An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Campaign Finance Reports and the MaIne Clean Election Act . . . .
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1016
Committee: Legal and Veterans Affairs
Amends: 21-A MRSA §1011, 21-A MRSA §1014, 21-A MRSA §1014-A, 21-A MRSA §1017, 21-A MRSA §1017-A, 21-A MRSA §1020-A, 21-A MRSA §1051, 21-A MRSA §1052, 21-A MRSA §1053, 21-A MRSA §1059, 21-A MRSA §1060, 21-A MRSA §1062-A, 21-A MRSA §1125

Legislative Document· 
No. 1016 
S.P.380 
In Seriate, March 17, 2009 
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Campaign Finance Reports 
and the MaIne Clean Election Act . 
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Reported by Senator SULLIV AN of York for the Commission 'on Governmental Ethics and 
Election Practices pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 1', section 1009. 
Reference to the' Committee on Legal and Veterans Affairs suggested and ordered printed 
under Joint Rule 218 .. 
Printed an recycled paper 
.9t~(J-~ 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:· 
PART A 
Sec. A-I. 21-A MRSA §1011, 2nd" as enacted by PL 1995, c. 483, §2, is 
amended to read: 
Candidates for municipal office as defined in Title 30-A, section 2502, subsection 1 
and referenda as defined in Title 30 A, section 2502, subsection 2 are governed by this 
subchapter, with the following provisions: 
Sec. A-2. 21-A MRSA §1014, sulb-§l, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A;§9, 
is further amended to read: 
. 
L Authorized by candidate. Whenever a person makes an expenditure to finance a· 
communication expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified 
candidate through broadcasting stations, newspapers, magazines, campaign signs or other 
outdoor advertising facilities, publicly accessible sites on the Internet, direct mails or 
other similar types of general public political advertising or through flyers, handbills, 
bumper stickers and other nonperiodical publications, the communication, if authorized 
by a candidate, a candidate's authorized political committee or their agents, must clearly 
and conspicuously state that the communication has been so authorized and must clearly 
state the name and address of the person who made or financed the expenditure for the 
communication. The following forms of political communication do not require the 
name and address bf· the person who made or authorized the expenditure for the 
communication because the name or address would be so small as to be illegible or 
infeasible: ashtrays, badges and badge holders, balloons, campaign buttons, clothing, 
coasters; combs; emery boards, envelopes, erasers, glasses, key rings, letter openers, 
matchbooks, nail files, noisemakers, paper and plastic cups, pencils, pens, plastic 
tableware, 12~inch or shorter rulers, swizzle sticks, tickets to fund-raisers and similar 
items determined by the commission to be too small and ul111ecessary for-the disclosures 
required by this section. A communication financed by a candidate or the candidate's 
committee that is made through a broadcasting statien is not required to state the addtess
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of the candidate or committee that financed the communication. 
Sec. A-3. 21-A MRSA §1014, sulb-§3-A, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 839, §9, is 
amended to read: 
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3-A. In:-hlnd contributions of printed materials. A candidate, political committee 
or politi~al action committee shall report on the campaign finance report as a contribution 
to the candidate, political committee or political action committee any contributions of in-
kind printed materials to be used in the support of a candidate or in the support or defeat 
of a cause to be 'ioted upon at referendum ballot question. Any in-kind contributions of 
printed materials used or distributed by a candidate, political committee or political action 
committee must include the name or title of that candidate, political committee or 
political action committee as the authorizing agent for the printing and distribution of the 
in-kind contribution. 
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The. use or distribution of in kind printed materials contributed to a candidate, political 
committee or political action committee must be reported as an expenditure on the 
campaign finance report of that candidate, political committee or political action 
committee. 
Sec. A-4. 21-A MRSA §1014-A, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 43, § 1, is repealed. 
Sec. A-S. 21-A MRSA §1017, sub-§3-A, ~-1, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 642, 
§ 1 0, is amended to read: 
D-l. Reports must be filed no later than .§. 11 :59 p.m. on the 42nd day before the date 
on which a general election is held and must be complete as of the 49th day before 
that date, except that this report is not required for candidates for municipal office. 
Sec. A-6. 21-A MRSA §loi7, sub-§3-B, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, 
§ 16, is further amended to read: 
3-B. 
