An Act To Amend the Campaign Finance Laws
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1541
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: FARNHAM
Amends: 21-A MRSA §1002, 21-A MRSA §1003, 21-A MRSA §1011, 21-A MRSA §1012, 21-A MRSA §1013-A, 21-A MRSA §1014, 21-A MRSA §1015, 21-A MRSA §1017, 21-A MRSA §1017-A, 21-A MRSA §1019-B, 21-A MRSA §1020-A, 21-A MRSA §1052, 21-A MRSA §1053, 21-A MRSA §1053-A, 21-A MRSA §1053-B, 21-A MRSA §1056, 21-A MRSA §1056-B, 21-A MRSA §1059, 21-A MRSA §1060, 21-A MRSA §1062-A, 21-A MRSA §1125, 30-A MRSA §2502

Legislative Document 
No. 1541 
S.P. 491 
In Senate, May 3, 2011 
An Act To Amend the Campaign Finance Laws 
(EMERGENCY) 
Submitted by the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices pursuant to 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 1, section 1009. 
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed. 
JOSEPH G. CARLETON, JR. 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator FARNHAM of Penobscot. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day 
period because it amends certain provisions of the campaign finance laws that take effect 
August 1, 2011 and September 1, 2011; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  21-A MRSA §1002, as repealed and replaced by PL 2007, c. 571, §5, is 
amended to read: 
§1002.  Meetings of commission 
1.  Meeting schedule.  The commission shall meet in Augusta for the purposes of 
this chapter at least once per month in any year in which primary and general elections 
are held and every 2 weeks in the 60 days preceding an election.  In the 28 days 
preceding an election, the commission shall meet in Augusta within one calendar day 2 
business days of the filing of any complaint or question with the commission, unless the 
complainant and respondent agree otherwise.  Agenda items in the 28 days preceding an 
election must be decided within 24 hours of the filing unless all parties involved agree 
otherwise. Regardless of whether the complainant or respondent agree, the commission 
may defer until after the election considering complaints determined by the chair to 
involve allegations of minor violations of this chapter or chapter 14, such as disclaimer 
statements omitted from campaign signs or transactions of less than $100 omitted from 
campaign finance reports. 
2.  Telephone meetings.  The commission may hold meetings over the telephone if 
necessary, as long as the commission provides notice to all affected parties in accordance 
with the rules of the commission and the commission’s office remains open for 
attendance by complainants, witnesses, the press and other members of the public.  
Notwithstanding Title 1, chapter 13, telephone meetings of the commission are permitted: 
A.  During the 28 days prior to an election when the commission is required to meet 
within 24 hours 2 business days of the filing of any complaint or question with the 
commission; or 
B.  To address procedural or logistical issues before a monthly meeting, such as the 
scheduling of meetings, deadlines for parties’ submission of written materials, setting 
of meeting agenda, requests to postpone or reschedule agenda items, issuing 
subpoenas for documents or witnesses and recusal of commission members. 
3.  Other meetings.  The commission shall meet at other times on the call of the 
Secretary of State, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House or the chair or a 
majority of the members of the commission, as long as all members are notified of the 
time, place and purpose of the meeting at least 24 hours in advance. 
4.  Office hours before election.  The commission office must be open with 
adequate staff resources available to respond to inquiries and receive complaints from 8 
a.m. until at least 5:30 p.m. on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday immediately preceding 
an election and from 8 a.m. until at least 8 p.m. on election day. 
Sec. 2.  21-A MRSA §1003, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2009, c. 524, §4, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Investigations.  The commission may undertake audits and investigations to 
determine the facts concerning the registration of a candidate, treasurer, party committee, 
political action committee, ballot question committee or other political committee or 
political action committee and contributions by or to and expenditures by a person, 
candidate, treasurer, party committee, political action committee, ballot question 
committee or other political committee or political action committee.  For this purpose, 
the commission may subpoena witnesses and records whether located within or without 
the State and take evidence under oath.  A person or political action committee entity that 
fails to obey the lawful subpoena of the commission or to testify before it under oath must 
be punished by the Superior Court for contempt upon application by the Attorney General 
on behalf of the commission. 
