AB801: Bill Text

AB801, s. 75 Section 75. 11.26 (8m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB801,46,13 11.26 (8m) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), no committee may make a contribution to any other committee except a political party, personal campaign, or support committee.

AB801,46,16 (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to any contribution made by a committee that is affiliated with a labor organization to any other committee that is affiliated with the same labor organization.

AB801, s. 76 Section 76. 11.26 (9) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 11.26 (9) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB801,46,24 11.26 (9) (a) (intro.) 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 for the office for which he or she is a candidate the following amount during any primary and election campaign combined from all committees subject to a filing requirement, including political party and legislative campaign committees.:

AB801, s. 77 Section 77. 11.26 (9) (a) 1. to 7. of the statutes are created to read:

AB801,47,1 11.26 (9) (a) 1. For a candidate for the office of governor, $400,000.

AB801,47,2 2. For a candidate for the office of lieutenant governor, $100,000.

AB801,47,3 3. For a candidate for the office of attorney general, $100,000.

AB801,47,5 4. For a candidate for the office of secretary of state, state treasurer, justice or state superintendent, $50,000.

AB801,47,6 5. For a candidate for the office of state senator, $24,000.

AB801,47,7 6. For a candidate for the office of representative to the assembly, $12,000.

AB801,47,11 7. For a candidate for any other state or local office, 20% of the value of the total disbursement level, as determined under s. 11.31 (1) and adjusted as provided under s. 11.31 (9) but without respect to any adjustment under s. 11.31 (1m), for the office for which he or she is a candidate.

AB801, s. 78 Section 78. 11.26 (9) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 11.26 (9) (b) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB801,47,19 11.26 (9) (b) (intro.) 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 for the office for which he or she is a candidate the following amount during any primary and election campaign combined from all committees other than political party and legislative campaign committees subject to a filing requirement.:

AB801, s. 79 Section 79. 11.26 (9) (b) 1. to 7. of the statutes are created to read:

AB801,47,21 11.26 (9) (b) 1. For a candidate for the office of governor, $485,190.

AB801,47,22 2. For a candidate for the office of lieutenant governor, $145,564.

AB801,47,23 3. For a candidate for the office of attorney general, $ 242,550.

AB801,47,25 4. For a candidate for the office of secretary of state, state treasurer, justice or state superintendent, $97,031.

AB801,48,1 5. For a candidate for the office of state senator, $15,525.

AB801,48,2 6. For a candidate for the office of representative to the assembly, $7,763.

AB801,48,6 7. For a candidate for any other state or local office, 25% of the value of the total disbursement level, as determined under s. 11.31 (1) and as adjusted as provided under s. 11.31 (9) but without respect to any adjustment under s. 11.31 (1m), for the office for which he or she is a candidate.

AB801, s. 80 Section 80. 11.26 (9) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

AB801, s. 81 Section 81. 11.26 (10) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB801,48,24 11.26 (10) No candidate for state office who files a sworn statement and application to receive a grant from the Wisconsin election campaign fund may make contributions of more than 200% of the amounts 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. 11.50 (2) (i) applies. 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.

AB801, s. 82 Section 82. 11.26 (12m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB801,49,3 11.26 (12m) For purposes of this section subs. (1) and (4), a contribution of money received from a conduit identified in the manner prescribed in s. 11.06 (11) (a) shall be considered a contribution received from the original contributor.

AB801, s. 83 Section 83. 11.265 of the statutes is repealed.

AB801, s. 84 Section 84. 11.31 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB801,49,10 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 subs. (1m) and (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.

AB801, s. 85 Section 85. 11.31 (1) (a) to (d) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB801,49,12 11.31 (1) (a) Candidates for governor, $1,078,200 $2,000,000.

AB801,49,13 (b) Candidates for lieutenant governor, $323,475 $500,000.

AB801,49,14 (c) Candidates for attorney general, $539,000 $700,000.

AB801,49,16 (d) Candidates for secretary of state, state treasurer, justice or state superintendent, $215,625 $250,000.

