Sec. 1. 1 MRSA §1015, sub-§3, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 529, §1, is amended to read:

B. The Governor, a member of the Legislature or any constitutional officer or the staff or agent of the Governor, a member of the Legislature or any constitutional officer may not intentionally solicit or accept a contribution from a lobbyist registered in this State, lobbyist associate registered in this State or employer during any period of time in which the Legislature is convened after the 2nd day of January and before final adjournment. A lobbyist registered in this State, lobbyist associate registered in this State or employer may not intentionally give, offer or promise a contribution to the Governor, a member of the Legislature or any constitutional officer or the staff or agent of the Governor, a member of the Legislature or any constitutional officer during any time in which the Legislature is convened before final adjournment. These prohibitions apply to direct and indirect solicitation, acceptance, giving, offering and promising, whether through a political action committee, political committee, political party or otherwise.

SUMMARY

This bill changes current law to permit the Governor, a member of the Legislature or any constitutional officer or their staffs to accept campaign contributions up until the 2nd day of January after the Legislature convenes instead of the date on which the Legislature convenes. This bill also clarifies that only lobbyists or lobbyist associates that are registered in this State are prohibited from contributing to campaigns during the time when the Legislature is meeting.