HOUSE BILL NO. 5240
November 13, 2019, Introduced by Rep. Steven
Johnson and referred to the Committee on Elections and Ethics.
A bill to amend 1976 PA 388, entitled
"Michigan campaign finance act,"
by amending sections 26, 28, 29, 32, 42, 46, and 51 (MCL 169.226, 169.228, 169.229, 169.232, 169.242, 169.246, and 169.251), sections 26 and 51 as amended by 2017 PA 119, section 28 as amended by 1999 PA 237, sections 29 and 42 as amended by 2001 PA 250, section 32 as amended by 2012 PA 277, and section 46 as amended by 2013 PA 252.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 26. (1) A campaign statement of a committee, other than a political party committee, required by this act must contain all of the following information:
(a) The filing committee's name, address, and telephone number, and the full name, residential and business addresses, electronic mail address, and telephone numbers of the committee treasurer or other individual designated as responsible for the committee's record keeping, report preparation, or report filing.
(b) Under the heading "receipts", the total amount of contributions received during the period covered by the campaign statement; under the heading "expenditures", the total amount of expenditures made during the period covered by the campaign statement; and the cumulative amount of those totals. Forgiveness of a loan must not be included in the totals. Payment of a loan by a third party must be recorded and reported as an in-kind contribution by the third party. In-kind contributions or expenditures must be listed at fair market value and reported as both contributions and expenditures. A contribution or expenditure that is by other than completed and accepted payment, gift, or other transfer, that is clearly not legally enforceable, and that is expressly withdrawn or rejected and returned before a campaign statement closing date need not be included in the campaign statement and if included may, in a later or amended statement, be shown as a deduction, but the committee shall keep adequate records of each instance.
(c) The balance of cash on hand at the beginning and the end of the period covered by the campaign statement.
(d) The following information regarding each fund-raising event must be included in the report:
(i) The type of event, date held, address and name, if any, of the place where the activity was held, and approximate number of individuals participating or in attendance.
(ii) The total amount of all contributions.
(iii) The gross receipts of the fund-raising event.
(iv) The expenditures incident to the event.
(e) The full name of each individual from whom contributions are received during the period covered by the campaign statement, together with the individual's street address, the amount contributed, the date on which each contribution was received, and the cumulative amount contributed by that individual. The occupation, employer, and principal place of business must be stated if the individual's cumulative contributions are more than $100.00. For contributions of $5.00 or less by an individual to a political committee or independent committee, the secretary of state shall accept for filing any written communication from the political committee or independent committee that contains the information otherwise required under this subsection. Any written communication under this subdivision does not need to contain an original signature.
(f) The cumulative amount contributed and the name and address of each individual, except those individuals reported under subdivision (e), who contributed to the committee. The occupation, employer, and principal place of business must be stated for each individual who contributed more than $100.00.
(g) The name and street address of each person, other than an individual, from whom contributions are received during the period covered by the campaign statement, together with an itemization of the amounts contributed, the date on which each contribution was received, and the cumulative amount contributed by that person.
(h) The name, address, and amount given by an individual who contributed to the total amount contributed by a person who is other than a committee or an individual. The occupation, employer, and principal place of business must be stated if the individual contributed more than $100.00 of the total amount contributed by a person who is other than a committee or an individual.
(i) The cumulative total of expenditures and other disbursements totaling $50.00 or less to any person made during the period covered by the campaign statement except for expenditures made to or on behalf of another committee, candidate, or ballot question.
(j) The full name and street address of each person to whom expenditures or other disbursements totaling more than $50.00 were made, together with the amount of each separate expenditure or disbursement to each person during the period covered by the campaign statement; the purpose of the expenditure or disbursement; the full name and street address of the person providing the consideration for which any expenditure or disbursement was made if different from the payee; the itemization regardless of amount of each expenditure made to or on behalf of another committee, candidate, or ballot question; and the cumulative amount of expenditures for or against that candidate or ballot question for an election cycle. An expenditure made in support of more than 1 candidate or ballot question, or both, must be apportioned reasonably among the candidates or ballot questions, or both.
(2) A candidate committee or ballot question committee shall report all cumulative amounts required by this section on a per election cycle basis. Except as provided in subsection (1)(j), an independent committee, independent expenditure committee, or political committee shall report all cumulative amounts required by this section on a calendar year basis.
(3) A campaign statement of a committee, in addition to the other information required by this section, must include an itemized list of all expenditures during the reporting period for election day busing of electors to the polls, get-out-the-vote activities, slate cards, challengers, poll watchers, and poll workers.
(4) For a reporting period in which a contribution is received that is to be part of a bundled contribution or a reporting period in which a bundled contribution is delivered to the candidate committee of a candidate for statewide elective office, a bundling committee shall report to the secretary of state, on a form provided by the secretary of state, all of the following information, as applicable, about each contribution received or delivered as part of a bundled contribution, and about each bundled contribution delivered, in the reporting period:
(a) The amount of each contribution, the date it was received by the bundling committee, and the candidate for statewide elective office whom the contributor designated as the intended recipient.
(b) Each contributor's name and address. and, for each contribution exceeding $100.00, the contributor's occupation, employer, and principal place of business.
(c) The date each contribution is delivered to the candidate's statewide elective office candidate committee.
(d) The total amount of bundled contributions delivered to that candidate committee during the reporting period and during the election cycle.
(5) With its delivery of a bundled contribution to the candidate committee of a candidate for statewide elective office, a bundling committee shall deliver a report to that candidate committee, on a form provided by the secretary of state, that includes all of the following information, as applicable, about each contribution delivered as part of the bundled contribution, and about all bundled contributions delivered to that candidate committee in the election cycle:
(a) The amount of each contribution, the date it was received by the bundling committee, and the statewide elective office candidate the contributor designated as the intended recipient.
(b) Each contributor's name and address. and, for each contribution exceeding $100.00, the contributor's occupation, employer, and principal place of business.
(c) The total amount of bundled contributions delivered to that candidate committee during the reporting period and during the election cycle.
(6) For a reporting period in which a bundled contribution is received, a candidate committee of a candidate for statewide elective office shall report to the secretary of state, on a form provided by the secretary of state, all of the following information, as applicable, about each contribution delivered as part of a bundled contribution received in the reporting period and about all bundled contributions received by that candidate committee:
(a) The amount of each contribution, the date it was received by the candidate committee, and the name of the bundling committee that delivered the contribution.
(b) Each contributor's name and address. and, for each contribution exceeding $100.00, the contributor's occupation, employer, and principal place of business.
(c) The total amount of bundled contributions received by that candidate committee during the reporting period and during the election cycle.
Sec. 28. (1) Interest received by a committee on an account consisting of funds money belonging to the committee shall is not be considered a contribution to the committee but the committee shall report its receipt on a campaign statement as interest. A committee shall report interest paid by the committee on a campaign statement as an expenditure.
(2) A committee shall report a loan with an outstanding balance made or received in a separate schedule attached to the campaign statement providing the date and amount of the loan, the date and amount of each payment, the amount of cumulative payments, the amount of the outstanding balance, and whether the loan payments were made by money, services, property, or other means. The committee shall provide the name and address of the lender and each person who is liable directly, indirectly, or contingently on each loan. The committee shall provide the occupation and employer, if any, of the lender and each person if the loan is for more than $100.00. If a loan is paid off within a reporting period, this activity need not be reported on a separate schedule to the campaign statement. However, if a loan is forgiven, the committee shall detail that fact on a separate schedule to the campaign statement.
(3) Accompanying a campaign statement reporting the receipt of a contribution from a person whose treasurer does not reside in, whose principal office is not located in, or whose funds are money is not kept in this state, shall must be a statement certified as true and correct by an officer of the contributing person setting forth the full name, address, along with the amount contributed, of each person who contributed to the total amount of the contribution. The occupation, employer, and principal place of business shall be stated for each person who contributed more than $100.00. This subsection does not apply if the contributing person is registered as a committee under section 24.
Sec. 29. (1) A campaign statement filed by a political party committee shall must contain all of the following information:
(a) The full name and street address of each person from whom contributions are received in a calendar year, the amount, and the date or dates contributed; and, if the person is a committee, the name and address of the committee and the full name of the committee treasurer, together with the amount of the contribution and the date received. The occupation, employer, and principal place of business, if any, shall be listed for each person from whom contributions totaling more than $100.00 are received in a calendar year.
(b) Accompanying a campaign statement reporting the receipt of a contribution from a committee or person whose treasurer does not reside in, whose principal office is not located in, or whose funds are money is not kept in this state, and whose committee has not filed a statement of organization as required in section 24, shall must be a statement setting forth the full name and address of the treasurer of the committee.