Accelerated reporting schedule. 
Additional reports are required from 
nonparticipating candidates, as defined in section 1122, subsection 5, pursuant to this 
subsection. 
A. In addition to other reports required by law, any candidate for Governor, State 
Senate or State House of Representatives who is not certified as a Maine Clean 
Election Act candidate under chapter 14 and who receives, spends or obligates more 
than the primary or general election distribution amounts for a Maine Clean Election 
Act candidate in the same race shall file by any means acceptable to the commission, 
within 48 hours of that event, a report with the commission detailing the candidate's 
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total campaign contributions, including any campaign balance from a previous 
election, obligations and expenditures to date. 
B. A nonparticipating candidate who is required to file a report under paragraph A 
shall file no later than 5:00 p.m.: 
. (1) A report on the 42nd day before the date on "",hich an election is held that is 
complete as of the 11th day before that date; 
(2) For gubernatorial candidates only, a report on the 25th day before the date on 
which an election is held that is complete as of the 27th day before that date; 
(3) A report on the 18th day before the date on which an election is held that is 
complete as of the 20th day before that dl.lte; and 
(4) A report on the 6th day before the date on which an election is held that is 
complete as of the 8th day before thatdate. 
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The reports must contain the candidate's total campaign contributions, including any 
campaign balance frpm a previous election, obligations and expenditures as of the 
end date of the reporting period. 
The nonparticipating candidate shall file only those reports that are due after the date 
on which the candidate filed the report required under paragraph A. 
C. A candidate who is required to file a repOit under paragraph A must file with the 
commission an updated report that reports single expenditures in the following 
amounts that are made after the 14th day before an election and more than 24 hours 
before 11:59 p.m. on the date of that election: 
(1) For a candidate for Governor, a single expenditure of $1 ,000; 
(2) For a candidate for the state Senate, a single expenditure of $750; and 
(3) For a candidate for the state House of Representatives, a single expenditure 
of $500. 
A report filed pursuant to this paragraph must be filed within 24 hours of the 
expend iture. 
The commission shall provide forms to facilitate compliance with this subsection. The 
commission shall notifY a candidate within 48 hours if an amount reported on any report 
under paragraph B exceeds 1% in excess of the primary or general election distribution 
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amounts for a Maine Clean Election Act candidate in the same race and no repott has 
been received under paragraph A. 
Sec. A-7. 21-A MRSA §1017, sub-§5-A, ~, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, 
Pt. A, § 16; is further amended to read: 
B. If the contribution is sold after the termination of the appropriate reporting period 
specified in subsections 2 to 4, the value of the contribution is the difference between 
the value of the contribution as originally reported by the treasurer and the amount of 
the purchase price paid at auction. Unless further reports are filed in relation to a 
later election in the same calendar year, the disposition of any net surplus or deficit in 
excess of ~ 
$100 resulting from the difference between the auction price and the 
original contribution value must be reported in the same manner as provided in 
subsection 2, paragraph For subsection 3-A, paragraph E, as appropriate. 
Sec. A-S. 21-A MRSA §1017-A, sub-§l, as amended oy PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, 
§ 17, is further amended to read: 
1. Contributions. A patty committee shall report all contributions in cash or in kind 
from a single contributor that in the aggregate in a campaign total more than $200. The 
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party committee shall report the name, mailing address, occupation and place of business 
of each contributor. 
Contributions of $200 or less must be reported, and these 
contributions may be reported as a lump sum. 
Sec. A-9. 21-A MRSA §1017-A, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, 
§ 17, is further amended to read: 
·2. lExpendituresto support or oppose candidates, others. A party committee shaIl 
report all expenditures in cash or in kind· of the committee made on behalf of made to 
support or oppose a candidate, political committee, political action committee or party 
committee registered under this chapter. The party committee shall report: 
A. The name of each candidate, political committee, political action committee or 
party committee; 
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B. The office sought by a candidate and the district that the candidate seeks to 
represent; and 
C. The date, amount and purpose of each expenditure. 
Sec. A-lO. 2I-A MRSA §lOI7-A, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. 