Sec. 3.  21-A MRSA §1003, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1991, c. 839, §1 and 
affected by §34, is further amended to read: 
2.  Investigations requested.  A person may apply in writing to the commission 
requesting an investigation concerning the registration of a candidate, treasurer, political 
committee or political action committee and contributions by or to and expenditures by a 
person, candidate, treasurer, political committee or political action committee as 
described in subsection 1.  The commission shall review the application and shall make 
the investigation if the reasons stated for the request show sufficient grounds for 
believing that a violation may have occurred. 
Sec. 4.  21-A MRSA §1011, as amended by PL 2009, c. 366, §1 and affected by 
§12 and amended by c. 652, Pt. A, §19, is further amended to read: 
§1011.  Application 
This subchapter applies to candidates for all state and county offices and all 
candidates for municipal office as defined in Title 30-A, section 2502, subsection 1 and to 
campaigns for their nomination and election. 
Candidates for municipal office as described in Title 30-A, section 2502, subsection 1 
are governed by this subchapter. 
3.  Role of the municipal clerk; commission.  For candidates for municipal office, 
the municipal clerk is responsible for any duty assigned to the commission in this 
subchapter related to the registration of candidates, receipt of reports and distribution of 
information or forms, unless otherwise provided.  Notwithstanding any other deadline set 
forth in this chapter, candidates must file their reports by the close of business on the day 
of the filing deadline established for the office of the municipal clerk.  The commission 
retains the sole authority to prescribe the content of all reporting forms.  The commission 
does not have responsibility to oversee the filing of registrations or campaign finance 
reports relating to municipal campaigns, except that the commission shall enforce late-
filing penalties under section 1020-A, subsection 3 upon the request of a municipal clerk. 
4.  Exemptions.  Exemptions for municipal candidates from the reporting 
requirements of this subchapter are governed by this subsection. 
A.  At the time a municipal candidate registers under section 1013-A, the candidate 
may notify the municipal clerk in writing that the candidate will not accept 
contributions, make expenditures or incur financial obligations associated with that 
person's candidacy.  A candidate who provides this written notice is not required to 
appoint a treasurer or to meet the filing requirements of this section as long as the 
candidate complies with the commitment. 
B.  The notice provided to the municipal clerk in paragraph A may be revoked.  A 
written revocation must be presented to the municipal clerk before the candidate may 
accept contributions, make expenditures or incur obligations associated with that 
person's candidacy.  A candidate who has filed a notice with the municipal clerk 
under paragraph A and accepts contributions, makes expenditures or incurs 
obligations associated with that person's candidacy prior to filing a revocation may be 
assessed a penalty of $10 for each business day that the revocation is late, up to a 
maximum of $500.  This penalty may be imposed in addition to the penalties assessed 
under other sections of this Title. 
Sec. 5.  21-A MRSA §1012, sub-§2, ¶B, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, 
§3, is further amended to read: 
B.  Does not include:  
(1)  The value of services provided without compensation by individuals who 
volunteer a portion or all of their time on behalf of a candidate or political 
committee;  
(2)  The use of real or personal property and the cost of invitations, food and 
beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual to a candidate in rendering 
voluntary personal services for candidate-related activities, if the cumulative 
value of these activities by the individual on behalf of any candidate does not 
exceed $100 with respect to any election;  
(3)  The sale of any food or beverage by a vendor for use in a candidate's 
campaign at a charge less than the normal comparable charge, if the charge to the 
candidate is at least equal to the cost of the food or beverages to the vendor and if 
the cumulative value of the food or beverages does not exceed $100 with respect 
to any election;  
(4)  Any unreimbursed travel expenses incurred and paid for by an individual 
who volunteers personal services to a candidate, if the cumulative amount of 
these expenses does not exceed $100 with respect to any election;  
(4-A)  Any unreimbursed campaign-related travel expenses incurred and paid for 
by the candidate or the candidate's spouse or domestic partner; 
(5)  The payment by a party's state, district, county or municipal committee of the 
costs of preparation, display or mailing or other distribution of a party candidate 
listing; 
(6)  Documents, in printed or electronic form, including party platforms, single 
copies of issue papers, information pertaining to the requirements of this Title, 
lists of registered voters and voter identification information, created, obtained or 
maintained by a political party for the general purpose of party building and 
provided to a candidate who is a member of that party; 
(7)  Compensation paid by a state party committee to its employees for the 
following purposes: 
(a)  Providing no more than a total of 40 hours of assistance from its 
employees to a candidate in any election; 
(b)  Recruiting and overseeing volunteers for campaign activities involving 3 
or more candidates; or 
(c)  Coordinating campaign events involving 3 or more candidates; 
(8)  Campaign training sessions provided to 3 or more candidates; 
(8-A)  Costs paid for by a party committee in connection with a campaign event 
at which 3 or more candidates are present; 
(8-B)  Wood or other materials used for political signs that are found or 
contributed if not originally obtained by the candidate or contributor for 
campaign purposes; 
(8-C)  The use or distribution of any communication, as described in section 
1014, obtained by the candidate for a previous election and fully paid for during 
that election; 
(9)  The use of offices, telephones, computers and similar equipment when that 
use does not result in additional cost to the provider; or 
(10)  Activity or communication designed to encourage individuals to register to 
vote or to vote if that activity or communication does not mention a clearly 
identified candidate.; or 
(11)  A purchase of apparel from a commercial vendor with a total cost of $25 or 
less by an individual when the vendor has received a graphic or design from the 
candidate or the candidate's authorized committee. 
Sec. 6.  21-A MRSA §1012, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, §4, is 
further amended to read: 
3.  Expenditure.  The term "expenditure:"  
A.  Includes: 
(1)  A purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or 
anything of value made for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election 
of any person to political office, except that a loan of money to a candidate by a 
financial institution in this State made in accordance with applicable banking 
laws and regulations and in the ordinary course of business is not included;  
(2)  A contract, promise or agreement, expressed or implied, whether or not 
legally enforceable, to make any expenditure;  
(3)  The transfer of funds by a candidate or a political committee to another 
candidate or political committee; and 
(4)  A payment or promise of payment to a person contracted with for the 
purpose of supporting or opposing influencing any candidate, campaign, political 
committee, political action committee, political party, referendum or initiated 
petition or circulating an initiated petition as defined in section 1052, subsection 
1; and 
B.  Does not include:  
(1)  Any expense incurred in the production or distribution of a news story, 
commentary or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting 
station, cable television system, publicly accessible site on the Internet, 
newspaper, magazine or other periodical publication of general circulation that 
routinely publishes or distributes news or commentary of general interest, unless 
the facilities are owned or controlled by any political party, political committee, 
candidate or member of the candidate's immediate family or an agent of any 
political party, political committee, candidate or member of the candidate's 
immediate family or unless the facilities have been compensated for the 
production or distribution of the news story, commentary or editorial by any 
political party, political committee, candidate or member of the candidate's 
immediate family or an agent of any political party, political committee, 
candidate or member of the candidate's immediate family;  
(1-A)  Any communication distributed through a public access television station 
if the communication complies with the laws and rules governing the station and 
all candidates in the race have an equal opportunity to promote their candidacies 
through the station; 
(2)  Activity or communication designed to encourage individuals to register to 
vote or to vote if that activity or communication does not mention a clearly 
identified candidate;  
(3)  Any communication by any membership organization or corporation to its 
members or stockholders, if that membership organization or corporation is not 
organized primarily for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of 
any person to state or county office;  
(4)  The use of real or personal property and the cost of invitations, food and 
beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual to a candidate in rendering 
voluntary personal services for candidate-related activities, if the cumulative 
value of these activities does not exceed $100 with respect to any election;  
(5)  Any unreimbursed travel expenses incurred and paid for by an individual 
who volunteers personal services to a candidate, if the cumulative amount of 
these expenses does not exceed $100 with respect to any election;  
(5-A)  Any unreimbursed campaign-related travel expenses incurred and paid for 
by the candidate or the candidate's spouse or domestic partner; 
(6)  Any communication by any person that is not made for the purpose of 
influencing the nomination for election, or election, of any person to state or 
county office;  
(7)  The payment by a party's state, district, county or municipal committee of the 
costs of preparation, display or mailing or other distribution of a party candidate 
listing;  
(8)  The use or distribution of any communication, as described in section 1014, 
obtained by the candidate for a previous election and fully paid for during that 
election campaign; 
(9)  Documents, in printed or electronic form, including party platforms, single 
copies of issue papers, information pertaining to the requirements of this Title, 
lists of registered voters and voter identification information, created or 
maintained by a political party for the general purpose of party building and 
provided to a candidate who is a member of that party; 
(10)  Compensation paid by a state party committee to its employees for the 
following purposes: 
(a)  Providing no more than a total of 40 hours of assistance from its 
employees to a candidate in any election; 
(b)  Recruiting and overseeing volunteers for campaign activities involving 3 
or more candidates; or 
(c)  Coordinating campaign events involving 3 or more candidates; 
(10-A)  Costs paid for by a party committee in connection with a campaign event 
at which 3 or more candidates are present; 
(11)  Campaign training sessions provided to 3 or more candidates; 
(11-A)  Wood or other materials used for political signs that are found or 
contributed if not originally obtained by the candidate or contributor for 
campaign purposes; or 
(12)  The use of offices, telephones, computers and similar equipment when that 
use does not result in additional cost to the provider.; or 
(13)  A purchase of apparel from a commercial vendor with a total cost of $25 or 
less by an individual when the vendor has received a graphic or design from the 
candidate or the candidate's authorized committee. 
