SB292: Bill Text

SB292,23,22 1. Forms prescribed by the board for the making of reports and statements. The filing officer shall notify the committee that all forms are available on the board's Internet site. Whenever a filing officer sends a form or notice of the filing requirements under this chapter to the treasurer of a candidate committee, the filing officer shall also send a notice to the candidate.

SB292,23,23 2. Upon request, copies of manuals under par. (a).

SB292,23,25 (d) The filing officer shall provide copies of manuals and election laws to persons other than a committee under par. (c) at cost.

SB292,24,5 (e) Notify the board, in writing, of any facts within the filing officer's knowledge or evidence in the officer's possession, including errors or discrepancies in reports or statements and delinquencies in filing which may be grounds for civil action or criminal prosecution. The board may transmit a copy of the notification submitted under this paragraph to the district attorney.

SB292,24,6 (f) Make available a list of delinquents for public inspection.

SB292,24,9 (g) Compile and maintain on an electronic system a current list of all reports and statements received by or required of and pertaining to each committee registered under this chapter.

SB292,24,12 (h) Make the reports and statements filed with the officer available for public inspection and copying, commencing as soon as practicable but not later than the end of the 2nd day following the day during which they are received.

SB292,24,14 (i) Upon the request of any person, permit copying of any report or statement described under par. (g) at cost.

SB292,24,22 (j) Determine whether each report or statement required to be filed under this chapter has been filed in the form and by the time prescribed by law, and whether it conforms on its face to the requirements of this chapter. The officer shall immediately send to any committee that is delinquent in filing, or that has filed otherwise than in the proper form, a notice that the committee has failed to comply with this chapter. Whenever a candidate committee has appointed an individual other than the candidate as campaign treasurer, the board shall send the notice to both the candidate and the treasurer of the candidate committee.

SB292,24,25 11.0103 Reporting; general. (1) Report must be complete. (a) Each committee required to file a report under this chapter shall make a good faith effort to obtain all required information.

SB292,25,2 (b) Failure to receive a form or notice from a filing officer does not exempt a committee or conduit from a reporting requirement under this chapter.

SB292,25,5 (2) Contributions; when received; when reported. (a) 1. A contribution is received by a candidate committee for purposes of this chapter when it is under the control of the candidate or the treasurer or agent of the candidate.

SB292,25,7 2. A contribution is received by a committee for purposes of this chapter when it is under the control of the treasurer or agent of the committee.

SB292,25,9 (b) Unless it is returned or donated within 15 days of receipt under par. (a), a contribution must be reported as received on the date received.

SB292,25,14 (3) Contents of report; filing dates; certification; short form; contents. (a) A committee shall begin each report filed under this chapter with the first contribution received, disbursement made, or obligation incurred during the reporting period, and shall include all contributions received, disbursements made, and obligations incurred as of the end of:

SB292,25,16 1. The 15th day preceding the primary or election in the case of the preprimary and preelection report.

SB292,25,18 2. The last day of the immediately preceding month in the case of a continuing report required under this chapter.

SB292,25,20 3. The 22nd day following the special election in the case of a postelection report required under this chapter.

SB292,25,24 (b) Each committee shall ensure that each report is filed with the appropriate filing officer on the dates designated in this chapter. In the event that any report is required to be filed under this chapter on a nonbusiness day, a committee may file the report on the next business day thereafter.

SB292,26,2 (c) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., the committee's treasurer shall certify to the correctness of each report filed under this chapter.

SB292,26,4 2. Either the candidate or the treasurer of the candidate's committee shall certify to the correctness of each report filed under this chapter.

SB292,26,7 (d) The board shall prescribe a simplified, short form for compliance with this section by a committee treasurer who has not engaged in any financial transaction since the last date included on the treasurer's preceding report.

SB292,26,12 (4) Preprimary and preelection reports; inactivity. (a) A contribution, disbursement, or obligation to support or oppose a candidate at a primary that is accepted, made, or incurred during the period covered by the preprimary report is considered to be accepted, made, or incurred to support or oppose that candidate at the primary, regardless of whether the candidate is opposed at the primary.

SB292,26,17 (b) A contribution, disbursement, or obligation to support or oppose a candidate at an election that is accepted, made, or incurred during the period covered by the preelection report is considered to be accepted, made, or incurred to support or oppose that candidate at the election, regardless of whether the candidate is opposed at the election.