A, § 17, is flIliher amended to read: 
3. Other expenditures. Operational expenses and other expenditures in cash or in 
kind of the party committee that are not made on behalf of to suppOli or oppose a 
candidate, committee, political ~ction committee or campaign paIty committee must be 
reported separately. The palty committee shall report: 
lOA. The name and address of each payee or recipient; 
B. The purpose for the expend1ture; and 
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C. The date and ~mount of each expenditure. 
Sec. A-I1. 2I-A MRSA §1017-A, sub-§4-A, '1[A, as amended by PL 2007, c. 
443, Pt. A,§ 17, is further amended to read: 
A. Qualierly reports must be filed by 11 :59 p.m.: 
(l) On January 15th and must be complete up to Januat)' 5th December 31 st; 
(2) On April 10th and must be complete up to March 31st; 
(3) On July 15th and must be complete up to July 5th June 30th; and 
(4) On October 10th and must be completeup to September 30th. 
Sec. A-12. 21-A MRSA §1017-A, sub-§4-B, ~A, as amended by PL 2007, c. 
443, Pt. A, § 17, is further amended to read: 
A. Reports filed during an election year must be filed with the commission by 11 :59 
p.m. on: 
(I) July 15th and be complete as of June 30th; 
(2) The 11 th day before the date on which the general election is held and must 
be complete llP to the 14th day before that date; and 
(3) JanualY 15th and be complete as of December 31 st. 
Sec. A-B. 2I-A MRSA §1020-A, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. 
A, §21, is further amended to read: 
2. Campaign finance reports. A campaign fi'nance repOli is not timely filed unless 
a properly signed or electronically submitted copy of the repOli, substantially conforming 
. to the disclosin'e requirements of this subchapter, is received by the commission by 11: 59 
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p.m, on the date it is due. Except as provided in subsection 7, the commission shall 
determine whether a report satisfies the requirements for timely filing. The commission 
may waive a penalty in whole or in pali if the commission determines that the penalty is 
dispropOliionate to the size of the candidate's campaign, the level of experience of the 
Page ·1- 124LRI885(OI)-1 
candidate, treasurer or campaign staff or the harm suffered by the public from the late 
disclosure.  The commission may waive the penalty in whole or in part if the commission 
determines the failure to file a timely report was due to mitigating circumstances.  For 
purposes of this section, "mitigating circumstances" means: 
A.  A valid emergency determined by the commission, in the interest of the sound 
administration of justice, to warrant the waiver of the penalty in whole or in part; 
B.  An error by the commission staff; 
C.  Failure to receive notice of the filing deadline; or 
D.  Other circumstances determined by the commission that warrant mitigation of the 
penalty, based upon relevant evidence presented that a bona fide effort was made to 
file the report in accordance with the statutory requirements, including, but not 
limited to, unexplained delays in postal service or interruptions in Internet service. 
Sec. A-14.  21-A MRSA §1020-A, sub-§5-A, ¶A, as amended by PL 2003, c. 
448, §4, is further amended to read: 
A.    Five thousand dollars for reports required under section 1017, subsection 2, 
paragraph B, C, D, E or H; section 1017, subsection 3-A, paragraph B, C, D, D-1 or 
F; section 1017, subsection 4; and section 1019-B, subsection 3; 
Sec. A-15.  21-A MRSA §1051, 2nd ¶, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 280, is 
repealed. 
Sec. A-16.  21-A MRSA §1052, sub-§5, ¶A, as amended by PL 2007, c. 477, §2, 
is further amended to read: 
A.    Includes: 
(1)  Any separate or segregated fund established by any corporation, membership 
organization, cooperative or labor or other organization whose purpose is to 
influence the outcome of an election, including a candidate election or ballot 
question;  
(4)  Any organization, including any corporation or association, that has as its 
major purpose initiating, promoting, defeating or influencing a candidate 
election, campaign or ballot question and that spends receives contributions or 
makes expenditures aggregating more than $1,500 in a calendar year for that 
purpose, including for the collection of signatures for a direct initiative or 
referendum in this State; and 
(5)  Any organization that does not have as its major purpose promoting, 
defeating or influencing candidate elections but that spends receives 
contributions or makes expenditures aggregating more than $5,000 in a calendar 
year for the purpose of promoting, defeating or influencing in any way the 
nomination or election of any candidate to political office; and 
Sec. A-17.  21-A MRSA §1053, last ¶, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, §29, 
is repealed. 
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Sec. A-IS. 21-A MRSA §I053-A is enacted to read: 
§1053-A. Municipal elections 
Organizations that qualifY as political action committees under section 1052, 
subsection 5 and that are organized to influence elections on the municipal ballot in towns 
or cities with a population of 15,000 or more shall register and file reports with the 
municipal clerk as required by Title 3D-A, section 2502. The repOits must be filed in 
accordance with the reporting schedule in section 1059 and must contain the information 
listed in section 1060. A political action committee registered with the commission and 
that receives contributions or makes expenditures relating to a municipal election shall 
file a copy of the report containing such contributions or expenditures with the clerk in 
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the subject municipality .. 
. Sec. A-19. 21-A MRS A §1053-B is enacted to read: 
§1053-B. Out-of-state political action committees 
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A political action committee organized outside of this State shall register and file 
repOits with the commission in accordance with sections 1053 and 1058. The committee 
is not required to register and file repOits if the comm~ttee's only financial activity within 
the State is to make contributions to candidates, partv committees, political action 
cominittees . or ballot question committees registered with thecomniission or a 
municipality and the committee has not raised and accepted any contributions during the 
calendar year to influence an election or campaign in this State. 
Sec. A-20. 21-A MRS A §1056-B, as amended by PL 2007, c. 477, §4, is further 
amended to read: 
§1056-B. Ballot question committees 
Any person not defined as a political action committee who solicits and receives 
contributions or makes expenditures, other than by contribution to a political action 
committee, aggregating in excess of $5,000 for the purpose of initiating, promoting, 
defeating or influencing in any way a ballot question must file a rep0l1 reports with the 
commission in acc::ordance with this section. In the case of a municipal election, a copy 
of the same information must be filed '""ith the clerk of that municipality. Within 7 days 
of receiving contributions or making expenditures that exceed $5,000, the person shall 
register with the commission as a ballot question committee. FcQr the purposes of this 
section, expenditures include paid staff time spent for the purpose of influencing in any 
way a ballot question. The commission must prescribe forms for the registration, and the 
forms must include specification of a treasurer for the committee, any other principal 
officers and all individuals who are the primary fund-raisers and decision makers for the 
committee. In the case of a municipal election, the registration and reports must be filed 
with the clerk of thai municipality. 
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1. Filing requirements. A reporCn!'quired by this sectiori IllllSt be filed with the 
commission according to a the repOiting schedule that the commission shall establish :hat 
takes into consideration existing; camoaig;n finance reoorting; schedule requirements in 
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section 1059. After comQleting all financial activity, the committee shall term inate its 
campaign finance reporting in the same manner provided in section 1061. The committee 
shall file each repOIi required by this section through an electronic filing system 
developed by the commission unless granted a waiver under section 1059, subsection 5. 
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2. Content. A reriOIi must contain an itemized account of each expenditure made to 
and contribution received from a single source aggregating in excess of $100 in any 
election; the date of each contribution; the date and purpose of each expenditure; flffii the 
name and address of each contributor, payee or creditor; and the occllQation and principal 
place of business, if any, for any person who has made contributions exceeding $100 in 
the aggregate. 
The filer is required to repOIi only those contributions made to the filer 
for the purpose of initiating, promoting, defeating or influencing in any way a ballot 
question and only those expenditures made for those purposes .. The definitions of 
"contribution" and "expenditure" in section 1052, subsections 3 and 4, respectively,apply 
to persons required to file ballot question repOIis. 
2-A. Contributions. For the purposes of this section, "contribution" includes, but is 
not limited to: 
A. 
Funds that the contributor specified were given in connection with a ballot 
question; 
B. Funds provided in response to a solicitation that would lead the contributor to 
believe that the funds would be used specifically for the purpose of initiating, 
promoting, defeating or influencing in any way a ballot question; 
C. Funds that can reasonably be determined to have been provided by the contributor 
for the purpose' of initiating, promoting, defeating or influencing in any way a ballot 
question when viewed in the context of the contribution and the recipient's activities 
regarding a ballot qliestion; and 
D. Funds or transfers from the general treasury of an organization filing a ballot 
question repOIi. 
