11.501(3)
(3) "Election campaign period" means the period beginning on the day after the spring primary election or the day on which a primary election would be held, if required, and ending on the day of the succeeding spring election.
11.501(4)
(4) "Eligible candidate" means a candidate for the office of justice who has an opponent who has qualified to have his or her name certified for placement on the ballot at the spring primary or election and who qualifies for a public financing benefit by collecting the required number of qualifying contributions, making all required reports and disclosures, and being certified by the board as being in compliance with
ss. 11.502 to
11.522.
11.501(5)
(5) "Excess disbursement amount" means the amount of disbursements made by a nonparticipating candidate in excess of the public financing benefit available to an eligible candidate for the same office that the nonparticipating candidate seeks.
11.501(6)
(6) "Excess qualifying contribution amount" means the amount of qualifying contributions accepted by a candidate beyond the number or dollar amount of contributions required to qualify a candidate for a public financing benefit.
11.501(7)
(7) "Exploratory period" means the period that begins after the date of a spring election immediately preceding a public financing qualifying period and ends on the first day of the public financing qualifying period for the next election for justice.
11.501(9)
(9) "Immediate family," when used with reference to a candidate, includes the candidate's spouse and children.
11.501(10)
(10) "Independent disbursement" means a disbursement by a person expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate which is made without cooperation or consultation with a candidate, or any authorized committee or agent of a candidate, and which is not made in concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate, or any authorized committee or agent of a candidate.
11.501(11)
(11) "Nonparticipating candidate" means a candidate for the office of justice who does not apply for a public financing benefit or who is otherwise ineligible or fails to qualify for a public financing benefit under
ss. 11.502 to
11.522.
11.501(12)
(12) "Personal funds" means funds contributed by a candidate or a member of a candidate's immediate family.
11.501(13)
(13) "Primary election campaign period" means the period beginning on the day after the last day prescribed by law for filing nomination papers for the office of justice and ending on the day of the spring primary election for that office or the day on which the primary election would be held, if required.
11.501(14)
(14) "Public financing benefit" means a benefit provided to an eligible candidate under
ss. 11.502 to
11.522.
11.501(15)
(15) "Public financing qualifying period" means, for each election for the office of justice, the period beginning on the first day of July of the year immediately preceding the year of that election and ending on the day before the beginning of the primary election campaign period for that office.
11.501(16)
(16) "Qualifying contribution" means a contribution in an amount of not less than $5 nor more than $100 made to a candidate by an elector of this state during the public financing qualifying period, which is acknowledged by written receipt identifying the contributor.
11.501(17)
(17) "Seed money contribution" means a contribution in an amount of not more than $100 made to a candidate by an elector of this state during the exploratory period or the public financing qualifying period, or a contribution made to a candidate consisting of personal funds of that candidate in an amount not more than the amount authorized under
s. 11.507 during the exploratory period or the public financing qualifying period.
11.501 History
History: 2009 a. 89,
216.
11.502
11.502
Qualification; certification. 11.502(1)
(1) Before a candidate for justice in the primary election may be certified as an eligible candidate to receive a public financing benefit for the primary election campaign period, the candidate shall apply to the board for a public financing benefit and file a sworn statement that the candidate has complied and will comply with all requirements of this section and
ss. 11.503 to
11.522 throughout the applicable campaign, which includes the primary and election for that office. A candidate shall file the application and statement no later than the beginning of the primary election campaign period for the office that the candidate seeks.
11.502(2)
(2) A candidate shall be certified by the board as an eligible candidate for receipt of a public financing benefit for a primary election if the candidate complies with
sub. (1) and receives qualifying contributions from at least 1,000 separate contributors in an aggregate amount of not less than $5,000 nor more than $15,000 before the close of the public financing qualifying period.
11.502(3)
(3) The board shall verify a candidate's compliance with the requirements of
sub. (2) by such verification and sampling techniques as the board considers appropriate.
11.502(4)(a)
(a) Acknowledge each qualifying contribution by a receipt to the contributor which contains the contributor's name and home address.
