1. Established. The Maine Clean Election Fund is established to finance the election campaigns of certified Maine Clean Election Act candidates running for Governor, State Senator and, State Representative and county office and to pay administrative and enforcement costs of the commission related to this Act. The fund is a special, dedicated, nonlapsing fund and any interest generated by the fund is credited to the fund. The commission shall administer the fund.

Sec. 5. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§2, ¶¶B and C, as enacted by IB 1995, c. 1, §17, are amended to read:

B. One thousand five hundred dollars for a candidate for the State Senate; or

C. Five hundred dollars for a candidate for the State House of Representatives.; or

Sec. 6. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§2, ¶D is enacted to read:

D.__Two hundred fifty dollars for a candidate for county office.

Sec. 7. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§3, ¶¶B and C, as enacted by IB 1995, c. 1, §17, are amended to read:

B. For a candidate for the State Senate, at least 150 verified registered voters from the candidate's electoral division must support the candidacy by providing a qualifying contribution to that candidate; or

C. For a candidate for the State House of Representatives, at least 50 verified registered voters from the candidate's electoral division must support the candidacy by providing a qualifying contribution to that candidate.; or

Sec. 8. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§3, ¶D is enacted to read:

D.__For a candidate for county office, at least 25 verified registered voters from the candidate's electoral division must support the candidacy by providing a qualifying contribution to that candidate.

Sec. 9. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§8, ¶¶A to C, as enacted by IB 1995, c. 1, §17, are amended to read: