AB996: Bill Text

LRB-4016/2

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2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Assembly BILL 996

February 7, 2006 - Introduced by Representatives Black and Freese, cosponsored by Senators Brown, Ellis and Carpenter. Referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections.

AB996,1,2 An Act to create 19.45 (14) of the statutes; relating to: political fund raising by certain executive state officials.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill prohibits any individual who holds the position of secretary, deputy, executive assistant, division administrator, or commissioner in any executive branch state agency from soliciting a political contribution on behalf of a candidate for state or national office or the personal campaign committee or authorized support committee of such a candidate. The bill also prohibits any such individual from hosting, endorsing, or sponsoring a fund-raising event on behalf of a candidate for state or national office or the personal campaign committee or authorized support committee of such a candidate. The bill does not apply to an elective state official acting in support of his or her own campaign for state or national office.

Violations of the prohibitions created by the bill are punishable by a forfeiture (civil penalty) of not more than $5,000 for each offense. Intentional violations constitute a misdemeanor and are punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $5,000 or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB996, s. 1 Section 1. 19.45 (14) of the statutes is created to read:

AB996,2,1 19.45 (14) (a) In this subsection:

AB996,2,4 1. "Authorized support committee" means the support committee of a candidate under s. 11.18 that has been authorized by the candidate to operate on his or her behalf under s. 11.05 (3) (p).

AB996,2,5 2. "Candidate" has the meaning given under s. 11.01 (1).

AB996,2,6 3. "Contribution" has the meaning given under s. 11.01 (6).

AB996,2,7 4. "Executive branch agency" has the meaning given in s. 16.70 (4).

AB996,2,9 5. "Fund-raising event" means an event at which or in connection with which contributions are solicited or accepted.

AB996,2,12 6. "Personal campaign committee" has the meaning given in s. 11.01 (15) and includes an authorized committee of a candidate for national office designated by the candidate under 2 USC 432 (e).

AB996,2,13 7. "National office" has the meaning given under s. 5.02 (12).

AB996,2,14 8. "State office" has the meaning given under s. 5.02 (23).

AB996,2,18 (b) No individual who holds the position of secretary, deputy, executive assistant, division administrator, or commissioner in any executive branch agency may solicit any contribution on behalf of a candidate for state or national office or the personal campaign committee or authorized support committee of such a candidate.

AB996,2,23 (c) No individual who holds the position of secretary, deputy, executive assistant, division administrator, or commissioner in any executive branch agency may host, endorse, or sponsor a fund-raising event on behalf of a candidate for state or national office or the personal campaign committee or authorized support committee of such a candidate.

AB996,3,2 (d) This subsection does not apply to an individual who holds a state office acting in support of his or her own campaign for a state or national office.

AB996,3,3 (End)