11.502(4)(b)
(b) No later than the 15th or the last day of the month which immediately follows the date of receipt of a qualifying contribution, whichever comes first, file a copy of the receipt under
par. (a) with the board, except that during July, August, and September a copy need only be filed by the last day of the month.
11.502(5)
(5) A qualifying contribution may be utilized only for the purpose of making a disbursement authorized by law.
11.502 History
History: 2009 a. 89.
11.503
11.503
Time of application. 11.503(1)(1) Before a candidate may be certified as eligible for receipt of a public financing benefit for the spring election, the candidate shall apply to the board and file a sworn statement that the candidate has fulfilled all the requirements of
ss. 11.502 to
11.522 during the primary election campaign period and will comply with such requirements during the election campaign period. Except as authorized in
s. 8.35 (4) (b), the application shall be filed no later than the 7th day after the date of the spring primary or the day on which the primary election would be held if a primary were required.
11.503(2)
(2) The board shall certify a candidate as an eligible candidate for receipt of a public financing benefit for the spring election if the candidate complies with
sub. (1) and the candidate was an eligible candidate during the primary election campaign period.
11.503 History
History: 2009 a. 89.
11.505
11.505
Agreement by candidate. An eligible candidate who accepts a public financing benefit under
ss. 11.502 to
11.522 during the primary election campaign period shall agree to comply with all requirements of
ss. 11.502 to
11.522 throughout the election campaign period during the same campaign as a precondition to receipt of a public financing benefit. An eligible candidate who accepts a public financing benefit during a primary election campaign period may not elect to accept private contributions in violation of
ss. 11.502 to
11.522 during the corresponding election campaign period.
11.505 History
History: 2009 a. 89.
11.506
11.506
Requirements imposed upon candidates. 11.506(1)(1) An eligible candidate shall not accept private contributions other than seed money contributions and qualifying contributions that the candidate accepts during the exploratory period and the public financing qualifying period.
11.506(2)
(2) In addition to reports required to be filed under
ss. 11.12 (5) and
11.20, a candidate who receives a public financing benefit shall furnish complete financial records, including records of seed money contributions, qualifying contributions, and disbursements, to the board on the 15th or the last day of the month that immediately follows the receipt of the contribution or the making of the disbursement, whichever comes first, except that during July, August, and September records need only be furnished by the last day of the month. Each such candidate shall cooperate with any audit or examination by the board.
11.506(3)
(3) In addition to adhering to requirements imposed under
ss. 11.06 (5) and
11.12 (3), a candidate who receives a public financing benefit shall maintain records of all contributions received by the candidate of more than $5 but less than $50, including seed money contributions and qualifying contributions, which shall contain the full name of the contributor and the contributor's full home address. In addition, if a contributor's aggregate contributions to any candidate exceed $50 for any campaign, the candidate shall also maintain a record of the contributor's principal occupation and the name and business address of the contributor's place of employment.
11.506(4)
(4) The failure to record or provide the information specified in
sub. (3) disqualifies a contribution from being used by a candidate as a qualifying contribution.
11.506(5)
(5) No eligible candidate and no person acting on a candidate's behalf may deposit any contribution that is not recorded in accordance with
sub. (3) in a candidate's campaign depository account.
11.506(6)
(6) No eligible candidate may accept more than $25 in cash from any contributor. No eligible candidate may accept cash from all sources in a total amount greater than one-tenth of 1 percent of the public financing benefit for the office that the candidate seeks or $500, whichever is greater.
11.506 History
History: 2009 a. 89.
11.507
11.507
Personal funds of candidates. 11.507(1)
(1) The personal funds of a candidate contributed as seed money contributions may not exceed an aggregate amount of $5,000.
11.507(2)
(2) No eligible candidate may make any disbursement derived from personal funds after the close of the public financing qualifying period.
11.507 History
History: 2009 a. 89.