SB292,26,22 (c) 1. a. Except as provided in subd. 2., a committee that accepts, makes, or incurs a contribution, disbursement, or obligation to support or oppose a candidate at a primary during the period covered by the preelection report, but does not engage in such activity during the period covered by the preprimary report, is not required to file a preprimary report.

SB292,27,2 b. Except as provided in subd. 2., a committee that accepts, makes, or incurs a contribution, disbursement, or obligation to support or oppose a candidate at an election during the period covered by the report that follows the preelection report, but does not engage in such activity during the period covered by the preelection report, is not required to file a preelection report.

SB292,27,7 2. A candidate committee that accepts, makes, or incurs a contribution, disbursement, or obligation to support or oppose a candidate at a primary during the period covered by the preprimary report shall file both the preprimary and preelection reports, regardless of whether the candidate committee engages in such activity during the period covered by the preelection report.

SB292,27,16 11.0104 Reporting exemptions: limited activity. (1) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), any committee which does not anticipate accepting contributions, making disbursements, or incurring obligations, and any conduit which does not anticipate accepting or releasing contributions, in an aggregate amount exceeding $2,000 in a calendar year may file an amended registration statement with the appropriate filing officer indicating that fact. The committee or conduit shall certify the amended registration in the manner required under s. 11.0103 (3) (c) and shall include the information required to be reported by that committee or conduit on its continuing reports.

SB292,27,19 (b) In no case may a candidate committee file an amended registration under this section covering any period ending sooner than the date of the election in which the candidate committee is participating.

SB292,27,25 (2) Upon receipt of a properly executed amended registration by a committee or conduit, the appropriate filing officer shall suspend the requirement imposed upon that committee or conduit by this chapter to file continuing reports. An indication of limited activity under this section is effective only for the calendar year in which it is granted, unless the committee or conduit alters its status before the end of such year or files a termination report under s. 11.0105.

SB292,28,6 (3) An indication of limited activity made under sub. (1) may be revoked. If revoked, the committee or conduit shall comply with the reporting requirements applicable to the committee or conduit under this chapter as of the date of revocation, or the date that aggregate contributions, disbursements, or obligations for the calendar year exceed $2,000. If the revocation is not timely, the committee or conduit violates s. 11.1201.

SB292,28,8 (4) A committee or conduit that files an amended registration statement under sub. (1) is not required to file a termination report under s. 11.0105.

SB292,28,12 (5) If a committee or conduit files an amended registration statement under sub. (1) and within 60 days thereafter receives and accepts an unanticipated contribution, the committee or conduit shall do one of the following within 60 days after receipt of the unanticipated contribution:

SB292,28,18 (a) File an amended registration statement. An amended registration statement supersedes the previous registration statement. The individual who certifies to the accuracy of the registration statement shall also certify that the amended registration statement is filed on account of the receipt of unanticipated contributions and the failure to file a correct registration statement was not intentional.

SB292,28,20 (b) Return the contribution to the contributor or donate the contribution to the common school fund or to a charitable organization.

SB292,29,6 11.0105 Reporting exemptions: dissolution of committee or conduit and termination reports. (1) (a) Except as provided in par. (b) and s. 11.0104 (4), whenever any committee or conduit dissolves or determines that obligations will no longer be incurred, contributions will no longer be received or, in the case of a conduit, accepted and released, and disbursements will no longer be made during a calendar year, and the committee has no outstanding incurred obligations, the committee or conduit shall file with the appropriate filing officer a termination report that indicates a cash balance of zero at the end of the reporting period. The committee or conduit shall certify the termination report in the manner required under s. 11.0103 (3) (c) and the committee shall include the information required to be reported by that committee on its continuing reports.

SB292,29,9 (b) In no case may a candidate committee file a termination report covering any period ending sooner than the date of the election in which the candidate committee is participating.

SB292,29,11 (2) A committee to which s. 11.0102 (2) applies shall pay the fee imposed under that subsection with a termination report filed under this section.

SB292,29,16 (3) The committee shall include in the termination report filed under this section the manner in which residual funds were disposed. Residual funds may be used for any purpose not prohibited by law, returned to the donors in an amount not exceeding the original contribution, or donated to a charitable organization or the common school fund.

SB292,29,19 (4) If a committee files a termination report under sub. (1) and within 60 days thereafter receives and accepts an unanticipated contribution, the committee shall do one of the following within 60 days after receipt of the unanticipated contribution:

SB292,29,24 (a) File an amended termination report. An amended report supersedes the previous report. The individual who certifies to the accuracy of the report shall also certify to a statement that the amended report is filed on account of the receipt of unanticipated contributions and the failure to file a correct termination report was not intentional.

SB292,30,2 (b) Return the contribution to the contributor or donate the contribution to the common school fund or to a charitable organization.

SB292,30,5 11.0106 Disbursements; form. Every disbursement which is made by a committee registered under this chapter from the committee's depository account shall be made by negotiable instrument.

SB292,30,8 11.0107 Nonapplicability. Federal account committees, federal candidate committees, and national political party committees are not required to register or report under this chapter.

SB292,30,9 subchapter ii

SB292,30,10 candidate committees

SB292,30,16 11.0201 Registration; treasurer and depositories. (1) Each candidate shall either appoint a treasurer of his or her candidate committee to comply with the registration and reporting requirements under this subchapter or serve as the treasurer and comply with the registration and reporting requirements under this subchapter. If the candidate appoints a treasurer, the candidate and the candidate's treasurer shall cosign the registration statement of the candidate's committee.

SB292,30,18 (2) (a) The treasurer shall ensure that all funds received are deposited in the candidate committee depository account.

SB292,31,2 (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), any candidate who serves as his or her own treasurer and who is authorized to file and files an amended registration statement under s. 11.0104 may designate a single personal account as his or her candidate committee depository account, and may intermingle personal and other funds with campaign funds. If a candidate establishes a separate candidate committee depository account, the candidate shall transfer all campaign funds in the personal account to the new depository account. Disbursements made from a personal account under this paragraph need not be identified in accordance with s. 11.0106.

SB292,31,5 (3) No disbursement may be made or obligation incurred by or on behalf of a candidate committee without the authorization of the treasurer or a designated agent.

SB292,31,8 (4) The treasurer shall maintain the records of the candidate committee in an organized and legible manner for not less than 3 years after the date of the election in which the candidate committee participates.

SB292,31,13 11.0202 Registration; timing; candidate committee required. (1) Time of registration. (a) Each candidate, through his or her candidate committee, shall file a registration statement with the appropriate filing officer giving the information required under s. 11.0203 as soon as practicable after the individual qualifies as a candidate under s. 11.0101 (1).

SB292,31,17 (b) A candidate who receives no contributions, makes no disbursements, and incurs no obligations shall file the registration statement as provided in this subsection, but need not designate a campaign depository account until the first contribution is received, disbursement is made, or obligation is incurred.

SB292,31,20 (2) Candidate committee required. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), no candidate may accept contributions, make disbursements, or incur obligations except through a candidate committee registered under this subchapter.

SB292,31,22 (b) A candidate does not violate this subsection by taking any of the following actions:

SB292,32,3 1. Accepting a contribution, making a disbursement, or incurring an obligation in the amount required to rent a postal box, or in the minimum amount required by a bank or trust company to open a checking account, prior to the time of registration, if the disbursement is properly reported on the first report submitted under s. 11.0204 after the date that the candidate committee is registered, whenever a reporting requirement applies to the candidate committee.

SB292,32,5 2. Accepting a contribution, making a disbursement, or incurring an obligation required for the production of nomination papers.

SB292,32,7 (c) Except as provided in par. (d), no candidate may establish more than one candidate committee.

SB292,32,10 (d) An individual who holds a state or local elective office may establish a second candidate committee under this subchapter for the purpose of pursuing a different state or local office.

SB292,32,13 11.0203 Registration; required information. (1) Required information. The candidate committee shall include all of the following, where applicable, on the registration statement:

SB292,32,14 (a) The name and mailing address of the candidate committee.

SB292,32,19 (b) The name and mailing address of the candidate committee treasurer and any other custodian of books and accounts. Unless otherwise directed by the treasurer on the registration form and except as otherwise provided in this chapter or any rule of the board, all mailings that are required by law or by rule of the board shall be sent to the treasurer at the treasurer's address indicated upon the form.

SB292,32,24 (c) In the case of a candidate committee of an independent candidate for partisan office or a candidate for nonpartisan county or municipal office, a list of the members of the committee, in addition to those specified in par. (b), if any, whom the filing officer shall recognize as eligible to fill a nomination vacancy if the candidate dies before the election.

SB292,33,2 (d) The name and address of the depository account of the candidate committee and of any other institution where funds of the committee are kept.

SB292,33,6 (2) Certification. The individual responsible for filing or amending a candidate committee's registration statement and any form or report required of the committee under this chapter shall certify that all information contained in the statement, form, or report is true, correct, and complete.

SB292,33,11 (3) Change of information. (a) The candidate committee shall report any change in information previously submitted in a registration statement within 10 days following the change. Except as provided in par. (b), any such change may be reported only by the individual or by the officer who has succeeded to the position of an individual who signed the original statement.

SB292,33,13 (b) A candidate or the treasurer of the candidate's committee may report a change in the candidate committee's registration statement.

SB292,33,20 11.0204 Reporting. (1) Contributions and disbursements. (a) Each candidate, through his or her candidate committee, shall make full reports, upon a form prescribed by the board and certified as required under s. 11.0103 (3) (c), of all contributions, disbursements, and obligations received, made, and incurred by the candidate committee. The candidate committee shall include in each report the following information, covering the period since the last date covered on the previous report:

SB292,33,23 1. An itemized statement giving the date, full name, and street address of each person who has made a contribution to the candidate committee, together with the amount of the contribution.

SB292,34,3 2. An itemized statement giving the date, full name, and street address of each committee to which the candidate committee has made a contribution, together with the amount of the contribution.

SB292,34,6 3. The name of the principal place of employment, if any, of each individual contributor whose cumulative contributions to the candidate committee for the calendar year are in excess of $200.

SB292,34,11 4. An itemized statement of each contribution made anonymously. If the contribution exceeds $10, the candidate committee shall specify whether the candidate committee donated the contribution to the common school fund or to a charitable organization, and shall include the full name and mailing address of the donee.

SB292,34,13 5. A statement of totals during the reporting period of contributions received and contributions donated as provided in subd. 4.

SB292,34,15 6. A statement of the cash balance on hand at the beginning and end of the reporting period.

SB292,34,18 7. An itemized statement of each loan of money made to the candidate committee in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $20, together with all of the following:

SB292,34,19 a. The full name and mailing address of the lender.

SB292,34,20 b. A statement of whether the lender is a commercial lending institution.

SB292,34,21 c. The date and amount of the loan.

SB292,34,22 d. The full name and mailing address of each guarantor, if any.

SB292,34,23 e. The original amount guaranteed by each guarantor.

SB292,34,25 f. The balance of the amount guaranteed by each guarantor at the end of the reporting period.

SB292,35,3 8. An itemized statement of every disbursement exceeding $20 in amount or value, together with the name and address of the person to whom the disbursement was made, and the date and specific purpose for which the disbursement was made.

SB292,35,7 9. An itemized statement of every obligation exceeding $20 in amount or value, together with the name of the person or business with whom the obligation was incurred, and the date and the specific purpose for which each such obligation was incurred.

SB292,35,10 10. A statement of totals during the reporting period of disbursements made, including transfers made to and received from any other committees, other income, and loans.

SB292,35,12 11. A statement of the balance of obligations incurred as of the end of the reporting period.

SB292,35,15 (b) The candidate committee shall begin each report filed under this chapter with the first contribution received, disbursement made, or obligation incurred during the reporting period.

SB292,35,20 (2) Reports; candidates at spring primary. A candidate committee of a candidate at a spring primary or of a candidate at a special primary held to nominate nonpartisan candidates to be voted for at a special election held to fill a vacancy in one or more of the nonpartisan state or local offices voted for at the spring election shall do all of the following:

SB292,35,25 (a) File a preprimary report no earlier than 14 days and no later than 8 days preceding the primary. If a candidate for a nonpartisan state office at an election is not required to participate in a spring primary, the candidate committee shall file a preprimary report at the time prescribed in s. 11.0103 (4) preceding the date specified for the holding of the primary, were it to be required.

SB292,36,2 (b) File a preelection report no earlier than 14 days and no later than 8 days preceding the election.