An Act To Amend the Laws Concerning Campaign Report Exemptions
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §1017, sub-§7-A, ¶B, as corrected by RR 1995, c. 2, §36, is amended to read:
B. The notice provided to the commission under paragraph A may be revoked at any time prior to the deadline under this section for filing a candidate's first campaign finance report with the commission. Prior to revocation, the candidate must appoint a treasurer. The candidate may not accept contributions, make expenditures or incur obligations before the appointment of a treasurer and the filing of a revocation notice are accomplished. A revocation notice must be in the form of an amended registration, which must be filed with the commission no later than 10 days after the appointment of a treasurer. The candidate and the candidate's treasurer, as of the date the revocation notice is filed with the commission, may accept contributions, make expenditures and incur obligations associated with the candidate's candidacy. Any candidate who fails to file a timely revocation notice is subject to the penalties prescribed in section 1020-A, subsection 4, up to a maximum of $5,000. Lateness is calculated from the day a contribution is received, an expenditure is made or an obligation is incurred, whichever is earliest.
SUMMARY
This bill amends the provision of law that allows exemptions for reporting on campaigns for office to provide that a notice from a candidate or the candidate's agent that the candidate will not personally accept contributions, make expenditures or incur obligations may be revoked at any time prior to the deadline for filing a candidate's first campaign finance report.