11.508
11.508
Seed money contributions. 11.508(1)
(1) An eligible candidate may accept seed money contributions from any individual or committee prior to the end of the public financing qualifying period, provided the total contributions received from one contributor, except personal funds and qualifying contributions otherwise permitted under
ss. 11.502 to
11.522, do not exceed $100, and the aggregate contributions, including personal funds, but not including qualifying contributions, do not exceed $5,000.
11.508(2)
(2) An eligible candidate may make disbursements derived from seed money contributions only during the exploratory period and the public financing qualifying period.
11.508 History
History: 2009 a. 89.
11.509
11.509
Excess contributions. If an eligible candidate receives and accepts excess seed money contributions or qualifying contributions in an aggregate amount greater than the limits prescribed in
s. 11.502 (2) or
11.508 (1), the candidate shall transfer to the board all seed money and qualifying contributions that exceed the limits prescribed in this section within 48 hours after the end of the public financing qualifying period. The board shall deposit all contributions transferred under this section in the democracy trust fund.
11.509 History
History: 2009 a. 89,
216.
11.51
11.51
Certification by candidate. 11.51(1)
(1) To apply for a public financing benefit, a candidate shall certify to the board that the candidate has complied and will comply, throughout the applicable campaign, with all requirements of
ss. 11.502 to
11.522 and that all disclosures required as of the time of application have been made, and shall present evidence of the requisite number of qualifying contributions received by the candidate. The candidate's request for certification shall be signed by the candidate and the candidate's campaign treasurer.
11.51(2)
(2) The board shall certify to the state treasurer the name of each eligible candidate at the spring primary together with the amount of the public financing benefit payable to the candidate promptly after the candidate demonstrates his or her eligibility and, in any event, not later than 5 days after the end of the public financing qualifying period. The state treasurer shall immediately credit that candidate's account with a line of credit for the amount certified. No candidate may utilize a line of credit received under this subsection until the beginning of the primary election campaign period.
11.51(3)
(3) The board shall certify to the state treasurer the name of each eligible candidate at the spring election together with the amount of the public financing benefit payable to the candidate not later than 48 hours after the date of the spring primary election for the office of justice, or the date that the primary election would be held if a primary were required. The state treasurer shall immediately credit that candidate's account with a line of credit for the amount certified. However, no candidate for a particular office shall receive a line of credit until all candidates for the office of justice who apply and qualify for a public financing benefit have been certified as eligible candidates.
11.51(4)
(4) If any candidate who receives a public financing benefit violates the requirements of
ss. 11.502 to
11.522, the board shall require the candidate to repay the amount obligated by the candidate from the democracy trust fund for the primary or election campaign period for which the candidate received the benefit. The board shall deposit all repayments received under this subsection in the democracy trust fund.
11.51 History
History: 2009 a. 89.
11.511
11.511
Public financing benefits. 11.511(1)
(1) The state treasurer shall provide to each eligible candidate who qualifies to receive a public financing benefit for the primary or election campaign period separate lines of credit for the public financing benefits payable to the candidate for the primary and election campaign periods in the amounts specified in this section, subject to any required adjustment under
s. 11.512 (2) or
11.513 (2). An eligible candidate may use this public financing benefit to finance any lawful disbursements during the primary and election campaign periods to further the election of the candidate in that primary or election. An eligible candidate shall not use this public financing benefit to repay any loan, or in violation of
ss. 11.502 to
11.522 or any other applicable law.
11.511(2)
(2) Except as provided in
ss. 11.512 (2) and
11.513 (2), the public financing benefit for a primary election campaign period is $100,000.
11.511(4)
(4) If there is no spring primary for the office of justice, no eligible candidate may receive a public financing benefit for the primary election campaign period.
11.511(5g)
(5g) An eligible candidate who receives a public financing benefit in the primary election campaign period and whose name is certified to appear on the ballot at the election following that primary may utilize any unencumbered balance of the public financing benefit received by the candidate in the primary election campaign period for the election campaign period.
