AB1212,15,7 4(6) No eligible candidate may accept more than $25 in cash from any
5contributor and no such candidate may accept cash from all sources in a total amount
6greater than one-tenth of 1 percent of the public financing benefit for the office that
7the candidate seeks or $500, whichever is greater.
AB1212,15,10 811.507 Personal funds of candidates. (1) The personal funds of a candidate
9contributed as seed money contributions may not exceed an aggregate amount of
10$5,000.
AB1212,15,12 11(2) No eligible candidate may make any disbursement derived from personal
12funds after the close of the public financing qualifying period.
AB1212,15,19 1311.508 Seed money contributions. (1) An eligible candidate may accept
14seed money contributions from any individual or committee prior to the end of the
15public financing qualifying period, provided the total contributions received from one
16contributor, except personal funds and qualifying contributions otherwise permitted
17under ss. 11.502 to 11.522, do not exceed $100, and the aggregate contributions,
18including personal funds, but not including qualifying contributions, do not exceed
19$5,000.
AB1212,15,22 20(2) An eligible candidate may make disbursements derived from seed money
21contributions only during the exploratory period and the public financing qualifying
22period.
AB1212,16,6 2311.509 Excess contributions. If an eligible candidate receives excess seed
24money contributions or qualifying contributions on an aggregate basis, the
25candidate may retain the contributions and make disbursements derived from the

1contributions, in an amount not exceeding $15,000. An amount equivalent to the
2excess contributions shall be deducted by the board from the candidate's public
3financing benefit. A candidate shall return to the board all seed money and
4qualifying contributions that exceed the limits prescribed in this section within 48
5hours after the end of the exploratory period. The board shall deposit all
6contributions returned under this section in the democracy trust fund.
AB1212,16,13 711.51 Certification by candidate. (1) To apply for a public financing benefit,
8a candidate shall certify to the board that the candidate has complied and will
9comply, throughout the applicable campaign, with all requirements of ss. 11.502 to
1011.522 and that all disclosures required as of the time of application have been made,
11and shall present evidence of the requisite number of qualifying contributions
12received by the candidate. The candidate's request for certification shall be signed
13by the candidate and the candidate's campaign treasurer.
AB1212,16,19 14(2) The board shall distribute to each eligible candidate at the spring primary
15election a check for the amount of the public financing benefit payable to the
16candidate promptly after the candidate demonstrates his or her eligibility and, in
17any event, not later than 5 days after the end of the public financing qualifying
18period; however, no candidate may utilize a check received under this subsection
19until the beginning of the primary election campaign period.
AB1212,17,2 20(3) The board shall distribute to each eligible candidate for justice at a spring
21election a check for the amount of the public financing benefit payable to the
22candidate not later than 48 hours after the date of the spring primary election for the
23office of justice, or the date that the primary election would be held if a primary were
24required. However, no candidate for a particular office shall receive a check until all

1candidates for the office of justice who apply and qualify for a public financing benefit
2have been certified as eligible candidates.
AB1212,17,6 3(4) If any candidate who receives a public financing benefit violates the
4requirements of ss. 11.502 to 11.522, the board shall require the candidate to repay
5all public funds received by the candidate to the board. The board shall deposit all
6repayments received under this subsection in the democracy trust fund.
AB1212,17,16 711.511 Public financing benefits. (1) The board shall provide to each
8eligible candidate who qualifies to receive a public financing benefit for the primary
9or election campaign period separate checks for the public financing benefits payable
10to the candidate for the primary and election campaign periods in the amounts
11specified in this section, subject to any required adjustment under s. 11.509, 11.512
12(2) or 11.513 (2). An eligible candidate may use this public financing benefit to
13finance any lawful disbursements during the primary and election campaign periods
14to further the election of the candidate in that primary or election. An eligible
15candidate may not use this public financing benefit to repay any loan, or in violation
16of ss. 11.502 to 11.522 or any other applicable law.
AB1212,17,18 17(2) Except as provided in ss. 11.512 (2) and 11.513 (2), the public financing
18benefit for a primary election campaign period is $100,000.
AB1212,17,20 19(3) Except as provided in ss. 11.512 (2) and 11.513 (2), the public financing
20benefit for an election campaign period is $300,000.
AB1212,17,23 21(4) If there is no spring primary election for the office of justice, no eligible
22candidate may receive a public financing benefit for the primary election campaign
23period.
AB1212,18,3 24(5g) An eligible candidate who receives a public financing benefit in the
25primary election campaign period and whose name is certified to appear on the ballot

