Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §1019, first ¶, as repealed and replaced by IB 1995, c. 1, §14, is amended to read:

For the purposes of this section, an independent expenditure is any contribution or expenditure by a person, party committee, political committee or political action committee aggregating in excess of $50 in an election that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, other than by contribution to a candidate or a candidate's authorized political committee. An independent expenditure includes any public communication made within 60 days prior to an election that casts a candidate, identified by name, in a favorable or unfavorable light as determined by the commission. Any person, party committee, political committee or political action committee that makes an independent expenditure must file a report with the commission. In the case of a municipal election, a copy of the same information must be filed with the clerk in that candidate's municipality.

Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §1122, sub-§7, ¶A, as enacted by IB 1995, c. 1, §17, is amended to read:

A. Of $5 $10 in the form of a check or a money order payable to the fund in support of a candidate;

Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA §1122, sub-§8, ¶B, as enacted by IB 1995, c. 1, §17, is amended to read:

B. For State Senate or State House of Representatives participating candidates, the qualifying period begins January 1st of on the December 15th immediately preceding the election year and ends at 5:00 p.m. on March 16th of that election year unless the candidate is unenrolled, in which case the period ends at 5:00 p.m. on June 2nd of the election year.

SUMMARY

This bill amends the elections laws in the following ways.

1. It amends the definition of "independent expenditure" to include any public communication made within 60 days prior to an election that casts a candidate, identified by name, in a favorable or unfavorable light.

2. It increases the amount of the qualifying contribution that may be made under the Maine Clean Election Act from $5 to $10.