Sec. 7.  21-A MRSA §1012, sub-§4-A is enacted to read: 
4-A.  Influence.  "Influence" means to promote, support, oppose or defeat. 
Sec. 8.  21-A MRSA §1013-A, sub-§1, ¶A, as amended by PL 2009, c. 366, §2 
and affected by §12, is further amended to read: 
A.  No later than 10 days after becoming a candidate and before accepting 
contributions, making expenditures or incurring obligations, a candidate for state, or 
county or municipal office or a candidate for municipal office who has not filed a 
written notice in accordance with section 1011, subsection 4, paragraph A shall 
appoint a treasurer.  The candidate may serve as treasurer, except that a participating 
candidate, as defined in section 1122, subsection 6, or a candidate certified in 
accordance with section 1125 may not serve as treasurer, except that the candidate 
may serve as treasurer or deputy treasurer for up to 14 days after declaring an 
intention to qualify for campaign financing under chapter 14 until the candidate 
identifies another person to serve as treasurer.  The candidate may have only one 
treasurer, who is responsible for the filing of campaign finance reports under this 
chapter.  A candidate shall register the candidate's name and address and the name 
and address of the treasurer appointed under this section no later than 10 days after 
the appointment of the treasurer.  A candidate may accept contributions personally or 
make or authorize expenditures personally, as long as the candidate reports all 
contributions and expenditures to the treasurer.  The treasurer shall make a 
consolidated report of all income and expenditures and provide this report to the 
commission. 
(1) A candidate may appoint a deputy treasurer to act in the absence of the 
treasurer.  The deputy treasurer, when acting in the absence of the treasurer, has 
the same powers and responsibilities as the treasurer.  A candidate certified in 
accordance with section 1125 may not serve as deputy treasurer. When a 
treasurer dies or resigns, the deputy treasurer may not assume the position of 
treasurer unless the candidate appoints the deputy treasurer to the position of 
treasurer.  The candidate shall report the name and address of the deputy treasurer 
to the commission no later than 10 days after the deputy treasurer has been 
appointed. 
Sec. 9.  21-A MRSA §1014, sub-§1, as repealed and replaced by PL 2009, c. 652, 
Pt. A, §20, is amended to read: 
1.  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, cable television systems, 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 of 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, electronic media advertisements where compliance with this section would 
be impracticable due to size or character limitations and similar items determined by the 
commission to be too small and unnecessary for the disclosures required by this section.  
A communication financed by a candidate or the candidate's committee is not required to 
state the address of the candidate or committee that financed the communication.  A 
communication in the form of a sign that is financed by a candidate or the candidate's 
committee and that clearly identifies the name of the candidate and is lettered or printed 
individually by hand is not required to include the name and address of the person who 
made or financed the communication or to include a statement that the communication 
has been authorized by the candidate, the candidate's authorized committee or their 
agents. 
Sec. 10.  21-A MRSA §1014, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, §9, 
is further amended to read: 
3.  Broadcasting prohibited without disclosure.  No person operating a 
broadcasting station or cable television system within this State may broadcast any 
communication, as described in subsections 1 to 2-A, without an oral or written visual 
announcement of the disclosure required by this section. 