(c) An itemized list of all expenditures, including in-kind contributions and expenditures and loans, made during the period covered by the campaign statement that were contributions to a candidate committee of a candidate for elective office or a ballot question committee; or independent expenditures in support of the qualification, passage, or defeat of a ballot question or in support of the nomination or election of a candidate for elective office or the defeat of any of the candidate's opponents.
(d) The total expenditure by the committee for each candidate for elective office or ballot question in whose behalf an independent expenditure was made or a contribution was given for the election cycle.
(e) The filer's name, address, and telephone number, if available, if any, and the full name, address, and telephone number, if available, of the committee treasurer.
(2) The committee shall identify an expenditure listed under subsection (1)(c) as an independent expenditure or as a contribution to a candidate committee or a ballot question committee.
(3) The committee shall designate for a contribution to or on behalf of a candidate committee or ballot question committee listed under subsection (1)(c) the name and address of the committee, the name of the candidate and the office sought, if any, the amount contributed, and the date of contribution.
(4) The committee shall designate for an independent expenditure listed under subsection (1)(c) either the name of the candidate for whose benefit the expenditure was made and the office sought by the candidate, or a brief description of the ballot question for which the expenditure was made; the amount, date, and purpose of the expenditure; and the full name and address of the person to whom the expenditure was made.
(5) The committee shall apportion an expenditure listed that was made in support of more than 1 candidate or ballot question, or both, reasonably among the candidates or ballot questions, or both.
(6) A campaign statement of a committee, in addition to the other information required by this section, shall must include an itemized list of all expenditures during the reporting period for election day busing of electors to the polls, get-out-the-vote activities, slate cards, challengers, poll watchers, and poll workers.
Sec. 32. (1) A committee, candidate, treasurer, or other individual designated as responsible for the committee's record keeping, record preparation, or report filing shall report a late contribution by filing with the filing officer within 48 hours after its receipt the full name , and street address , occupation, employer, and principal place of business of the contributor.
(2) Filing of a report of a late contribution under subsection (1) may be by any written means of communication and need not contain an original signature.
(3) A late contribution shall must be reported on subsequent campaign statements without regard to reports filed under subsection (1). If a campaign statement has not been filed, a late contribution may be reported, if practicable, in the campaign statement and need not, therefore, be reported in a subsequent campaign statement.
(4) A committee, candidate, treasurer, or other individual designated as responsible for the committee's record keeping, report preparation, or report filing who fails to report a late contribution as required by subsection (1) shall pay a late filing fee , that shall does not exceed the lesser of the following:
(a) The total amount of the contributions omitted from the late contribution reports.
(b) $2,000.00 determined as follows:
(i) Twenty-five dollars for each business day the report remains unfiled.
(ii) An additional $25.00 for each business day after the first 3 business days the report remains unfiled.
(iii) An additional $50.00 for each business day after the first 10 business days the report remains unfiled.
(5) A committee, other than a candidate committee, is only required to file a report of a late contribution for an election during which the committee made expenditures for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of a candidate or for the qualification, passage, or defeat of a ballot question after the closing date of the last campaign statement required to be filed before an election. This subsection is retroactive and takes effect January 1, 2010.
(6) This state by appropriation or a county shall reimburse or waive any late filing fee paid or assessed under subsection (4) or (5) between January 1, 2010 and the effective date of the amendatory act that added this subsection. July 3, 2012. This subsection only applies to committees that have filed all other campaign statements required under this act in a timely manner. This subsection does not apply to candidate committees.
(7) As used in this section, for contributions made before the effective date of the amendatory act that added subsection (6), July 3, 2012, "late contribution" means a contribution of $200.00 or more received after the closing date of the last campaign statement required to be filed before an election. For contributions made on or after the effective date of the amendatory act that added subsection (6), July 3, 2012, late contribution means, for a candidate committee, contributions from the same contributor with a cumulative total of $500.00 or more received after the closing date of the last campaign statement required to be filed before an election. For contributions made on or after the effective date of the amendatory act that added subsection (6), July 3, 2012, late contribution means, for a committee other than a candidate committee, contributions from the same contributor with a cumulative total of $2,500.00 or more received after the closing date of the last campaign statement required to be filed before an election.
Sec. 42. (1) A person who accepts a contribution, other than by written instrument, on behalf of another and acts as the intermediary or agent of the person from whom the contribution was accepted shall disclose to the recipient of the contribution the intermediary's own name and address and the name and address of the actual source of the contribution.
