LRB-1835/2
JTK:wlj:rs
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
May 17, 2005 - Introduced by Committee on Campaigns and Elections. Referred
to Committee on Campaigns and Elections.
AB428,2,18 1An Act to repeal 11.001 (2m), 11.01 (4m), 11.01 (12w), (13) and (14), 11.01 (16)
2(a) 3., 11.05 (3) (m), 11.05 (3) (r), 11.06 (1) (cm) and (dm), 11.06 (2m) (title) and
3(a), 11.06 (2m) (b) to (d), 11.06 (11) (bm), 11.12 (8) and (9), 11.20 (2s) and (2t),
411.20 (8) (am), 11.24 (1w), 11.24 (4), 11.26 (1m) and (1t), 11.26 (2) (ae), (am), (as)
5and (av), 11.26 (2m), 11.26 (2t), 11.26 (8n) and (8r), 11.26 (9) (am), 11.26 (9m),
611.26 (10a), 11.31 (1) (de), 11.31 (3p), 11.31 (9), 11.385, 11.50 (1) (a) 1. (intro.),
711.50 (1) (a) 1. b., 11.50 (1) (a) 2m., 11.50 (1) (am), 11.50 (1) (bm) and (cm), 11.50
8(2) (b) 6., 11.50 (2) (j), 11.50 (2s), 11.50 (2w), 11.50 (14), 11.60 (3r), 71.07 (6s),
971.10 (4) (gw) and 806.04 (11m); to renumber 11.24 (5) and 11.50 (1) (a) 1. a.;
10to repeal and recreate 5.02 (13), 5.05 (2), 7.08 (2) (c) and (cm), 8.30 (2), 8.35
11(4) (a) 1. a. and b., 8.35 (4) (c) and (d), 11.05 (1), 11.05 (2), 11.05 (2r), 11.05 (3)
12(c), 11.05 (5), 11.05 (9) (title), 11.05 (9) (b), 11.05 (12) (b), 11.05 (13), 11.06 (1)
13(intro.), 11.06 (1) (e), 11.06 (2), 11.06 (3) (b) (intro.), 11.06 (4) (b), 11.06 (5), 11.06
14(7m) (a), 11.06 (7m) (b), 11.06 (7m) (c), 11.07 (1), 11.07 (5), 11.09 (3), 11.10 (1),

111.12 (2), 11.12 (4), 11.12 (5), 11.12 (6), 11.14 (3), 11.16 (2), 11.16 (5), 11.19 (title),
211.19 (1), 11.20 (1), 11.20 (2), 11.20 (3) (a) and (b), 11.20 (7), 11.20 (8) (intro.),
311.20 (8) (a), 11.20 (9), 11.20 (10) (a), 11.20 (12), 11.21 (2), 11.21 (15), 11.21 (16),
411.22 (3), 11.23 (1), 11.23 (2), 11.26 (1) (intro.), 11.26 (2) (intro.), 11.26 (2) (a),
511.26 (3), 11.26 (4), 11.26 (5), 11.26 (6), 11.26 (8), 11.26 (9) (a), 11.26 (9) (b), 11.26
6(10), 11.26 (15), 11.26 (17) (a), 11.31 (1) (intro.), 11.31 (1) (a) to (d), 11.31 (1) (e)
7and (f), 11.31 (2), 11.31 (2m), 11.31 (3), 11.38 (1) (a) 2., 11.38 (6), 11.38 (8) (b),
811.50 (1) (a) 2., 11.50 (2) (a), 11.50 (2) (b) 3., 11.50 (2) (b) 4., 11.50 (2) (b) 5., 11.50
9(2) (c), 11.50 (2) (f), 11.50 (2) (g), 11.50 (2) (h), 11.50 (2) (i), 11.50 (4), 11.50 (5),
1011.50 (6), 11.50 (7) (intro.), 11.50 (8), 11.50 (9), 11.50 (10m), 11.50 (11) (e), 11.60
11(4), 11.61 (1) (a), 25.42, 71.08 (1) (intro.) and 71.10 (3); to create 11.01 (12s),
1211.05 (3) (o), 11.265, 11.50 (3) and 11.50 (10) of the statutes; and to affect 2001
13Wisconsin Act 109
, section 9115 (2v) and (2x), 2001 Wisconsin Act 109, section
149115 (2y), 2001 Wisconsin Act 109, section 9132 (4v), 2001 Wisconsin Act 109,
15section 9215 (3v), 2001 Wisconsin Act 109, section 9244 (6v), 2001 Wisconsin
16Act 109
, section 9315 (2v) and (2w), 2001 Wisconsin Act 109, section 9344 (2v)
17and 2001 Wisconsin Act 109, section 9415 (1zx); relating to: deletion of
18changes to campaign finance and related laws made by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
2001 Wisconsin Act 109 made comprehensive changes to campaign finance law,
ethics, income tax, public broadcasting, and cable television laws. Most changes
made by Act 109 took effect on July 1, 2003. With the exception of provisions
requiring candidate time on public broadcasting stations and public access channels
at public expense, these provisions were made nonseverable so that if a court found
that any of the provisions were unconstitutional all of the provisions would then be