11.511(5r)
(5r) Except as permitted in
sub. (5g), an eligible candidate who receives a public financing benefit and who does not encumber or expend some portion of the benefit for a purpose described in
sub. (1) shall return any unencumbered portion of the benefit to the board within 30 days after the primary or election in which the candidate participates.
11.511(6)
(6) Notwithstanding
subs. (2) and
(3), beginning on July 1, 2012, and every 2 years thereafter, the board shall modify the public financing benefits provided for in
subs. (2) and
(3) to adjust for the change in the consumer price index, all items, U.S. city average, published by the U.S. department of labor for the preceding 2-year period ending on December 31.
11.511(7)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), no candidate for the office of justice who files an application for a public financing benefit and certification under
s. 11.51 (1) and who accepts a public financing benefit may make or authorize total disbursements in a campaign, beginning with the first day of the exploratory period and ending on the date of the spring election, to the extent of more than the maximum amounts specified in
ss. 11.502 (2) and
11.508 (1), plus the amount specified in
s. 11.511 (3), as adjusted under
s. 11.511 (6), and, if there is a primary for the office of justice, the amount specified in
s. 11.511 (2), as adjusted under
s. 11.511 (6).
11.511(7)(b)
(b) If a candidate specified in
par. (a) receives an additional public financing benefit under
s. 11.512 (2) or
11.513 (2), the candidate may make disbursements in a campaign under
par. (a) in an additional amount equivalent to the additional public financing benefit received.
11.511 History
History: 2009 a. 89,
216.
11.512
11.512
Financial activity by nonparticipating candidates. 11.512(1)(1) In addition to other reports required by law, a nonparticipating candidate for an office at a primary or election who receives contributions or makes or obligates to make disbursements in an amount that is more than 5 percent greater than the public financing benefit applicable to an eligible candidate for the same office at the same primary or election shall file a report with the board itemizing the total contributions received and disbursements made or obligated to be made by the candidate as of the date of the report. The board shall transmit copies of the report to all candidates for the same office at the same election. A nonparticipating candidate shall file additional reports after the candidate receives each additional $1,000 of contributions, or the candidate makes or obligates to make each additional $1,000 of disbursements. If such contributions are received or such disbursements are made or obligated to be made more than 6 weeks prior to the date of the primary election at which the name of the candidate appears on the ballot, or prior to the date that the primary election would be held, if a primary were required, the reports shall be made at the next regular reporting interval under
s. 11.506. If such contributions are received or such disbursements made or obligated to be made within 6 weeks prior to the date of the primary election at which the name of the candidate appears on the ballot, or within 6 weeks prior to the date that the primary election would be held, if a primary were required, the reports shall be made within 24 hours after each instance in which such contributions are received, or such disbursements are made or obligated to be made.
11.512(2)
(2) Upon receipt of such information, the board shall immediately certify to the state treasurer the name of each opposing eligible candidate together with the amount of a supplemental grant that shall become payable to that candidate. The supplemental grant shall be equivalent to the total excess disbursement amount made or obligated to be made, but not to exceed, in the aggregate, exclusive of any amount to which the candidate is entitled under
s. 11.513 (2), an amount equal to 3 times the public financing benefit payable to a candidate for the applicable office at the primary or other election for which the benefit is received. The state treasurer shall immediately credit each opposing eligible candidate with an additional line of credit for the amount certified.
11.512 History
History: 2009 a. 89.
11.513
11.513
Independent disbursements. 11.513(1)
(1) If any person makes, or becomes obligated to make, by oral or written agreement, an independent disbursement in excess of $1,000 with respect to a candidate for the office of justice at a spring primary or election, that person shall file with the board a notice of the disbursement or obligation to make the disbursement. Any such person shall file reports of such disbursements or obligations to make such disbursements on the 15th or last day of the month that immediately follows the date of the disbursement or the obligation to make the disbursement, whichever comes first, except that, within 6 weeks prior to the date of the spring primary election, if a primary is held, and within 6 weeks prior to the date of the spring election, the person shall file such reports within 24 hours after each independent disbursement is made or obligated to be made. Any such person shall file an additional report after each additional $1,000 of disbursements are made or obligated to be made.