Sec. 11.  21-A MRSA §1014, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, §9, 
is further amended to read: 
4.  Enforcement.  An expenditure, communication or broadcast made within 20 days 
before the election to which it relates that results in a A violation of this section may 
result in a civil fine penalty of no more than $5,000, except that an expenditure for yard 
signs lacking the required information may result in a maximum civil penalty of $200.  In 
assessing a civil penalty, the commission shall consider, among other things, how widely 
the communication was disseminated, whether the violation was intentional, whether the 
violation occurred as the result of an error by a printer or other paid vendor and whether 
the communication conceals or misrepresents the identity of the person who financed it.  
The If the person who financed the communication or who committed the violation shall 
correct corrects the violation within 10 days after receiving notification of the violation 
from the commission by adding the missing information to the communication, the 
commission may decide to assess no civil penalty.  An expenditure, communication or 
broadcast made more than 20 days before the election that results in a violation of this 
section may result in a civil fine of no more than $100 if the violation is not corrected 
within 10 days after the person who financed the communication or other person who 
committed the violation receives notification of the violation from the commission.  If the 
commission determines that a person violated this section with the intent to misrepresent 
the name or address of the person who made or financed the communication or whether 
the communication was or was not authorized by the candidate, the commission may 
impose a fine of no more than $5,000 against the person responsible for the 
communication.  Enforcement and collection procedures must be in accordance with 
section 1020-A. 
Sec. 12.  21-A MRSA §1014, sub-§6 is enacted to read: 
6.  Exclusions.  The requirements of this section do not apply to: 
A.  Handbills or other literature produced and distributed at a cost not exceeding $100 
and prepared by one or more individuals who are not required to register or file 
campaign finance reports with the commission and who are acting independently of 
and without authorization by a candidate, candidate's authorized campaign 
committee, party committee, political action committee or ballot question committee 
or an agent of a candidate, candidate's authorized campaign committee, party 
committee, political action committee or ballot question committee; 
B.  Campaign signs produced and distributed at a cost not exceeding $100, paid for 
by one or more individuals who are not required to register or file campaign finance 
reports with the commission and who are acting independently of and without 
authorization by a candidate, candidate's authorized campaign committee, party 
committee, political action committee or ballot question committee or an agent of a 
candidate, candidate's authorized campaign committee, party committee, political 
action committee or ballot question committee; and 
C.  Internet and e-mail activities costing less than $100, as excluded by rule of the 
commission, paid for by one or more individuals who are not required to register or 
file campaign finance reports with the commission and who are acting independently 
of and without authorization by a candidate, candidate's authorized campaign 
committee, party committee, political action committee or ballot question committee 
or an agent of a candidate, candidate's authorized campaign committee, party 
committee, political action committee or ballot question committee. 
Sec. 13.  21-A MRSA §1015, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, §13, 
is further amended to read: 
4.  Political committees; intermediaries. For the purpose of the limitations imposed 
by this section, contributions made to any political committee authorized by a candidate 
to accept contributions on the candidate's behalf are considered to be contributions made 
to that candidate.  If the campaign activities of a political action committee within a 
calendar year primarily promote or support the nomination or election of a single 
candidate, contributions to the committee that were solicited by the candidate are 
considered to be contributions made to the candidate for purposes of the limitations in 
this section.  For purposes of this subsection, solicitation of contributions includes but is 
not limited to the candidate's appearing at a fundraising event organized by or on behalf 
of the political action committee or suggesting that a donor make a contribution to that 
committee. 
For the purposes of the limitations imposed by this section, all contributions made by a 
person, either directly or indirectly, on behalf of a particular candidate, that are in any 
way earmarked or otherwise directed through an intermediary or conduit to the candidate 
are considered to be contributions from that person to the candidate. The intermediary or 
conduit shall report the original source and the intended recipient of the contribution to 
the commission and to the intended recipient. 
Sec. 14.  21-A MRSA §1017, sub-§3-A, as amended by PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. A, 
§5 and c. 366, §3 and affected by §12, is further amended to read: 
3-A.  Other candidates.  A treasurer of a candidate for state, or county or municipal 
office other than the office of Governor shall file reports with the commission and 
municipal candidates shall file reports with the municipal clerk as follows.  Once the first 
required report has been filed, each subsequent report must cover the period from the end 
date of the prior report filed. 
A.  In any calendar year in which an election for the candidate's particular office is 
not scheduled, when any candidate or candidate's political committee has received 
contributions in excess of $500 or made or authorized expenditures in excess of $500, 
reports must be filed no later than 11:59 p.m. on July 15th of that year and January 
15th of the following calendar year.  These reports must include all contributions 
made to and all expenditures made or authorized by or on behalf of the candidate or 
the treasurer of the candidate as of the end of the preceding month, except those 
covered by a previous report. 
B.  Reports must be filed no later than 11:59 p.m. on the 11th day before the date on 
which an election is held and must be complete as of the 14th day before that date.  If 
a report was not filed under paragraph A, the report required under this paragraph 
must cover all contributions and expenditures through the 14th day before the 
election. 
C.  Contributions aggregating $1,000 or more from any one contributor or single 
expenditures of $1,000 or more made after the 14th day before any election and more 
than 24 hours before 11:59 p.m. on the day of any election must be reported within 
hours of those contributions or expenditures. 
D.  Reports must be filed no later than 11:59 p.m. on the 42nd day after the date on 
which an election is held and must be complete for the filing period as of the 35th day 
after that date. 
D-1.  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. 
E.  Unless further reports will be filed in relation to a later election in the same 
calendar year, the disposition of any surplus or deficit in excess of $100 shown in the 
reports described in paragraph D must be reported as provided by this paragraph.  
The treasurer of a candidate with a surplus or deficit in excess of $100 shall file 
reports semiannually with the commission within 15 days following the end of the 
2nd and 4th quarters of the State's fiscal year, complete as of the last day of the 
quarter, until the surplus is disposed of or the deficit is liquidated.  The first report 
under this paragraph is not required until the 15th day of the period beginning at least 
days from the date of the election.  The reports will be considered timely if filed 
electronically or in person with the commission on that date or postmarked on that 
date.  The reports must set forth any contributions for the purpose of liquidating the 
deficit, in the same manner as contributions are set forth in other reports required in 
this section. 
F.  Reports with respect to a candidate who seeks nomination by petition must be 
filed on the same dates that reports must be filed by a candidate for the same office 
who seeks that nomination by primary election. 
Sec. 15.  21-A MRSA §1017-A, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. A, 
§9, is further amended to read: 
2.  Expenditures to influence a campaign.  A party committee shall report all 
expenditures made to support or oppose a candidate, political committee, political action 
committee or party committee registered under this chapter influence a campaign, as 
defined in section 1052, subsection 1.  The party committee shall report: 
A.  The name of each candidate, political committee, political action committee or 
party committee; 
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. 16.  21-A MRSA §1017-A, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. A, 
§10, is further amended to read: 
3.  Other expenditures.  Operational expenses and other expenditures that are not 
made to support or oppose a candidate, committee, political action committee or party 
committee influence a campaign, as defined in section 1052, subsection 1 must be 
reported separately.  The party committee shall report: 
A.  The name and address of each payee; 
B.  The purpose for the expenditure; and 
C.  The date and amount of each expenditure. 
Sec. 17.  21-A MRSA §1017-A, sub-§4-A, ¶C, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, 
Pt. A, §17, is further amended to read: 
C.  Reports of spending to influence Preelection and post-election reports for special 
elections, referenda, initiatives, bond issues or constitutional amendments must be 
filed by 11:59 p.m.: 
(1)  On the 11th day before the date on which the election is held and must be 
complete up to the 14th day before that date; and 
(2)  On the 42nd day after the date on which the election is held and must be 
complete up to the 35th day after that date. 
Sec. 18.  21-A MRSA §1017-A, sub-§8, as amended by PL 2009, c. 366, §4 and 
affected by §12, is further amended to read: 
8.  Municipal elections.  When a party committee makes contributions or 
expenditures on behalf of a candidate for municipal office in a town or city that has 
chosen to be governed by subject to this subchapter, it shall file a copy of the reports 
required by this section with the clerk in that candidate's municipality. 
