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An Act To Clarify Restrictions on Accepting Campaign Contributions Laws
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 1 MRSA §1015, sub-§3, ¶A,  as enacted by PL 1997, c. 529, §1, is amended to read:
 
A. As used in this subsection, the terms "employer," "lobbyist" and "lobbyist associate" have the same meanings as in Title 3, section 312-A and the term. As used in this subsection, "contribution" has the same meaning as in Title 21-A, section 1012 and includes seed money contributions as defined in Title 21-A, section 1122, subsection 9.
Sec. 2. 1 MRSA §1015, sub-§3, ¶B,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 301, §3, is further 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, lobbyist associate or employer during the period from January 1st to June 15th or during any period of time in which the Legislature is convened before final adjournment, except for a qualifying contribution as defined under Title 21-A, section 1122, subsection 7. A lobbyist, lobbyist associate or employer may not intentionally give, offer or promise a contribution, other than a qualifying 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
The purpose of this bill is to make consistent restrictions on accepting campaign contributions in the Maine Clean Election Act and the laws governing legislative ethics. This bill clarifies that the restriction in the laws governing legislative ethics on accepting contributions includes seed money contributions as defined in the Maine Clean Election Act and extends the ban on accepting contributions from lobbyists during a second regular session of the Legislature from adjournment until June 15th.