1at the election following that primary may utilize any unencumbered balance of the
2public financing benefit received by the candidate in the primary election campaign
3period for the election campaign period.
AB1212,18,8 4(5r) Except as permitted in sub. (5g), an eligible candidate who receives a
5public financing benefit and who does not encumber or expend some portion of the
6benefit for a purpose described in sub. (1) shall return any unencumbered portion of
7the benefit to the board within 30 days after the primary or election in which the
8candidate participates.
AB1212,18,13 9(6) Notwithstanding subs. (2) and (3), beginning on July 1, 2008, and every 2
10years thereafter, the board shall modify the public financing benefits provided for in
11subs. (2) and (3) to adjust for the change in the consumer price index, all items, U.S.
12city average, published by the U.S. department of labor for the preceding 2-year
13period ending on December 31.
AB1212,19,10 1411.512 Financial activity by nonparticipating candidates. (1) In
15addition to other reports required by law, a nonparticipating candidate for an office
16at a primary or election who receives contributions or makes or obligates to make
17disbursements in an amount more than 5 percent greater than the public financing
18benefit applicable to an eligible candidate for the same office at the same primary or
19election shall file a report with the board itemizing the total contributions received
20and disbursements made or obligated to be made by the candidate as of the date of
21the report. The board shall transmit copies of the report to all candidates for the
22same office at the same election. A nonparticipating candidate shall file additional
23reports after the candidate receives each additional $1,000 of contributions, or the
24candidate makes or obligates to make each additional $1,000 of disbursements. If
25such contributions are received or such disbursements are made or obligated to be

1made more than 6 weeks prior to the date of the primary election at which the name
2of the candidate appears on the ballot, or prior to the date that the primary election
3would be held, if a primary were required, such reports shall be made at the next
4regular reporting interval under s. 11.506. If such contributions are received or such
5disbursements made or obligated to be made within 6 weeks prior to the date of the
6primary election at which the name of the candidate appears on the ballot, or within
76 weeks prior to the date that the primary election would be held, if a primary were
8required, such reports shall be made within 24 hours after each instance in which
9such contributions are received, or such disbursements are made or obligated to be
10made.
AB1212,19,14 11(2) Upon receipt of such information, the state treasurer shall immediately
12issue a check to an opposing eligible candidate in an additional amount equivalent
13to the total excess disbursements made or obligated to be made, but not to exceed 3
14times the public financing benefit for the applicable office.
AB1212,20,2 1511.513 Independent disbursements. (1) If any person makes, or becomes
16obligated to make, by oral or written agreement, an independent disbursement in
17excess of $1,000 with respect to a candidate for the office of justice at a spring primary
18or election, that person shall file with the board a notice of such disbursement or
19obligation to make such a disbursement. Any such person shall file reports of such
20disbursements or obligations to make such disbursements on the 15th or last day of
21the month that immediately follows the date of the disbursement or the obligation
22to make the disbursement, whichever comes first, except that, within 6 weeks prior
23to the date of the spring primary election, the person shall file such reports within
2424 hours after each independent disbursement is made or obligated to be made. Any

1such person shall file additional reports after each additional $1,000 of
2disbursements are made or obligated to be made.
AB1212,20,8 3(2) When the aggregate independent disbursements against an eligible
4candidate for an office or for the opponents of that candidate exceed 20 percent of the
5public financing benefit for that office in any campaign, the board shall immediately
6credit that candidate's account with an additional line of credit equivalent to the total
7disbursements made or obligated to be made, but not to exceed 3 times the public
8financing benefit for the applicable office.
AB1212,20,10 911.515 Democracy trust fund. The democracy trust fund shall be
10administered by the state treasurer.
AB1212,20,13 1111.516 Administration. Except as otherwise specifically provided in ss.
1211.501 to 11.522, the duties of and authority for administering and enforcing ss.
1311.501 to 11.522 are vested in the board.
AB1212,20,19 1411.517 Penalties; enforcement. (1) If an eligible candidate makes
15disbursements that exceed the total amount of the public financing benefit allocated
16to the candidate for any campaign and the total qualifying and seed money
17contributions lawfully accepted by the candidate, the candidate may be required to
18forfeit not more than 10 times the amount by which the disbursements exceed the
19allocation.
AB1212,20,22 20(2) Any eligible candidate who accepts contributions in excess of any limitation
21imposed under ss. 11.502 to 11.522 may be required to forfeit not more than 10 times
22the amount by which the contributions exceed the applicable limitation.
AB1212,21,5 23(3) If the board finds that there is probable cause to believe that a candidate
24has made excess disbursements or has accepted excess contributions contrary to sub.
25(1) or (2), the board shall attempt for a period of not more than 14 days after its

