An Act To
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1380
Committee Amendment CA_A_H429 (House)
Amends: 21-A MRSA §1122, 21-A MRSA §1125

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 970, L.D. 1380, Bill, "An Act To 
Amend the Maine Clean Election Laws Governing Gubernatorial Candidates" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §1122, sub-§8, GjlA, as amended by PL 2001, c. 465, §3, is 
further amended to read: 
A. 
For a gubernatorial participating candidate, the qualifying period begins 
November 1st immediately preceding the election year and ends at 5:00 p.m. on April 
+Sth 1st of the election year unless the candidate is unenrolled. in vlhich case the 
period ends at 5:00 p.m. on June 2nd of the election year. 
Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§2, GjlA, as enacted by m 1995, c. 1, § 17, is 
amended to read: 
A. Fifty Two hundred thousand dollars for a gubernatorial candidate; 
Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§2-B is enacted to read: 
2-B. Seed money required for gubernatorial candidates; documentation. For 
seed money contributions that a candidate for Governor collects to satisty the requirement 
in subsection 5, paragraph C-l, the candidate shall obtain the contributor's name, 
residence address, mailing address, telephone number if provided by the contributor and 
other information required for reporting under section 1017, subsection 5. For these 
contributions, the candidate shall submit to the commission during the qualitying period: 
A. A contribution acknowledgment form as determined by the commission, to be 
completed by each person that· contributes seed money, that includes the name, 
residence address, mailing address, optional telephone number and signature of the 
person making the seed money contribution acknowledging that the contribution was 
made with the person's personal funds and will not be reimbursed by any source; 
B. A list of the seed money contributions in a format determined by the commission 
that includes the name and mailing address of the contributor; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 970, L.D. 1380 
C. For seed money contributions received by check or money order, photocopies of 
the check or money order; and 
D. For seed money contributions received by debit or credit card, a bank or merchant 
account statement that contains the cardholder's name and that otherwise meets the 
requirements specified by the commission in order to verifY compliance with 
subsection 5, paragraph C-l. 
The commission may permit the submission of an online or electronic acknowledgment 
form as required by paragraph A for seed money contributions made via the Internet. 
Sec. 4. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. B, §6, is 
further amended to read: 
4. 
Filing with commission. 
A participating candidate must submit qualifying 
contributions, receipt and acknowledgement forms, proof of verification of voter 
registration and a seed money report to the commission during the qualifying period 
according to procedures developed by the commission, except as provided under 
subsection 11. Candidates for Govemor shall also submit photocopies of all seed money 
contributions received by check or mon~' order, bank or merchant account statements of 
contributions received bv credit or debit card and banlc or other account statements for the 
campaign account. 
Sec. 5. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§5, 'UC-l is enacted to read: 
C-l. 
As a gubernatorial candidate, collected at least $40,000 in seed money 
contributions from registered voters in the State; 
Sec. 6. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§5-A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. B, §6, 
is amended to read: 
5-A. Revocation of certification. The certification of a participating candidate may 
be revoked at any time if the commission determines that the candidate or an agent of the 
candidate: 
A. Did not submit the required number of valid qualifying contributions; 
B. Failed to qualify as a candidate by petition or other means; 
C. Submitted any fraudulent qualifying contributions or qualifying contributions that 
were not made by the named contributor; 
D. Misrepresented to a contributor the purpose of the qualifying contribution or 
obtaining the contributor's signature on the receipt and acknowledgement form; 
E. Failed to fully comply with the seed money restrictions; 
F. Knowingly accepted any contributions, including any in-kind contributions, or 
used funds other than fund revenues distributed under this chapter to make campaign-
related expenditures without the permission of the commission; 
G. Knowingly made a false statement or material misrepresentation in any report or 
other document required to be filed under this chapter or chapter 13; OF 
H. Otherwise substantially violated the provisions of this chapter or chapter 13.,..;...Q! 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" 4' to H.P. 970, L.D. 1380 
I. As a gubernatorial candidate, failed to properly report seed money contributions as 
required by this section. 
The determination to revoke the certification of a candidate must be made by a vote of the 
members of the commission after an opportunity for a hearing. 
A candidate whose 
certification is revoked shall return all unspent funds to the commission within 3 days of 
the commission's decision and may be required to return all funds distributed to the 
candidate. In addition to the requirement to return funds, the candidate may be subject to 
a civil penalty under section 1127. The candidate may appeal the commission's decision 
to revoke certification in the same manner provided in subsection 14, paragraph C. 
Sec. 7. 21-A MRS A §1125, sub-§7, ~, as amended by PL 2001, c. 465, §4, is 
further amended to read: 
B. Within 3 days after certification, for all candidates certified between March 15th 
and April 15th the end of the qualifying period of the election year, revenues from the 
fund must be distributed according to whether the candidate is in a contested or 
uncontested primary election. 
Sec. 8. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§8, ~, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 453, §1, is 
amended to read: 
E. For contested gubernatorial primary elections, the amount of revenues distributed 
is $200.000 $400,000 per candidate in the primary election. 
Sec. 9. 21-A MRS A §1125, sub-§8, CUE-I is enacted to read: 
E-l. 
For uncontested gubernatorial primary elections, the amount of revenues 
distributed is $200,000 per candidate in the primary election. 
Sec. 10. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§9, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. B, §6, 
is further amended to read: 
9. Matching funds. When any report required under this chapter or chapter 13 
shows that the sum of a candidate's expenditures or obligations, contributions and loans, 
or fund revenues received, whichever is greater, in conjunction with independent 
expenditures reported under section 10 19-B, exceeds the sum of an opposing certified 
candidate's fund revenues, in conjunction with independent expenditures, the commission 
shall issue immediately to the opposing certified candidate an additional amount 
equivalent to the difference. Matching funds for certified candidates for the Legislature 
are limited to 2 times the amount originally distributed under subsection 8, paragraph A 
or C, whichever is applicable. Matching funds for certified gubernatorial candidates in a 
primary election are limited to 2 times 112 the amount originally distributed under 
subsection 8, paragraph E for contested candidates and subsection 8, paragraph E-l for 
uncontested candidates. 
Matching funds for certified gubernatorial candidates in a 
general election are limited to the amount originally distributed under subsection 8, 
paragraph F. 
Sec. 11. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§10, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. B, §6, 
is further amended to read: 
10. Candidate not enrolled in a party. An unenrolled candidate for the Legislature 
who submits the required number of qualifying contributions and other required 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A "to H.P. 970, L.D. 1380 
documents under subsection 4 by 5 :00 p.m. on April 15th preceding the primary election 
and who is certified is eligible for revenues from the fund in the same amounts and at the 
same time as an uncontested primary election candidate and a general election candidate 
as specified in subsections 7 and 8. 
Otherwise, an unenrolled candidate for the 
Legislature must submit the required number of qualifying contributions and the other 
required documents under subsection 4 by 5:00 p.m. on June 2nd preceding the general 
election. If certified, the candidate is eligible for revenues from the fund in the same 
amounts as a general election candidate, as specified in subsection 8. Revenues for the 
general election must be distributed to the candidate no later than 3 days after 
certification. An unenrolled candidate for Governor who submits the required number of 
qualifying contributions and other required documents under subsections 2-B and 4 by 
5:00 p.m. on April 1st preceding the primary election and who is certified is eligible for 
revenues from the fund in the same amounts and at the same time as an uncontested 
primary election gubernatorial candidate and a general election gubernatorial candidate as 
specified in subsections 7 and 8. Revenues for the general election must be distributed to 
the candidate for Governor no later than 3 days after the primary election results are 
certified. 
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Sec. 12. Routine technical rules. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 21-A, section 1126, rules adopted by the Commission on Governmental Ethics and 
Election Practices to implement this Act are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 13. 
Application. 
This Act applies to gubernatorial candidates seeking 
certification under the Maine Clean Election Act beginning with primary and general 
elections in 2010, regardless of when a gubernatorial candidate registered as a candidate 
with the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices or when the 
candidate filed a declaration of intent with the commission under the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 21-A, section 1125, subsection 1. 
Sec. 14. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
ETIDCS AND ELECTION PRACTICES, COMMISSION ON GOVERNMENTAL 
Governmental Ethics and Election Practices - Commission on 0414 
Initiative: Reduces funding for the Maine Clean Election Fund based upon changes in 
seed money requirements and matching funds for gubernatorial candidates. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
SUMMARY 
2009-10 
($800,000) 
($800,000) 
2010-11 
($600,000) 
($600,000) 
This amendment replaces the bill. It makes several changes to the laws regarding 
gubernatorial candidates under the Maine Clean Election Act. It changes the end of the 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMIITEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 970, L.D. 1380 
qualifying period for those candidates from April 15th to April 1st of the election year. It 
requires a gubernatorial candidate to raise a minimum of $40,000 in seed money 
contributions from registered voters in the State in order to qualify for Maine Clean 
Election Act funds and raises the existing seed money cap for gubernatorial candidates 
from $50,000 to $200,000. 
The amendment requires a method of documenting seed 
money contributions similar to the bill and eliminates repetitive requirements regarding 
documentation. The amendment specifies that the increased amount of $400,000 for 
primary distributions under the bill is for contested candidates by stating that uncontested 
candidates only receive $200,000. It also clarifies that the distribution from the Maine 
Clean Election Fund for certified unenrolled gubernatorial candidates would be the same 
as for uncontested gubernatorial candidates. The amendment specifies that rules to 
implement this legislation are routine technical rules and that the changes made by the 
legislation apply to gubernatorial candidates beginning with the 2010 election even if 
they filed a declaration of intent with the Commission on Governmental Ethics and 
Election Practices prior to its enactment. The amendment also adds an appropriations and 
allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 05/24/09 frac:.. 
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LD 1380 
LR 1075(02) 
An Act To Amend the Maine Clean Election Laws Governing Gubernatorial Candidates 
Fiscal Note :for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A" 
Committee: Legal and Veterans Affairs 
Appropriations/Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
2009-10 
2010-11 
($800,000) 
($600,000) 
Projections 
2011-12 
$0 
Projections 
2012-13 
$0 
Revenue 
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Other Special Revenue Funds 
($16,250) 
$0 
$0 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This legislation proposes to increase required seed money contributions to gubernatorial candidates and makes 
changes to distribution amounts. It is assumed that the effect will be one less gubernatorial 'candidate in both the 
primary and general elections, resulting in Other Special Revenue Fund savings of $800,000 in fiscal year 2009-10 
$0 
and $600,000 in 2010-11. The legislation also removes the extended qualifying period for unenrolled gubernatorial 
candidates, resulting in an estimated reduction in Other Special Revenue Funds revenue of $16,250 in fiscal year 2009-
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LRI075(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1 
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