. 11.26 (9m).

AB843, s. 90 Section 90. 11.31 (3r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,52,6 11.31 (3r) Independent expenditures; candidates for certain state offices. (a) If a candidate for a state office specified in sub. (1) (a) to (d), (e), or (f) has filed an affidavit under sub. (2m) the board receives a report under s. 11.065 that an independent expenditure has been made for the purpose of making a communication in opposition to the candidate, or in support of a candidate whose name is certified under s. 7.08 (2) (a) or 8.50 (1) (d) to appear on the ballot in opposition to the candidate, other than for the purpose of making a communication described in s. 11.29 or 11.30 (4m), the board shall, no later than the end of the 3rd calendar day after receiving the report under s. 11.065, issue a determination that the candidate may make additional disbursements in that campaign exceeding any limitation imposed under sub. (2) or agreed to under sub. (2m) in an amount equivalent to the amount of the independent expenditure, as reported under s. 11.065, and that contributions to the candidate may be made as authorized under s. 11.26 (9m).