1finding to correct the matter by informal methods of conference and conciliation and
2to enter into a settlement and conciliation agreement under s. 5.05 (1) (c) with the
3person involved. A settlement and conciliation agreement made pursuant to this
4subsection shall be a matter of public record. Unless violated, a settlement and
5conciliation agreement is a bar to any civil action under sub. (4).
AB1212,21,11 6(4) If the board has probable cause to believe that a candidate has made excess
7disbursements or has accepted excess contributions and the board is unable to
8correct the matter by informal methods within the time prescribed in sub. (3), the
9board shall make a public finding of probable cause in the matter. After making a
10public finding, the board shall bring an action in the circuit court for Dane County
11to impose a forfeiture under sub. (1) or (2).
AB1212,21,18 12(5) If an elector believes that a candidate has violated ss. 11.502 to 11.522 and
13the elector is entitled to vote for or against the candidate in the election in connection
14with which the violation is alleged to occur, the elector may file a complaint with the
15board requesting it to take remedial action. If the board refuses to take remedial
16action or, within 30 days after the filing of such a complaint, fails to take remedial
17action, the elector may commence a civil action in the appropriate circuit court under
18sub. (4) requesting the court to impose a forfeiture under sub. (1) or (2).
AB1212,21,21 19(6) The board and courts shall expedite all proceedings under ss. 11.502 to
2011.522 so that all complaints brought prior to an election are resolved, to the extent
21possible, before the election is held.
AB1212,21,25 22(7) If a complaint brought under ss. 11.502 to 11.522 is resolved against the
23complainant and is found to have been brought in bad faith and without reasonable
24basis therefor, the board or court may assess costs, including reasonable attorney
25fees, against the complainant.
AB1212,22,6
111.518 Prohibited acts. (1) If a candidate or agent of a candidate knowingly
2accepts more contributions than the candidate is entitled to receive, or makes
3disbursements exceeding the total amount of the public financing benefit received
4by the candidate and the qualifying and seed money contributions lawfully received
5by the candidate, the candidate or agent may be fined not more than $25,000 or
6imprisoned for not more than 5 years or both.
AB1212,22,11 7(3) If, in connection with the receipt or disbursement of a public financing
8benefit for an election campaign, any person knowingly provides false information
9to the board, or knowingly conceals or withholds information from the board, that
10person may be fined not more than $25,000 or imprisoned for not more than 5 years
11or both.
AB1212,22,15 1211.522 Contributions to nonparticipating candidates; attributions. (1)
13A nonparticipating candidate may accept contributions from private sources without
14limitation, except that no person may make any contribution or contributions to a
15nonparticipating candidate exceeding a total of $1,000 during any campaign.
AB1212,22,19 16(2) Any electronic or print communication paid for or authorized by a
17nonparticipating candidate shall contain the following sentence: "This
18communication is paid for with money raised from private sources. This candidate
19has not agreed to abide by campaign contribution and spending limits."
AB1212, s. 20 20Section 20. 19.45 (8) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1212,23,221 19.45 (8) (d) No former governor or former state public official who was
22appointed to his or her state public office by the governor, for 12 months following the
23date on which he or she ceases to occupy the office of governor or the position to which
24he or she was appointed by the governor, may for compensation, on behalf of any
25person other than a governmental entity, make any formal or informal appearance

1before, or negotiate with, any employee of a department in the executive branch of
2state government.
AB1212, s. 21 3Section 21. 19.45 (8m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1212,23,84 19.45 (8m) No individual who serves as a member of the legislature or an
5employee of the legislature identified in s. 20.923 (6) (h), for 12 months following the
6date on which the individual ceases to hold his or her office or position, may be
7employed as a lobbyist, as defined in s. 13.62 (11), for the purpose of attempting to
8influence legislative action.
AB1212, s. 22 9Section 22. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place,
10insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table PDF
AB1212, s. 23 11Section 23. 20.510 (1) (r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1212,23,1312 20.510 (1) (r) Democracy trust fund administration. From the democracy trust
13fund, the amounts in the schedule for the administration of ss. 11.501 to 11.522.
AB1212, s. 24 14Section 24. 20.585 (1) (q) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1212,24,3
120.585 (1) (q) Public financing benefits; candidates for justice. From the
2democracy trust fund, a sum sufficient to provide for payment of public financing
3benefits to eligible candidates under ss. 11.501 to 11.522.
AB1212, s. 25 4Section 25. 20.585 (1) (r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1212,24,65 20.585 (1) (r) Democracy trust fund administration. From the democracy trust
6fund, the amounts in the schedule for the administration of ss. 11.501 to 11.522.
AB1212, s. 26 7Section 26. 20.855 (4) (bb) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1212,24,138 20.855 (4) (bb) Democracy trust fund transfer. A sum sufficient equal to the
9amounts appropriated under ss. 20.510 (1) (r) and 20.585 (1) (r) and the amounts
10required to provide public financing benefits that candidates qualify to receive from
11the democracy trust fund, to be transferred from the general fund to the democracy
12trust fund no later than the time required to make payments of grants under s. 11.51
13(2) and (3).
AB1212, s. 27 14Section 27. 25.17 (1) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1212,24,1515 25.17 (1) (cm) Democracy trust fund (s. 25.421);
AB1212, s. 28 16Section 28. 25.421 of the statutes is created to read:
AB1212,24,20 1725.421 Democracy trust fund. All moneys appropriated under s. 20.855 (4)
18(bb) and all moneys deposited in the state treasury under ss. 11.509, 11.51 (4) and
1911.511 (5r) constitute the democracy trust fund, to be expended for the purposes of
20ss. 11.501 to 11.522.
AB1212,24,2121 (End)
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