3. Forms.· A repOli required by this section must be on a form prescribed and 
prepared by the commission. A person filing this repOli may use additional pages if 
necessary, but the pages must be the same size as the pages of the form. 
4. Records. A person filing a repOli required by this section shall keep records as 
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required by this subsection for one year 4 years following the election to which the 
records pertain. 
A. The filer shall keep a detailed account of all contributions made to the filer for the 
purpose of initiating, promoting, defeating or influencing in any way a ballot question 
and all expenditures made for those purposes. 
B. The filer shall retain a· vendor invoice or receipt stating the particular goods or 
services purchased for every expenditure in excess of $50. 
. Sec. A-21. 2J-A MRS A §1057, first ~, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is 
amended to read: 
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20. 
Any political action committee that makes expenditures ,<vhich aggregate in excess of 
$50 to anyone or more candidates, committees or campaigns in this State ,is required to 
register under section 1053 or 1053-B shall keep I:ecords as provided in this sectiolh 
Records required to be leept under subsections 1, 2 and 3 shall be retained by the petittcal 
action committee until 10 aays afier the next election forA years following the election to 
which the records perlain. 
Sec. A-22. 21-A MRS A §1058, as amended by PL 2007, c. 477,§5, is fll1iher 
amended to read: 
§1058. Reports; qualifications fOl' filing 
A political action committee that is required to register with the commission under 
section 1053 or 1053-B shall file fr--i'6i301i on ,its activities in that campaign reports with 
the commission on forms as prescribed by the commission according to the schedule in 
section 1059. A political action commi1tee organized in this State required under this 
section to file a repOli shall file the repOli for each filing period under section 1059. A 
political action committee organized outside this State shall file '""ith the Commission on 
Governmental Ethics and Election Practices of this State a copy of the report that the 
political action committee is required to file in the state in '""hich the political action 
committee is organized. The political action committee shall file the copy only if it has 
expended funds or received contributions or made expenditures in this State. The copy of 
,the report must be filed in accordance with the schedule of filing in the state ,<vhere it is 
ol'gatHzeEh----If-eoHti'ibu-tions or e~":Penditures are made relating to a municipal office or 
referendum. the reoOli must be filed '.vith the clerk in the subiect municinalitv. 
Sec. A-23. 21-A MRSA §1059, first ~, as amended by PL 2007, c. 571, §9, is 
fUliher amended to read: 
Committees required to register under section 1053, 1053-B or I056-B shall file an 
initial campaign finance rep01i at the time of registration and thereafter shall file rep01is 
in compliance with this section. All rep01is must be filed by I I :59 p.m. on lhe filing 
deadline, except that reports submitted to a municipal clerk must be filed by the close of 
business on the filing deadline. 
Sec. A-24. 21-A MRS A §1059, sub-§2, ,A, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. 
A, §J5, is fll1iher amended to read: 
A. QualierIy rep01is must be filed: 
(I) On January 15th and must be complete as of January 5th December 3 1st; 
(2) On April 10th and must be complete as of March 3 1st; 
(3) On July 15th and must be complete as ofJuly 5th June 30th; and 
(4) On October 10th and must be complete as of September 30th. 
Sec. A-25. 21-A MRSA §1060, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, 
§36, is fUliher amended to read: 
4. Itemized expenditures. An itemization of each expe"nditure made on behalf of to 
support or oppose' any candidate, campaign, political committee, political action 
committee and party committee or to support or oppose a referendum or initiated petition, 
including the date, payee and purpose of the expenditure; the name of each candidate, 
campaign, political committee, political action comrriittee or patty committee on '""hose 
behalf the expenditure \vas made supported or opposed; and each referendum or initiated 
petition supported or opposed by the expenditure. If expenditures were made to a person 
described in section 1012, subsection 3, paragraph A, subparagraph (4), the repOli must 
contain the name of the person; the amount spent by that person on behalf of the 
candidate, campaign, political committee, political action committee, patty committee, 
referendum or initiated petition, including, but not limited to, expenditures made during 
the signature gathering phase; the reason for the expenditure; and the date of the 
,expenditure. The commission may sp~cify the categories of expenditures that are to be 
reported to enable the commission to closely monitor the activities of political action' 
committees; 
Sec. A-26. 21-A MRS A §1060, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2007, c. 477; §7, is 
further amended to read: 
7. , Other expenditures. Operational expenses and other expenditures in cash or in 
ki-ntI- that are not made on behalf of a candidate, committee or campaign, except that an 
organization qualifying as a political action committee under section 1052, subsection 5, 
paragraph A, subparagraph (5) is required to report only those expenditures made for the 
purpose of promoting, defeating or influencing a ballot question or the nomination or 
election of a candidate to political office. ' 
Sec. A:'27. 21 ... A MRSA §1061, as amended by PL 20.07, c. 443, Pt. A, §37, is 
further amended to read: ' 
§1061. Dissolution of committees 
Whenever any political action committee determines that it will no longer solicit or 
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accept any contributions, incur any obligations, or make any expenditures to or on behalf 
of any candidate, political committee, party committee or political action committee to 
initiate, support, defeat or influence in any way the outcome of a referendum, initiated 
petition or election and the committee has no outstanding loans, debts or other 
obligations, the committee shall file a termination report that includes all financial 
activity from the end date of the previous reporting period through the date ofterminatioI;l 
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with the commission. if a termination report is not filed, the committee shall continue to 
file periodic reports as required in this chapter. The committee must dispose of any 
surplus prior to termination. In the termination reRort, the committee shall repOli any 
outstanding loan, debt or obligation in the manner prescribed by the commissioil. 
Sec. A-2.8. 21-A MRS A §1062-A, sub-§l, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 483, §21, is 
amended to read: 
1. Registration. A political action committee required to register under section 1053 
or 1053-B or a ballot question committee required to register under section 1056-B that 
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fails to do so in accordance with section 1053 or that fails to provide the information 
required by the commission for registration may be assessed a forfeiture
 fine of $250. 
Sec. A-29.  21-A MRSA §1062-A, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. 
A, §38, is further amended to read: 
2.  Campaign finance reports.  A campaign finance report is not timely filed unless 
a properly signed or electronically submitted copy of the report, substantially conforming 
to the disclosure requirements of this subchapter, is received by the commission by 11:59 
p.m. on the date it is due.  Except as provided in subsection 6, the commission shall 
determine whether a required report satisfies the requirements for timely filing.  The 
commission may waive a penalty in whole or in part if it is disproportionate to the level 
of experience of the person filing the report or to the harm suffered by the public from the 
late disclosure.  The commission may waive the penalty in whole or in part if the 
commission determines the failure to file a timely report was due to mitigating 
circumstances.  For purposes of this section, "mitigating circumstances" means: 
A.  A valid emergency of the committee treasurer determined by the commission, in 
the interest of the sound administration of justice, to warrant the waiver of the penalty 
in whole or in part; 
B.  An error by the commission staff; or 
C.  Other circumstances determined by the commission that warrant mitigation of the 
penalty, based upon relevant evidence presented that a bona fide effort was made to 
file the report in accordance with the statutory requirements, including, but not 
limited to, unexplained delays in postal service or interruptions in Internet service. 
Sec. A-30.  21-A MRSA §1062-A, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 483, §21, is 
amended to read: 
4.  Maximum penalties.  The maximum penalties penalty under this subchapter are 
is $10,000 for reports required under section 1056-B or section 1059, subsection 2, 
paragraphs B, C and E and $5,000 for reports required under section 1059, subsection 2, 
paragraph A. 
Sec. A-31.  21-A MRSA §1062-A, sub-§8-A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 628, Pt. 
A, §9, is amended to read: 
8-A.  Penalties for failure to file report.  The commission may assess a civil penalty 
for failure to file a report required by this subchapter.  The maximum penalty for failure 
to file a report required under section 
1056-B or section 1059, subsection 2, paragraph B, 
C or E is $10,000.  The maximum penalty for failure to file a report required under 
section 1059, subsection 2, paragraph A is $5,000. 
PART B 
Sec. B-1.  21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§5, ¶D-3, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. 
