AB543,9,16 911.503 Time of application. (1) Before a candidate may be certified as
10eligible for receipt of a public financing benefit for the spring election, the candidate
11shall apply to the board and file a sworn statement that the candidate has fulfilled
12all the requirements of ss. 11.502 to 11.522 during the primary election campaign
13period and will comply with such requirements during the election campaign period.
14Except as authorized in s. 8.35 (4) (b), the application shall be filed no later than the
157th day after the date of the spring primary or the date that the primary election
16would be held if a primary were required.
AB543,9,20 17(2) The board shall certify a candidate as an eligible candidate for receipt of a
18public financing benefit for the spring election if the candidate complies with sub. (1)
19and the candidate was an eligible candidate during the primary election campaign
20period.
AB543,9,25 2111.505 Agreement by candidate. An eligible candidate who accepts a public
22financing benefit under ss. 11.502 to 11.522 during the primary election campaign
23period shall agree to comply with all requirements of ss. 11.502 to 11.522 throughout
24the election campaign period during the same campaign as a precondition to receipt
25of a public financing benefit. An eligible candidate who accepts a public financing

1benefit during a primary election campaign period may not elect to accept private
2contributions in violation of ss. 11.502 to 11.522 during the corresponding election
3campaign period.
AB543,10,7 411.506 Requirements imposed upon candidates. (1) An eligible
5candidate shall not accept private contributions other than seed money
6contributions and qualifying contributions that the candidate accepts during the
7exploratory period and the public financing qualifying period.
AB543,10,15 8(2) In addition to reports required to be filed under ss. 11.12 (5) and 11.20, a
9candidate who receives a public financing benefit shall furnish complete financial
10records, including records of seed money contributions, qualifying contributions, and
11disbursements, to the board on the 15th or the last day of the month that
12immediately follows the receipt of the contribution or the making of the
13disbursement, whichever comes first, except that during July, August, and
14September records need only be furnished by the last day of the month. Each such
15candidate shall cooperate with any audit or examination by the board.
AB543,10,24 16(3) In addition to adhering to requirements imposed under ss. 11.06 (5) and
1711.12 (3), a candidate who receives a public financing benefit shall maintain records
18of all contributions received by the candidate of more than $5 but less than $50,
19including seed money contributions and qualifying contributions, which shall
20contain the full name of the contributor and the contributor's full home address. In
21addition, if a contributor's aggregate contributions to any candidate exceed $50 for
22any campaign, the candidate shall also maintain a record of the contributor's
23principal occupation and the name and business address of the contributor's place
24of employment.
AB543,11,3
1(4) The failure to record or provide the information specified in sub. (3)
2disqualifies a contribution from being used by a candidate as a qualifying
3contribution.
AB543,11,6 4(5) No eligible candidate and no person acting on a candidate's behalf may
5deposit any contribution that is not recorded in accordance with sub. (3) in a
6candidate's campaign depository account.
AB543,11,10 7(6) No eligible candidate may accept more than $25 in cash from any
8contributor. No eligible candidate may accept cash from all sources in a total amount
9greater than one-tenth of 1 percent of the public financing benefit for the office that
10the candidate seeks or $500, whichever is greater.
AB543,11,13 1111.507 Personal funds of candidates. (1) The personal funds of a candidate
12contributed as seed money contributions may not exceed an aggregate amount of
13$5,000.
AB543,11,15 14(2) No eligible candidate may make any disbursement derived from personal
15funds after the close of the public financing qualifying period.
AB543,11,22 1611.508 Seed money contributions. (1) An eligible candidate may accept
17seed money contributions from any individual or committee prior to the end of the
18public financing qualifying period, provided the total contributions received from one
19contributor, except personal funds and qualifying contributions otherwise permitted
20under ss. 11.502 to 11.522, do not exceed $100, and the aggregate contributions,
21including personal funds, but not including qualifying contributions, do not exceed
22$5,000.
AB543,11,25 23(2) An eligible candidate may make disbursements derived from seed money
24contributions only during the exploratory period and the public financing qualifying
25period.
AB543,12,7
111.509 Excess contributions. If an eligible candidate receives and accepts
2excess seed money contributions or qualifying contributions in an aggregate amount
3greater than the limits prescribed in s. 11.502 (2) or 11.508 (1), the candidate shall
4transfer to the board all seed money and qualifying contributions that exceed the
5limits prescribed in this section within 48 hours after the end of the public financing
6qualifying period. The board shall deposit all contributions transferred under this
7section in the democracy trust fund.
AB543,12,14 811.51 Certification by candidate. (1) To apply for a public financing benefit,
9a candidate shall certify to the board that the candidate has complied and will
10comply, throughout the applicable campaign, with all requirements of ss. 11.502 to
1111.522 and that all disclosures required as of the time of application have been made,
12and shall present evidence of the requisite number of qualifying contributions
13received by the candidate. The candidate's request for certification shall be signed
14by the candidate and the candidate's campaign treasurer.
AB543,12,22 15(2) The board shall certify to the state treasurer the name of each eligible
16candidate at the spring primary together with the amount of the public financing
17benefit payable to the candidate promptly after the candidate demonstrates his or
18her eligibility and, in any event, not later than 5 days after the end of the public
19financing qualifying period. The state treasurer shall immediately credit that
20candidate's account with a line of credit for the amount certified. No candidate may
21utilize a line of credit received under this subsection until the beginning of the
22primary election campaign period.
AB543,13,6 23(3) The board shall certify to the state treasurer the name of each eligible
24candidate at the spring election together with the amount of the public financing
25benefit payable to the candidate not later than 48 hours after the date of the spring

1primary election for the office of justice, or the date that the primary election would
2be held if a primary were required. The state treasurer shall immediately credit that
3candidate's account with a line of credit for the amount certified. However, no
4candidate for a particular office shall receive a line of credit until all candidates for
5the office of justice who apply and qualify for a public financing benefit have been
6certified as eligible candidates.
AB543,13,12 7(4) If any candidate who receives a public financing benefit violates the
8requirements of ss. 11.502 to 11.522, the board shall require the candidate to repay
9the amount obligated by the candidate from the democracy trust fund for the primary
10or election campaign period for which the candidate received the benefit. The board
11shall deposit all repayments received under this subsection in the democracy trust
12fund.
AB543,13,21 1311.511 Public financing benefits. (1) The state treasurer shall provide to
14each eligible candidate who qualifies to receive a public financing benefit for the
15primary or election campaign period separate lines of credit for the public financing
16benefits payable to the candidate for the primary and election campaign periods in
17the amounts specified in this section. An eligible candidate may use this public
18financing benefit to finance any lawful disbursements during the primary and
19election campaign periods to further the election of the candidate in that primary or
20election. An eligible candidate shall not use this public financing benefit to repay any
21loan, or in violation of ss. 11.502 to 11.522 or any other applicable law.
AB543,13,23 22(2) The public financing benefit for a primary election campaign period is
23$100,000.
AB543,13,24 24(3) The public financing benefit for an election campaign period is $300,000.
AB543,14,2
1(4) If there is no spring primary for the office of justice, no eligible candidate
2may receive a public financing benefit for the primary election campaign period.
AB543,14,7 3(5g) An eligible candidate who receives a public financing benefit in the
4primary election campaign period and whose name is certified to appear on the ballot
5at the election following that primary may utilize any unencumbered balance of the
6public financing benefit received by the candidate in the primary election campaign
7period for the election campaign period.
AB543,14,12 8(5r) Except as permitted in sub. (5g), an eligible candidate who receives a
9public financing benefit and who does not encumber or expend some portion of the
10benefit for a purpose described in sub. (1) shall return any unencumbered portion of
11the benefit to the board within 30 days after the primary or election in which the
12candidate participates.
AB543,14,17 13(6) Notwithstanding subs. (2) and (3), beginning on July 1, 2016, and every 2
14years thereafter, the board shall modify the public financing benefits provided for in
15subs. (2) and (3) to adjust for the change in the consumer price index, all items, U.S.
16city average, published by the U.S. department of labor for the preceding 2-year
17period ending on December 31.
AB543,14,25 18(7) No candidate for the office of justice who files an application for a public
19financing benefit and certification under s. 11.51 (1) and who accepts a public
20financing benefit may make or authorize total disbursements in a campaign,
21beginning with the first day of the exploratory period and ending on the date of the
22spring election, to the extent of more than the maximum amounts specified in ss.
2311.502 (2) and 11.508 (1), plus the amount specified in s. 11.511 (3), as adjusted under
24s. 11.511 (6), and, if there is a primary for the office of justice, the amount specified
25in s. 11.511 (2), as adjusted under s. 11.511 (6).