AB801, s. 86 Section 86. 11.31 (1) (de) of the statutes is created to read:

AB801,49,18 11.31 (1) (de) Candidates for justice, $300,000.

AB801, s. 87 Section 87. 11.31 (1) (e) and (f) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB801,49,22 11.31 (1) (e) Candidates for state senator, $34,500 $100,000 total in the primary and election, with disbursements not exceeding $21,575 $72,000 for either the primary or the election.

AB801,49,25 (f) Candidates for representative to the assembly, $17,250 $50,000 total in the primary and election, with disbursements not exceeding $10,775 $36,000 for either the primary or the election.

AB801, s. 88 Section 88. 11.31 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB801,50,12 11.31 (1m) Disbursement level for candidates in competitive partisan primary elections. The total disbursement level for any candidate for a partisan office at a general or special election whose name appears on the ballot as a candidate for an office at a primary election preceding that election and who receives less than twice as many votes at that primary election as another candidate for the same office within the same political party, and who has an opponent in the general or special election who received at least 6% of the votes cast for all candidates for the office that the candidate seeks on all ballots at the September primary or any special primary preceding the general or special election, is 120% of the amount specified in sub. (1) for the candidate for the same office who receives the greatest number of votes in the primary election, as adjusted as provided in sub. (9).

AB801, s. 89 Section 89. 11.31 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB801,51,3 11.31 (2) Limitation imposed. No candidate for state office at a spring or general election who files a sworn statement and application to receive a grant from the Wisconsin election campaign fund 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) or (1m), whichever is applicable, 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), or s. 11.50 (2) (i) sub. (3p) applies. No candidate for state office at a special election who files a sworn statement and application to receive a grant from the Wisconsin election campaign fund 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), or s. 11.50 (2) (i) sub. (3p) applies.

AB801, s. 90 Section 90. 11.31 (2m) of the statutes is repealed:

AB801, s. 91 Section 91. 11.31 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB801,51,11 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.

AB801, s. 92 Section 92. 11.31 (3p) of the statutes is created to read:

AB801,51,16 11.31 (3p) Candidates receiving additional grants; exception. If a candidate receives a grant under s. 11.50 (9) (b), (ba), or (bb), the disbursement limitation of that candidate for the campaign in which the grant is received is increased by the amount of that grant.

AB801, s. 93 Section 93. 11.31 (9) of the statutes is created to read:

AB801,51,21 11.31 (9) Adjustment of disbursement levels. (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.

AB801,52,9 (b) The dollar amounts of all disbursement limitations specified in sub. (1) shall be subject to a cost-of-living 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 consumer price index for the 12-month period ending on December 31 of each odd-numbered year and the consumer price index for calendar year 2003. For each biennium, the board shall adjust the disbursement limitations specified under sub. (1) by that percentage to the extent required to reflect any difference, rounded to the nearest multiple of $25 in the case of amounts of $1 or more, which amount 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.

AB801, s. 94 Section 94. 11.38 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB801,53,2 11.38 (1) (a) 2. Notwithstanding subd. 1., any such corporation or association may establish and administer a separate segregated fund and solicit contributions from individuals to the fund to be utilized by such corporation or association, for the purpose of supporting or opposing any candidate for state or local office but the corporation or association 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 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 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 provided under s. 11.21 (16), if applicable, or otherwise in the manner in which continuing reports are filed under s. 11.20 (4) and (8).

AB801, s. 95 Section 95. 11.38 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB801,53,8 11.38 (6) Any individual or campaign treasurer who receives funds in violation of this section shall promptly return such funds to the contributor or, donate the funds to the common school fund or a charitable organization or transfer the funds to the board for deposit in the Wisconsin election campaign fund, at the treasurer's option.

AB801, s. 96 Section 96. 11.38 (8) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB801,53,21 11.38 (8) (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 shall register with the appropriate filing officer specified in s. 11.02 and appoint a treasurer. The registration form of the corporation or association under s. 11.05 shall designate an account separate from all other corporation or association 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 shall file periodic reports under s. 11.20 and under s. 11.21 (16), if applicable, providing the information required under s. 11.06 (1).

