CONSENT FOR POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION                                                         S.B. 283:

                                                                                               COMMITTEE SUMMARY

Senate Bill 283 (as introduced 3-21-13)

Sponsor:  Senator Arlan Meekhof

Committee:  Local Government and Elections

Date Completed:  5-15-13

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Campaign Finance Act to eliminate a requirement that an individual consent annually to a political contribution made on an automatic basis, such as through a payroll deduction.

Under the Act, a corporation organized on a for-profit or nonprofit basis, a joint stock company, a domestic dependent sovereign, or a labor organization may make an expenditure for the establishment and administration and solicitation of contributions to a separate segregated fund to be used for political purposes.

Contributions for a separate segregated fund may be solicited from certain people or their spouses, as shown in Table 1.

Table 1

Soliciting Entity	Contributors
For-profit corporation or joint stock company	Stockholders, officers and directors, employees*
Nonprofit corporation	Members who are individuals, stockholders of members, officers or directors of members, employees of the corporation or of members*
Labor organization	Members, officers or directors, employees*
Domestic dependent sovereign	Individuals who are members
*Employees from whom contributions may be solicited are limited to those who have policy-making, managerial, professional, supervisory, or administrative nonclerical duties.

As a rule, the Act prohibits a corporation, joint stock company, labor organization, or domestic dependent sovereign from soliciting or obtaining contributions from an individual on an automatic or passive basis, including a payroll deduction plan.  The listed entities may, however, solicit or obtain contributions on an automatic basis, including a payroll deduction plan, if the individual contributing to the fund affirmatively consents to the contribution at least once every calendar year.

The bill would eliminate the requirement that an individual consent to a contribution on an annual basis, instead requiring him or her to consent only once.

MCL 169.255                                                                Legislative Analyst:  Julie Cassidy

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

                                                                                     Fiscal Analyst:  Dan O'Connor

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.