AB543,15,3
111.515 Democracy trust fund. The democracy trust fund shall be
2administered by the state treasurer. The state treasurer shall establish an account
3within the fund for each eligible candidate.
AB543,15,6 411.516 Administration. Except as otherwise specifically provided in ss.
511.501 to 11.522, the duties of and authority for administering and enforcing ss.
611.501 to 11.522 are vested in the board.
AB543,15,12 711.517 Penalties; enforcement. (1) Notwithstanding s. 11.60 (1), if an
8eligible candidate makes disbursements that exceed the total amount of the public
9financing benefit allocated to the candidate for any campaign and the total
10qualifying and seed money contributions lawfully accepted by the candidate, the
11candidate may be required to forfeit not more than 10 times the amount by which the
12disbursements exceed the allocation.
AB543,15,16 13(2) Notwithstanding s. 11.60 (1), any eligible candidate who accepts
14contributions in excess of any limitation imposed under ss. 11.502 to 11.522 may be
15required to forfeit not more than 10 times the amount by which the contributions
16exceed the applicable limitation.
AB543,15,24 17(3) If the board finds that there is probable cause to believe that an eligible
18candidate has made excess disbursements or has accepted excess contributions
19contrary to sub. (1) or (2), the board shall attempt for a period of not more than 14
20days after its finding to correct the matter by informal methods of conference and
21conciliation and to enter into a settlement and conciliation agreement under s. 5.05
22(1) (c) with the person involved. A settlement and conciliation agreement made
23pursuant to this subsection shall be a matter of public record. Unless violated, a
24settlement and conciliation agreement is a bar to any civil action under sub. (4).
AB543,16,6
1(4) If the board has probable cause to believe that an eligible candidate has
2made excess disbursements or has accepted excess contributions and the board is
3unable to correct the matter by informal methods within the time prescribed in sub.
4(3), the board shall make a public finding of probable cause in the matter. After
5making a public finding, the board may bring a civil action against the eligible
6candidate as provided in s. 5.05 (1) (c).
AB543,16,14 7(5) If an elector believes that an eligible candidate has violated ss. 11.502 to
811.522 and the elector is entitled to vote for or against the eligible candidate in the
9election in connection with which the violation is alleged to occur, the elector may file
10a complaint with the board requesting it to take remedial action. If the board refuses
11to take remedial action or, within 30 days after the filing of such a complaint, fails
12to take remedial action, the elector may commence a civil action requesting the court
13to impose a forfeiture under sub. (1) or (2) in circuit court for the county where the
14board is authorized to bring an action under s. 5.05 (1) (c).
AB543,16,17 15(6) The board and courts shall expedite all proceedings under ss. 11.502 to
1611.522 so that all complaints brought prior to an election are resolved, to the extent
17possible, before the election is held.
AB543,16,21 18(7) If a complaint brought under ss. 11.502 to 11.522 is resolved against the
19complainant and is found to have been brought in bad faith and without reasonable
20basis therefor, the board or court may assess costs, including reasonable attorney
21fees, against the complainant.
AB543,17,2 2211.518 Prohibited acts. (1) Notwithstanding s. 11.61 (1) (c), if an eligible
23candidate or agent of a candidate knowingly accepts more contributions than the
24candidate is entitled to receive, or makes disbursements exceeding the total amount
25of the public financing benefit received by the candidate and the qualifying and seed

1money contributions lawfully received by the candidate, the candidate or agent is
2guilty of a Class G felony.
AB543,17,6 3(2) Notwithstanding s. 11.61 (1) (c), if in connection with the receipt or
4disbursement of a public financing benefit for an election campaign, any person
5knowingly provides false information to the board, or knowingly conceals or
6withholds information from the board, that person is guilty of a Class G felony.
AB543,17,10 711.522 Contributions to nonparticipating candidates. A
8nonparticipating candidate may accept contributions from private sources without
9limitation, except that no person may make any contribution or contributions to a
10nonparticipating candidate exceeding a total of $1,000 during any campaign.
AB543,13 11Section 13. 11.60 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB543,17,1812 11.60 (4) Except as otherwise provided in ss. 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. and 16. and (h),
135.08, and 5.081, actions under this section or 11.517 may be brought by the board or
14by the district attorney for the county where the defendant resides or, if the
15defendant is a nonresident, by the district attorney for the county where the violation
16is alleged to have occurred. For purposes of this subsection, a person other than a
17natural person resides within a county if the person's principal place of operation is
18located within that county.
AB543,14 19Section 14. 11.61 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB543,18,220 11.61 (2) Except as otherwise provided in ss. 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. and 16. and (i),
215.08, and 5.081, all prosecutions under this section or s. 11.518 shall be conducted
22by the district attorney for the county where the defendant resides or, if the
23defendant is a nonresident, by the district attorney for the county where the violation
24is alleged to have occurred. For purposes of this subsection, a person other than a

1natural person resides within a county if the person's principal place of operation is
2located within that county.
AB543,15 3Section 15. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place,
4insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table PDF - See PDF for table PDF - See PDF for table PDF - See PDF for table PDF - See PDF for table PDF - See PDF for table PDF
AB543,16 5Section 16. 20.511 (1) (r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB543,18,76 20.511 (1) (r) Democracy trust fund administration. From the democracy trust
7fund, the amounts in the schedule for the administration of ss. 11.501 to 11.522.
AB543,17
1Section 17. 20.585 (1) (q) of the statutes is created to read:
AB543,19,42 20.585 (1) (q) Public financing benefits; candidates for justice. From the
3democracy trust fund, a sum sufficient to provide for payment of public financing
4benefits to eligible candidates under ss. 11.501 to 11.522.
AB543,18 5Section 18. 20.585 (1) (r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB543,19,76 20.585 (1) (r) Democracy trust fund administration. From the democracy trust
7fund, the amounts in the schedule for the administration of ss. 11.501 to 11.522.
AB543,19 8Section 19. 20.855 (4) (ba) of the statutes is created to read:
AB543,19,119 20.855 (4) (ba) Democracy trust fund payments. A sum sufficient equal to the
10amounts determined under s. 71.10 (3) to be paid into the democracy trust fund
11annually on August 15.
AB543,20 12Section 20. 20.855 (4) (bb) of the statutes is created to read:
AB543,19,1813 20.855 (4) (bb) Democracy trust fund transfer. A sum sufficient equal to the
14difference between the unencumbered balance in the democracy trust fund and the
15amounts required to provide public financing benefits that candidates qualify to
16receive from the democracy trust fund, to be transferred from the general fund to the
17democracy trust fund no later than the time required to make payments of grants
18under s. 11.51 (2) and (3).
AB543,21 19Section 21. 25.17 (1) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB543,19,2020 25.17 (1) (cm) Democracy trust fund (s. 25.421);
AB543,22 21Section 22. 25.421 of the statutes is created to read:
AB543,19,25 2225.421 Democracy trust fund. All moneys appropriated under s. 20.855 (4)
23(ba) and (bb) and all moneys deposited in the state treasury under ss. 11.509, 11.51
24(4), and 11.511 (5r) constitute the democracy trust fund, to be expended for the
25purposes of ss. 11.501 to 11.522.
AB543,23
1Section 23. 71.10 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
AB543,20,62 71.10 (3) Campaign fund. (a) Every individual filing an income tax return who
3has a tax liability or is entitled to a tax refund may designate $2 for the democracy
4trust fund for the use of eligible candidates under s. 11.51. If the individuals filing
5a joint return have a tax liability or are entitled to a tax refund, each individual may
6make a designation of $2 under this subsection.
AB543,20,147 (b) The secretary of revenue shall provide a place for those designations on the
8face of the individual income tax return and shall provide next to that place a
9statement that a designation will not increase tax liability. Annually on August 15,
10the secretary of revenue shall certify to the government accountability board, the
11department of administration and the state treasurer the total amount of
12designations made during the preceding fiscal year. If any individual attempts to
13place any condition or restriction upon a designation, that individual is deemed not
14to have made a designation on his or her tax return.
AB543,20,1615 (c) The names of persons making designations under this subsection shall be
16strictly confidential.
AB543,24 17Section 24. Initial applicability.
AB543,20,2218 (1) The treatment of section 71.10 (3) of the statutes first applies to taxable
19years beginning on January 1 of the year in which this subsection takes effect, except
20that if this subsection takes effect after July 31 the treatment first applies to taxable
21years beginning on January 1 of the year following the year in which this subsection
22takes effect.
AB543,25 23Section 25. Effective date.
AB543,20,2424 (1) This act takes effect on December 1 following the date of publication.
AB543,20,2525 (End)
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