AB801, s. 97 Section 97. 11.50 (1) (a) 1. (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:

AB801,53,24 11.50 (1) (a) 1. (intro.) For purposes of qualification for a grant from the general account:

AB801, s. 98 Section 98. 11.50 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 11.50 (1) (a) 1. a.

AB801, s. 99 Section 99. 11.50 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 11.50 (1) (a) 1. b.

AB801, s. 100 Section 100. 11.50 (1) (a) 2m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB801,54,8 11.50 (1) (a) 2m. For purposes of qualification for a grant from a political party account, an individual who is certified under s. 7.08 (2) (a) in the general election or a special election as the candidate of an eligible political party for a state office, other than district attorney, or an individual who has been lawfully appointed and certified to replace such an individual on the ballot at the general or a special election and who has qualified for a grant under sub. (2).

AB801, s. 101 Section 101. 11.50 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

AB801,54,10 11.50 (1) (am) "Eligible political party" means any of the following:

AB801,54,14 1. A party qualifying under s. 5.62 (1) (b) for a separate ballot or one or more separate columns or rows on a ballot for the period beginning on the date of the preceding general election and ending on the day before the general election that follows that election.

AB801,54,19 2. A party qualifying under s. 5.62 (2) for a separate ballot or one or more separate columns or rows on a ballot for the period beginning on the preceding June 1, or if that June 1 is in an odd-numbered year, the period beginning on June 1 of the preceding even-numbered year, and ending on May 31 of the 2nd year following that June 1.

AB801, s. 102 Section 102. 11.50 (1) (bm) and (cm) of the statutes are created to read:

AB801,54,22 11.50 (1) (bm) "General account" means the account in the fund created under sub. (2w).

AB801,54,24 (cm) "Political party account" means an account in the fund created under sub. (2s).

AB801, s. 103 Section 103. 11.50 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB801,55,22 11.50 (2) (a) Any individual who desires to qualify as an eligible candidate may file an application with the board requesting approval to participate in the fund. The application shall be filed no later than the applicable deadline for filing nomination papers under s. 8.10 (2) (a), 8.15 (1), 8.20 (8) (a) or 8.50 (3) (a), no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 7th day after the primary or date on which the primary would be held if required in the case of write-in candidates, or no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 7th day after appointment in the case of candidates appointed to fill vacancies. The application shall contain a sworn statement that the candidate and his or her authorized agents have complied with the contribution limitations prescribed in s. 11.26 and the disbursement limitations prescribed imposed under s. 11.31 (2), as adjusted under s. 11.31 (9), at all times to which such limitations have applied to his or her candidacy and will continue to comply with the limitations at all times to which the limitations apply to his or her candidacy for the office in contest, unless the board determines that the candidate is not eligible to receive a grant, the candidate withdraws his or her application under par. (h), or par. (i) s. 11.31 (3p) applies. The application shall also contain a sworn statement that the candidate and his or her agents have not accepted any contribution made by a committee other than a political party committee during the campaign, or, if any such contribution has been accepted, that the contribution has been returned or donated as provided in par. (j), and the candidate and his or her agents will not accept any such contribution during the campaign, unless the candidate is determined by the board to be ineligible to receive a grant after the date of that determination.