invalid. In Wisconsin Realtors Association et al. v. Ponto et al., 299 F.Supp.2d 889
(W.D. Wis., 2002), the U.S. District Court found that one provision of Act 109 relating
to advance reporting of certain independent disbursements before obligations are

incurred to make those disbursements violates the First and Fourteenth
amendments. This decision apparently precludes enforcement and administration
of the Act 109 changes as of December 11, 2002. The Act 109 changes, however,
currently remain in the statutes.
This bill deletes the changes described above made by Act 109 that are affected
by the nonseverability provision, except that the bill does not affect provisions of the
code of ethics for state and local public officials relating to official action in return for
providing or withholding things of value, which has been affected by legislation
enacted after Act 109, and the bill does not affect provisions that permitted the
Elections Board to allocate up to 1 percent of annual amounts designated for the
Wisconsin election campaign fund (WECF) to provide public information concerning
the purpose and effect of WECF. The following is a description of the changes made
by Act 109 to the statutes in effect before July 1, 2003:
Act 109 imposed registration and reporting requirements on certain
individuals and committees that finance certain mass communications made during
the 60-day period preceding an election. The act also imposed 24-hour reporting
requirements on certain special interest committees and on certain candidates for
state office who decline to accept public grants from WECF to finance their
campaigns. When expenditures or obligations reported by these committees or when
expenditures reported by these candidates reach specified levels, the act permitted
opposing candidates to receive additional campaign contributions from political
parties and other committees and individuals, and to make additional expenditures
to respond to the reported expenditures and obligations.
Act 109 made changes to the laws regulating campaign contributions. With
certain exceptions, the act prohibited any candidate who accepts a public grant from
WECF from accepting contributions from any committee other than a political party
committee. The act also permitted candidates for legislative office who are bound by
campaign spending and self-contribution limits as a result of accepting a public
grant from WECF to accept double the amount of contributions otherwise permitted
from particular individuals and, when permitted, from particular committees. The
act imposed restrictions on fund raising by incumbents during a legislative session.
Act 109 increased spending limits for candidates for partisan state offices. The
act decreased contribution limits for candidates for legislative office who decline to
accept spending limits. The act increased the amount that a political party may
receive in a biennium from all committees, other than political party committees,
from $150,000 to $450,000 and increased the amount that a committee, other than
a political party committee, may contribute to a political party in a calendar year
from $6,000 to $18,000. The act further permitted political parties to accept an
additional $450,000 from all committees in any biennium to be used in providing
certain additional campaign contributions to legislative candidates. The act also
imposed restrictions on the transfer of contributions between certain committees
other than political party committees.
Act 109 increased the amount of campaign expenditures that candidates for
state office who accept a public grant from WECF may make. The act provided that
the maximum grant under WECF is an amount equal to 40 percent of the applicable

spending limit or, for candidates for the office of governor, 35 percent of the applicable
expenditure limit. (Prior law permitted a maximum grant of 45 percent of the
applicable spending limit, less contributions accepted from special interest
committees.) However, the act also provided for supplemental grants to be made to
candidates who have reported mass communications or certain noncandidate
expenditures made in opposition to them or in support of their opponents. The act
provided candidates for the office of justice of the supreme court with a "first draw"
on available grant funds. The act established political party accounts under WECF
and permitted individuals who have a tax liability to designate on their state income
tax returns that money be placed in a political party's account or in a general account
for all qualifying candidates, as permitted previously, and increased the amount of
the designation from $1 to $20. Under the act, the designation does not increase an
individual's tax liability.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB428, s. 1 1Section 1. 5.02 (13) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109, is
2repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,4,83 5.02 (13) "Political party" or "party" means a state committee registered under
4s. 11.05 organized exclusively for political purposes under whose name candidates
5appear on a ballot at any election, and all county, congressional, legislative, local and
6other affiliated committees authorized to operate under the same name. For
7purposes of ch. 11, the term does not include a legislative campaign committee or a
8committee filing an oath under s. 11.06 (7).
AB428, s. 2 9Section 2. 5.05 (2) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109, is
10repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,5,311 5.05 (2) Auditing. In addition to the facial examination of reports and
12statements required under s. 11.21 (13), the board shall conduct an audit of reports
13and statements which are required to be filed with it to determine whether violations
14of ch. 11 have occurred. The board may examine records relating to matters required
15to be treated in such reports and statements. The board shall make official note in

1the file of a candidate, committee, group or individual under ch. 11 of any error or
2other discrepancy which the board discovers and shall inform the person submitting
3the report or statement.
AB428, s. 3 4Section 3. 7.08 (2) (c) and (cm) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin
5Act 109
, are repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,5,136 7.08 (2) (c) As soon as possible after the canvass of the spring and September
7primary votes, but no later than the first Tuesday in March and the 4th Tuesday in
8September, transmit to the state treasurer a certified list of all eligible candidates
9for state office who have filed applications under s. 11.50 (2) and whom the board
10determines to be eligible to receive payments from the Wisconsin election campaign
11fund. The list shall contain each candidate's name, the mailing address indicated
12upon the candidate's registration form, the office for which the individual is a
13candidate and the party or principle which he or she represents, if any.
AB428,5,2314 (cm) As soon as possible after the canvass of a special primary, or the date that
15the primary would be held, if required, transmit to the state treasurer a certified list
16of all eligible candidates for state office who have filed applications under s. 11.50 (2)
17and whom the board determines to be eligible to receive a grant from the Wisconsin
18election campaign fund prior to the election. The board shall also transmit a similar
19list of candidates, if any, who have filed applications under s. 11.50 (2) and whom the
20board determines to be eligible to receive a grant under s. 11.50 (1) (a) 2. after the
21special election. The list shall contain each candidate's name, the mailing address
22indicated upon the candidate's registration form, the office for which the individual
23is a candidate and the party or principle which he or she represents, if any.
AB428, s. 4 24Section 4. 8.30 (2) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109, is
25repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,6,7
18.30 (2) If no registration statement has been filed by or on behalf of a candidate
2for state or local office in accordance with s. 11.05 (2g) or (2r) by the applicable
3deadline for filing nomination papers by such candidate, or the deadline for filing a
4declaration of candidacy for an office for which nomination papers are not filed, the
5name of the candidate may not appear on the ballot. This subsection may not be
6construed to exempt a candidate from applicable penalties if he or she files a
7registration statement later than the time prescribed in ss. 11.01 (1) and 11.05 (2g).
AB428, s. 5 8Section 5. 8.35 (4) (a) 1. a. and b. of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin
9Act 109
, are repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,6,1410 8.35 (4) (a) 1. a. Donated to the former candidate's local or state political party
11if the former candidate was a partisan candidate or donated to the charitable
12organization of the former candidate's choice or the charitable organization chosen
13by the former candidate's next of kin if the former candidate is deceased, or if no
14choice is made returned to the donors on a proportional basis; or
AB428,6,1815 b. If the former candidate was a nonpartisan candidate, donated to the
16charitable organization of the former candidate's choice or the charitable
17organization chosen by the former candidate's next of kin if the former candidate is
18deceased; or
AB428, s. 6 19Section 6. 8.35 (4) (c) and (d) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin Act
20109
, are repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,7,321 8.35 (4) (c) The transfer shall be reported to the appropriate filing officer in a
22special report submitted by the former candidate's campaign treasurer. If the former
23candidate is deceased and was serving as his or her own campaign treasurer, the
24former candidate's petitioner or personal representative shall file the report and
25make the transfer required by par. (b), if any. The report shall include a complete

1statement of all contributions, disbursements and incurred obligations pursuant to
2s. 11.06 (1) covering the period from the day after the last date covered on the former
3candidate's most recent report to the date of disposition.
AB428,7,64 (d) The newly appointed candidate shall file his or her report at the next
5appropriate interval under s. 11.20 (2) or (4) after his or her appointment. The
6appointed candidate shall include any transferred funds in his or her first report.
AB428, s. 7 7Section 7. 11.001 (2m) of the statutes, as created by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109,
8is repealed.
AB428, s. 8 9Section 8. 11.01 (4m) of the statutes, as created by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109,
10is repealed.
AB428, s. 9 11Section 9. 11.01 (12s) of the statutes is created to read:
AB428,7,1412 11.01 (12s) "Legislative campaign committee" means a committee which does
13not file an oath under s. 11.06 (7) organized in either house of the legislature to
14support candidates of a political party for legislative office.
AB428, s. 10 15Section 10. 11.01 (12w), (13) and (14) of the statutes, as created by 2001
16Wisconsin Act 109
, are repealed.
AB428, s. 11 17Section 11. 11.01 (16) (a) 3. of the statutes, as created by 2001 Wisconsin Act
18109
, is repealed.
AB428, s. 12 19Section 12. 11.05 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109,
20is repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,8,321 11.05 (1) Committees and groups. Except as provided in s. 9.10 (2) (d), every
22committee other than a personal campaign committee, and every political group
23subject to registration under s. 11.23 which makes or accepts contributions, incurs
24obligations or makes disbursements in a calendar year in an aggregate amount in
25excess of $25 shall file a statement with the appropriate filing officer giving the

1information required by sub. (3). In the case of any committee other than a personal
2campaign committee, the statement shall be filed by the treasurer. A personal
3campaign committee shall register under sub. (2g) or (2r).
AB428, s. 13 4Section 13. 11.05 (2) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109,
5is repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,8,126 11.05 (2) Individuals. Except as provided in s. 9.10 (2) (d), every individual,
7other than a candidate or agent of a candidate, who accepts contributions, incurs
8obligations, or makes disbursements in a calendar year in an aggregate amount in
9excess of $25 shall file a statement with the appropriate filing officer giving the
10information required by sub. (3). An individual who guarantees a loan on which an
11individual, committee or group subject to a registration requirement defaults is not
12subject to registration under this subsection solely as a result of such default.
AB428, s. 14 13Section 14. 11.05 (2r) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109,
14is repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,9,1015 11.05 (2r) General reporting exemptions. Any person, committee or group,
16other than a committee or individual required to file an oath under s. 11.06 (7), who
17or which does not anticipate accepting contributions, making disbursements or
18incurring obligations in an aggregate amount in excess of $1,000 in a calendar year
19and does not anticipate accepting any contribution or contributions from a single
20source, other than contributions made by a candidate to his or her own campaign,
21exceeding $100 in that year may indicate on its registration statement that the
22person, committee or group will not accept contributions, incur obligations or make
23disbursements in the aggregate in excess of $1,000 in any calendar year and will not
24accept any contribution or contributions from a single source, other than
25contributions made by a candidate to his or her own campaign, exceeding $100 in

1such year. Any registrant making such an indication is not subject to any filing
2requirement if the statement is true. The registrant need not file a termination
3report. A registrant not making such an indication on a registration statement is
4subject to a filing requirement. The indication may be revoked and the registrant
5is then subject to a filing requirement as of the date of revocation, or the date that
6aggregate contributions, disbursements or obligations for the calendar year exceed
7$1,000, or the date on which the registrant accepts any contribution or contributions
8exceeding $100 from a single source, other than contributions made by a candidate
9to his or her own campaign, during that year, whichever is earlier. If the revocation
10is not timely, the registrant violates s. 11.27 (1).
AB428, s. 15 11Section 15. 11.05 (3) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109,
12is repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,9,1613 11.05 (3) (c) In the case of a committee, a statement as to whether the
14committee is a personal campaign committee, a political party committee, a
15legislative campaign committee, a support committee or a special interest
16committee.
AB428, s. 16 17Section 16. 11.05 (3) (m) of the statutes, as created by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109,
18is repealed.
AB428, s. 17 19Section 17. 11.05 (3) (o) of the statutes is created to read:
AB428,9,2320 11.05 (3) (o) In the case of a legislative campaign committee, a statement signed
21by the leader of the party in the house for which the committee is established
22attesting to the fact that the committee is the only authorized legislative campaign
23committee for that party in that house.
AB428, s. 18 24Section 18. 11.05 (3) (r) of the statutes, as created by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109,
25is repealed.
AB428, s. 19
1Section 19. 11.05 (5) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109,
2is repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,10,173 11.05 (5) Change of information. Any change in information previously
4submitted in a statement of registration shall be reported by the registrant to the
5appropriate filing officer within 10 days following the change. This period does not
6apply in case of change of an indication made under sub. (2r), which shall be reported
7no later than the date that a registrant is subject to a filing requirement under sub.
8(2r). Any such change may be reported only by the individual or by the officer who
9has succeeded to the position of an individual who signed the original statement; but
10in the case of a personal campaign committee, a candidate or campaign treasurer
11may report a change in the statement except as provided in s. 11.10 (2), and in the
12case of any other committee or group, the chief executive officer or treasurer
13indicated on the statement may report a change. If a preexisting support committee
14is adopted by a candidate as his or her personal campaign committee, the candidate
15shall file an amendment to the committee's statement under this subsection
16indicating that all information contained in the statement is true, correct and
17complete.
AB428, s. 20 18Section 20. 11.05 (9) (title) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin Act
19109
, is repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,10,2020 11.05 (9) (title) Conduits.
AB428, s. 21 21Section 21. 11.05 (9) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109,
22is repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,11,323 11.05 (9) (b) An individual who or a committee or group which receives a
24contribution of money and transfers the contribution to another individual,
25committee or group while acting as a conduit is not subject to registration under this

1section unless the individual, committee or group transfers the contribution to a
2candidate or a personal campaign, legislative campaign, political party or support
3committee.
AB428, s. 22 4Section 22. 11.05 (12) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin Act
5109
, is repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,11,146 11.05 (12) (b) Except as authorized under sub. (13), a committee, group or
7individual other than a candidate or agent of a candidate shall comply with sub. (1)
8or (2) no later than the 5th business day commencing after receipt of the first
9contribution by such committee, group or individual, and before making any
10disbursement. No committee, group or individual, other than a candidate or agent
11of a candidate, may accept any contribution or contributions exceeding $25 in the
12aggregate during a calendar year at any time when the committee, group or
13individual is not registered under this section except within the initial 5-day period
14authorized by this paragraph.
AB428, s. 23 15Section 23. 11.05 (13) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109,
16is repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,11,2317 11.05 (13) Bank account and postal box; exemption. An individual, committee
18or group does not violate this section by accepting a contribution and making a
19disbursement in the amount required to rent a postal box, or in the minimum amount
20required by a bank or trust company to open a checking account, prior to the time of
21registration, if the disbursement is properly reported on the first report submitted
22under s. 11.20 after the date that the individual, committee or group is registered,
23whenever a reporting requirement applies to the registrant.
AB428, s. 24 24Section 24. 11.06 (1) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin Act
25109
, is repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,12,7
111.06 (1) Contents of report. (intro.) Except as provided in subs. (2), (3) and
2(3m) and ss. 11.05 (2r) and 11.19 (2), each registrant under s. 11.05 shall make full
3reports, upon a form prescribed by the board and signed by the appropriate
4individual under sub. (5), of all contributions received, contributions or
5disbursements made, and obligations incurred. Each report shall contain the
6following information, covering the period since the last date covered on the previous
7report, unless otherwise provided:
AB428, s. 25 8Section 25. 11.06 (1) (cm) and (dm) of the statutes, as created by 2001
9Wisconsin Act 109
, are repealed.
AB428, s. 26 10Section 26. 11.06 (1) (e) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109,
11is repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,12,1412 11.06 (1) (e) An itemized statement of contributions over $20 from a single
13source donated to a charitable organization or to the common school fund, with the
14full name and mailing address of the donee.
AB428, s. 27 15Section 27. 11.06 (2) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109,
16is repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,12,2517 11.06 (2) Disclosure of certain indirect disbursements. Notwithstanding
18sub. (1), if a disbursement is made or obligation incurred by an individual other than
19a candidate or by a committee or group which is not primarily organized for political
20purposes, and the disbursement does not constitute a contribution to any candidate
21or other individual, committee or group, the disbursement or obligation is required
22to be reported only if the purpose is to expressly advocate the election or defeat of a
23clearly identified candidate or the adoption or rejection of a referendum. The
24exemption provided by this subsection shall in no case be construed to apply to a
25political party, legislative campaign, personal campaign or support committee.
AB428, s. 28
1Section 28. 11.06 (2m) (title) and (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2001
2Wisconsin Act 109
, are repealed.
AB428, s. 29 3Section 29. 11.06 (2m) (b) to (d) of the statutes, as created by 2001 Wisconsin
4Act 109
, are repealed.
AB428, s. 30 5Section 30. 11.06 (3) (b) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin
6Act 109
, is repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,13,97 11.06 (3) (b) (intro.) Notwithstanding sub. (1), a nonresident registrant shall
8report on a form prescribed by the board the applicable information under sub. (1)
9concerning:
AB428, s. 31 10Section 31. 11.06 (4) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109,
11is repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,13,1612 11.06 (4) (b) Unless it is returned or donated within 15 days of receipt, a
13contribution must be reported as received and accepted on the date received. This
14subsection applies notwithstanding the fact that the contribution is not deposited in
15the campaign depository account by the closing date for the reporting period as
16provided in s. 11.20 (8).
AB428, s. 32 17Section 32. 11.06 (5) of the statutes, as affected by 2001 Wisconsin Act 109,
18is repealed and recreated to read:
AB428,14,219 11.06 (5) Report must be complete. A registered individual or treasurer of a
20group or committee shall make a good faith effort to obtain all required information.
21The first report shall commence no later than the date that the first contribution is
22received and accepted or the first disbursement is made. Each report shall be filed
23with the appropriate filing officer on the dates designated in s. 11.20. The individual
24or the treasurer of the group or committee shall certify to the correctness of each
25report. In the case of a candidate, the candidate or treasurer shall certify to the

1correctness of each report. If a treasurer is unavailable, any person designated as
2a custodian under s. 11.05 (3) (e) may certify to the correctness of a report.
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