B, §6, is amended to read: 
0-3. Not had prior requests for certification denied on the basis of substantial 
violations otherwise substantially violated the provisions of this chapter or chapter 13 
or certification revoked under subsection 5 A, paragraphs C to G; 
Sec. B-2. 21-A MRSA §H28, as enacted by IE 1995, c. 1, §I7, is amended to 
read: 
§1128. Study report 
By January 30, 2002 March 15, 2011 and every fem: 1 years after that date, the 
commission shall prepare for the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over legal 
affairs 
a 
report documenting, 
evaluating and making 
recommendations relating to the administration, implementation and enforcement of the 
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Maine Clean Electio'n Act and Maine Clean Election Fund. 
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SUMMARY 
. Part A makes changes affecting· campaign finance repmts in the Maine -Revised 
Statutes, Title 2I-A, chapter 13. Specifically, Part A: 
1. Clarifies that campaign finance reporting regarding ballot questions in towns and 
cities with a population of 15,000 or more is not governed by chapter 13, subchapter 2; 
2. 
Removes the requirement that candidates must include their address In 
communications to voters such as signs and literature; 
3. Eliminates a provision regulating candidates' use of endorserrients, because the 
provision was invalidated by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court as unconstitutional; 
4. 
Adjusts the filing deadline for campaign finance repmts due on the 42nd day 
before a general election for legislative and county candidates so that the repmts are due 
at 11 :59 p.m. and clarifies that the repmting deadline does not apply to municipal 
candidates; 
S. Removes the requirement that a traditionally financed candidate who has received 
or spent more than the initial payment received by a Maine Clean Election Act opponent 
must file an accelerated campaign finance repmt on the 42nd day before an election, 
because all legislative candidates must file a full, itemized report by that deadline; 
6. Clarifies that the committees of political patties must report expenditures made to 
support or to oppose candidates; 
7. 
Adjusts the end dates of 2 quarterly campaign finance reports filed by patty 
committees to December 31st and June 30th so that the dates coincide with the end of 
quarters of the calendar year; 
8. 
Clarifies that municipal and county party committees are not required to file 
campaign finance reports·on the llth day before a primary election; 
Page II - 124LRt885(Ot)-t 
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9. 
Specifies that the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices 
may paJiially reduce late filing penalties from statutorily prescribed preliminary amounts 
if the commission finds that the preliminary amounts are disproportionately high; 
10. Permits the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices to waive 
penalties against candidates for late financial repOliing caused by interruptions in Internet 
service; 
11. 
Imposes a maximum penalty of $5,000 for the l~te filing of the candidate 
campaign finance repOli due on the 42nd day before the general election; 
12. Amends the definition of "political action committee" to include organizations 
receiving contributions above celiain thresholds for the purpose of influencing elections; 
13. Clarifies the reporting procedures for political action committees that are raising 
and spending money to influence municipal elections; 
14. Requires political action committees organized outside the State that are raising 
or spending money to influence Maine elections to file financial reports on fonTIs 
prescribed by the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices similar to 
in-state committees; 
15. Specifies that ballot question committees must file financial reports and keep 
financial records in the same manner as political action committees; 
16. Clarifies that political action committees must' keep records of their campaign 
finances for 4 years after the election to which the records pertain; 
I 
17. Adjusts the end dates of 2 qUaJierly campaign finance reports filed by political 
action committees to December 31 st and June 30th so that, the dates coincide with the end 
of quarters of the calendar year; 
18. 
Clarifies that political action committees must report expenditures made to 
support or to oppose candidates; 
19. Requires political action committees to dispose of any surplus money before 
terminating, and clarifies the procedures for terminating a committee; and 
20. 
Imposes a single maximum of $10,000 for all late filing penalties assessed 
against political action committees or ballot question committees. 
Part B makes changes affecting the Maine Clean Election Act in the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 21-A, chapter 14. Specifically, Part B: 
1. Clarifies that candidates who have committed substantial violations of the Maine 
Clean Election Act or the campaign finance law are ineligible to receive public campaign 
funding under the Maine Clean Election Act; and 
2. Adjusts the quadrennial deadline for the Commission on Governmental Ethics and 
Election Practices to publish a study report concerning the Maine Clean Election Act so 
that the repOli is due on the March 15th after a gubernatorial election.