AB801, s. 104 Section 104. 11.50 (2) (b) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB801,56,24 11.50 (2) (b) 5. The financial reports filed by or on behalf of the candidate as of the date of the spring or September primary, or the date that the special primary is or would be held, if required, indicate that the candidate has received an amount equal to at least the amount provided in this subdivision 3% of the applicable authorized disbursement limitation, as determined under s. 11.31 (1) and adjusted under s. 11.31 (9) but without respect to any adjustment under s. 11.31 (1m), from contributions of money, other than loans, made by individuals who reside in this state and, in the case of a candidate for legislative office, by individuals at least 50% of whom reside in a county having territory within the legislative district in which the candidate seeks office, which contributions have been received during the period ending on the date of the spring primary and July 1 preceding such date in the case of candidates at the spring election, or the date of the September primary and January 1 preceding such date in the case of candidates at the general election, or the date that a special primary will or would be held, if required, and 90 days preceding such date or the date a special election is ordered, whichever is earlier, in the case of special election candidates at a special election, which contributions are in the aggregate amount of $100 or less, and which contributions are fully identified and itemized as to the exact source thereof. A contribution received from a conduit which is identified by the conduit as originating from an individual shall be considered a contribution made by the individual. Only the first $100 of an aggregate contribution of more than $100 may be counted toward the required percentage. For a candidate at the spring or general election for an office identified in s. 11.26 (1) (a) or a candidate at a special election, the required amount to qualify for a grant is 5% of the candidate's authorized disbursement limitation under s. 11.31. For any other candidate at the general election, the required amount to qualify for a grant is 10% of the candidate's authorized disbursement limitation under s. 11.31.

AB801, s. 105 Section 105. 11.50 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB801,57,14 11.50 (2) (c) If a candidate has not filed financial reports as of the date of the spring primary, September primary, special primary, or date that the special primary would be held, if required, which indicate that he or she has met the qualification under par. (b) 5., the candidate may file a special report with the board. Such report shall be filed not later than the 7th day after the primary, or 7th day after the date the primary would be held, if required, and shall include such supplementary information as to sources of contributions which may be necessary to complete the candidate's qualification. The special report shall cover the period from the day after the last date covered on the candidate's most recent report, or from the date on which the first contribution was received or the first disbursement was made, whichever is earlier, if the candidate has not previously filed a report, to the date of such report. All information included on the special report shall also be included in the candidate's next report under s. 11.20. This paragraph does not apply to a candidate who files reports under s. 11.21 (16).

AB801, s. 106 Section 106. 11.50 (2) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB801,57,23 11.50 (2) (g) A candidate who voluntarily files an application to receive a grant in accordance with this subsection accepts and agrees to comply with the contribution limitations prescribed in s. 11.26 and the disbursement limitations imposed under s. 11.31 (2), as adjusted under s. 11.31 (9), as binding upon himself or herself and his or her agents during the campaign of that candidate as defined in s. 11.31 (7), as a precondition to receipt of a grant under this section, unless the board determines that the candidate is not eligible to receive a grant, the candidate withdraws the application under par. (h), or par. (i) s. 11.31 (3p) applies.

AB801, s. 107 Section 107. 11.50 (2) (h) of the statutes is repealed.

AB801, s. 108 Section 108. 11.50 (2) (i) of the statutes is repealed.

AB801, s. 109 Section 109. 11.50 (2) (j) of the statutes is created to read:

AB801,58,11 11.50 (2) (j) If a candidate who desires to apply for a grant has accepted, or the candidate's personal campaign committee has accepted, a contribution from a committee other than a political party committee during the campaign for the office that the candidate seeks, the candidate shall, before filing an application to receive a grant, return the contribution or its monetary equivalent to the contributor, or, at the contributor's option, donate an amount equal to the contribution to the fund or to the common school fund. If the board later determines that the candidate is ineligible to receive a grant, the candidate may then accept contributions from committees other than political party committees after the date of that determination.

AB801, s. 110 Section 110. 11.50 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB801,58,17 11.50 (2m) Public Information. (a) Annually, no later than September 1, the board may notify the state treasurer that an amount not exceeding 5% of the amount transferred to the fund in that year shall be placed in a public information account. Moneys in this account shall be expended by the board for the purpose of providing public information concerning the purpose and effect of this section and s. 71.10 (3).

AB801,58,20 (b) As part of the public information program under par. (a), the board shall prepare an easily understood description of the purpose and effect of this section and s. 71.10 (3).

AB801,58,22 (c) Any amount placed in the public information account that is not expended by the board in any year shall be retained in that account.

AB801, s. 111 Section 111. 11.50 (2s) of the statutes is created to read: