Sec. 41. 21-A MRSA §1064 is enacted to read:

§1064.__Civil offenses

If no other penalty for a violation of this subchapter is prescribed, the commission may assess a penalty equal to 3 times the amount of an unlawful contribution or expenditure.

Sec. 42. 30-A MRSA §4992, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 622, Pt. J, §23 and affected by §25, is amended to read:

2. Conflict of interest standards. Standards that prohibit conflicts of interest by local program operators and administrators. These standards must, at a minimum, meet the standards that apply to Legislators as defined specified in Title 1, section 1014 1014-B;

SUMMARY

This bill clarifies numerous issues affecting the efficiency and performance of the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices. It more clearly outlines for Legislators the standards of conduct and conflict of interest provisions, financial disclosure requirements, advisory opinions and conflict of interest complaint procedures. The bill makes consistent with other provisions of law those items that are considered a gift to Legislators. Penalty provisions of $10 per day for failure to file a financial disclosure report are proposed. A 4-year statute of limitations for complaints on legislative conduct is proposed.

The duties and responsibilities of the treasurer for a political action committee are clarified. The bill allows a deputy treasurer to be appointed as having the same authority as the treasurer. Procedures and requirements for dissolving political action committees also are outlined.

A limitation on the use of campaign contributions for personal use is proposed and those things that are considered personal use are described.