(2) A contribution from a person whose treasurer does not reside in, whose principal office is not located in, or whose funds are money is not kept in this state, shall must not be accepted by a person for purposes of supporting or opposing candidates for elective office or the qualification, passage, or defeat of a ballot question unless accompanied by a statement certified as true and correct by an officer of the contributing person setting forth the full name and address along with the amount contributed, of each person who contributed to the total amount of the contribution. The occupation, employer, and principal place of business shall be listed for each person who contributed more than $100.00 to the total amount of the contribution. The certified statement shall must also state that the contribution was not made from an account containing funds money prohibited by section 54. This subsection does not apply if the contributing person is registered as a committee under section 24.
(3) A person shall not receive a contribution from a person other than a committee unless, for purposes of the recipient person's record keeping and reporting requirements, the contribution is accompanied by the name and address of each person who contributed to the total amount of the contribution. and the name, address, occupation, employer, and principal place of business of each person who contributed more than $100.00 to the total amount of the contribution.
(4) A contribution from a person whose treasurer does not reside in, whose principal office is not located in, or whose money is not kept in this state shall must not be accepted by a person for purposes of supporting or opposing candidates for elective office if the contributing person has received contributions on an automatic basis, including, but not limited to, a payroll deduction plan, unless the contribution is accompanied by a statement, certified as true and correct by an officer of the contributing person, setting forth that all contributions received on an automatic basis are in full compliance with section 55.
(5) A person who knowingly violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable, if the person is an individual, by a fine of not more than $1,000.00 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both, or, if the person is other than an individual, by a fine of not more than $10,000.00.
Sec. 46. (1) At the beginning of every odd numbered year, the secretary of state shall recommend adjustments to and which shall be approved by the legislature of the dollar value floor for reporting of the name , and address , occupation, and employer, or principal place of business of persons who make contributions pursuant to this act, on the basis of the consumer price index Consumer Price Index and the number of registered voters in the state.
(2) Beginning January 1, 2019 and every 4 years thereafter, the secretary of state shall adjust the dollar value contribution limits provided in sections 52, 52a, and 69(1). The secretary of state shall adjust the limits in sections 52, 52a, and 69(1) by comparing the percentage increase or decrease in the consumer price index Consumer Price Index for the preceding August by the corresponding consumer price index Consumer Price Index 4 years earlier. The secretary of state shall multiply that percentage change by the amounts in sections 52, 52a, and 69(1). The secretary of state shall round up each dollar value adjustment made under this subsection to the nearest $25.00. The secretary of state shall announce the adjustments made under this subsection by December 15 of each year.
(3) As used in this section, "consumer price index" "Consumer Price Index" means the most comprehensive index of consumer prices available for the Detroit area from the bureau of labor statistics Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States department of labor.Department of Labor.
Sec. 51. (1) A person, other than a committee, that makes an independent expenditure, advocating the election or defeat of a candidate or the qualification, passage, or defeat of a ballot question, in an amount of $100.01 or more in a calendar year shall file a report of the independent expenditure, within 10 days after making that independent expenditure, with the clerk of the county of residence of that person. If the independent expenditure advocates the election or defeat of a candidate for state elective office or the qualification, passage, or defeat of a statewide ballot question, or if the person making the independent expenditure is not a resident of this state, the person shall file the report with the secretary of state in lieu of filing with a clerk of a county. The report required under this section must be made on an independent expenditure report form provided by the secretary of state, include the date of the expenditure, a brief description of the nature of the expenditure, the amount, the name and address of the person to whom it was paid, the name and address of the person filing the report, together with the name , and address , occupation, employer, and principal place of business of each person that contributed $100.01 or more to the expenditure, and identify the candidate or ballot question for or against which the independent expenditure was made. The filing official receiving the report shall forward copies, as required, to the appropriate filing officers as described in section 36.
(2) If a person fails to file a report as required under this section, that person shall pay a late filing fee. If the person has made independent expenditures totaling less than $10,000.00, the late filing fee is $25.00 for each business day the report remains unfiled, but not to exceed $1,000.00. If the person has made independent expenditures totaling $10,000.00 or more, the late filing fee is $50.00 for each business day the report remains unfiled, but not to exceed $5,000.00. A person that violates this subsection by failing to file a report required under this section for more than 30 days after the report is required to be filed is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both.