11.513(2)
(2) When the aggregate independent disbursements made or obligated to be made by a person against an eligible candidate for an office or for the opponents of that candidate exceed 120 percent of the public financing benefit for that office in the primary election campaign period or the election campaign period, the board shall immediately certify to the state treasurer the name of that candidate together with the amount of a supplemental grant that shall become payable to that candidate. The supplemental grant shall be equivalent to the aggregate independent disbursements made or obligated to be made by a person, but not to exceed, exclusive of any amount to which a candidate is entitled under
s. 11.512 (2), an amount equal to 3 times the public financing benefit payable to a candidate for the applicable office at the primary or other election for which the benefit is received. The state treasurer shall then immediately credit that candidate with an additional line of credit for the amount certified.
11.513 History
History: 2009 a. 89.
11.515
11.515
Democracy trust fund. The democracy trust fund shall be administered by the state treasurer. The state treasurer shall establish an account within the fund for each eligible candidate.
11.515 History
History: 2009 a. 89.
11.516
11.516
Administration. Except as otherwise specifically provided in
ss. 11.501 to
11.522, the duties of and authority for administering and enforcing
ss. 11.501 to
11.522 are vested in the board.
11.516 History
History: 2009 a. 89.
11.517
11.517
Penalties; enforcement. 11.517(1)
(1) Notwithstanding
s. 11.60 (1), if an eligible candidate makes disbursements that exceed the total amount of the public financing benefit allocated to the candidate for any campaign and the total qualifying and seed money contributions lawfully accepted by the candidate, the candidate may be required to forfeit not more than 10 times the amount by which the disbursements exceed the allocation.
11.517(2)
(2) Notwithstanding
s. 11.60 (1), any eligible candidate who accepts contributions in excess of any limitation imposed under
ss. 11.502 to
11.522 may be required to forfeit not more than 10 times the amount by which the contributions exceed the applicable limitation.
11.517(3)
(3) If the board finds that there is probable cause to believe that an eligible candidate has made excess disbursements or has accepted excess contributions contrary to
sub. (1) or
(2), the board shall attempt for a period of not more than 14 days after its finding to correct the matter by informal methods of conference and conciliation and to enter into a settlement and conciliation agreement under
s. 5.05 (1) (c) with the person involved. A settlement and conciliation agreement made pursuant to this subsection shall be a matter of public record. Unless violated, a settlement and conciliation agreement is a bar to any civil action under
sub. (4).
11.517(4)
(4) If the board has probable cause to believe that an eligible candidate has made excess disbursements or has accepted excess contributions and the board is unable to correct the matter by informal methods within the time prescribed in
sub. (3), the board shall make a public finding of probable cause in the matter. After making a public finding, the board may bring a civil action against the eligible candidate as provided in
s. 5.05 (1) (c).
11.517(5)
(5) If an elector believes that an eligible candidate has violated
ss. 11.502 to
11.522 and the elector is entitled to vote for or against the eligible candidate in the election in connection with which the violation is alleged to occur, the elector may file a complaint with the board requesting it to take remedial action. If the board refuses to take remedial action or, within 30 days after the filing of such a complaint, fails to take remedial action, the elector may commence a civil action requesting the court to impose a forfeiture under
sub. (1) or
(2) in circuit court for the county where the board is authorized to bring an action under
s. 5.05 (1) (c).
11.517(6)
(6) The board and courts shall expedite all proceedings under
ss. 11.502 to
11.522 so that all complaints brought prior to an election are resolved, to the extent possible, before the election is held.
11.517(7)
(7) If a complaint brought under
ss. 11.502 to
11.522 is resolved against the complainant and is found to have been brought in bad faith and without reasonable basis therefor, the board or court may assess costs, including reasonable attorney fees, against the complainant.
11.517 History
History: 2009 a. 89.
11.518
11.518
Prohibited acts.