Sec. 19.  21-A MRSA §1019-B, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 524, §7, is 
amended to read: 
4.  Report required; content; rules.  A person, party committee, political committee 
or political action committee that makes independent expenditures aggregating in excess 
of $100 during any one candidate's election shall file a report with the commission.  In 
the case of a municipal election in a town or city that has chosen to be governed by this 
subchapter, a copy of the same information the report must be filed with the municipal 
clerk. 
A.  A report required by this subsection must be filed with the commission according 
to a reporting schedule that the commission shall establish by rule that takes into 
consideration existing campaign finance reporting requirements and matching fund 
provisions under chapter 14.  Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph are routine 
technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
B.  A report required by this subsection must contain an itemized account of each 
expenditure aggregating in excess of $100 in any one candidate's election, the date 
and purpose of each expenditure and the name of each payee or creditor.  The report 
must state whether the expenditure is in support of or in opposition to the candidate 
and must include, under penalty of perjury, as provided in Title 17-A, section 451, a 
statement under oath or affirmation whether the expenditure is made in cooperation, 
consultation or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, the candidate or an 
authorized committee or agent of the candidate. 
C.  A report required by this subsection must be on a form prescribed and prepared by 
the commission.  A person filing this report may use additional pages if necessary, 
but the pages must be the same size as the pages of the form. 
This subsection takes effect August 1, 2011. 
Sec. 20.  21-A MRSA §1019-B, sub-§5 is enacted to read: 
5.  Exclusions.  An independent expenditure does not include:  
A.  An expenditure made by a person in cooperation, consultation or concert with, or 
at the request or suggestion of, a candidate, a candidate's political committee or their 
agents; 
B.  A telephone survey that meets generally accepted standards for polling research 
and that is not conducted for the purpose of changing the voting position of the call 
recipients or discouraging them from voting; 
C.  A telephone call naming a clearly identified candidate that identifies an 
individual's position on a candidate, ballot question or political party for the purpose 
of encouraging the individual to vote, as long as the call contains no advocacy for or 
against any candidate; and 
D.  A voter guide that consists primarily of candidates' responses to surveys and 
questionnaires and that contains no advocacy for or against any candidate. 
Sec. 21.  21-A MRSA §1020-A, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2009, c. 366, §6 and 
affected by §12, is further amended to read: 
3.  Municipal campaign finance reports.  Municipal campaign finance reports must 
be filed, subject to all the provisions of this subchapter, with the municipal clerk in a 
town or city that has chosen to be governed by this subchapter on forms prescribed by the 
Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices.  The municipal clerk shall 
send any notice of lateness required by subsection 6 and shall notify the commission of 
any late reports subject to a penalty. 
Sec. 22.  21-A MRSA §1020-A, sub-§5-A, ¶A, as amended by PL 2009, c. 190, 
Pt. A, §14, 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; and section 1017, subsection 4; and section 1019-B, subsection 3; 
Sec. 23.  21-A MRSA §1020-A, sub-§5-A, ¶A-1 is enacted to read: 
A-1.  Five thousand dollars for reports required under section 1019-B, subsection 4, 
except that if the financial activity reported late exceeds $50,000, the maximum 
penalty is 1/5 of the amount reported late; 
Sec. 24.  21-A MRSA §1020-A, sub-§5-A, ¶B, as amended by PL 2003, c. 628, 
Pt. A, §4, is further amended to read: 
B.  Five thousand dollars for state party committee reports required under section 
1017-A, subsection 4-A, paragraphs A, B, C and E, except that if the financial 
activity reported late exceeds $50,000, the maximum penalty is 1/5 of the amount 
reported late; 
Sec. 25.  21-A MRSA §1052, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1995, c. 483, §17, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Campaign.  "Campaign" means any course of activities for a specific purpose 
such as the initiation, promotion or defeat of to influence the nomination or election of a 
candidate or question, including to initiate or influence any of the following ballot 
measures:  
A.  The A people's veto referendum procedure under the Constitution of Maine, 
Article IV, Part Third, Section 17; 
B.  The A direct initiative procedure of legislation under the Constitution of Maine, 
Article IV, Part Third, Section 18; 
C.  An amendment to the Constitution of Maine under Article X, Section 4; 
D.  Legislation A referendum vote on a measure enacted by the Legislature and 
expressly conditioned upon ratification by a referendum vote under the Constitution 
of Maine, Article IV, Part Third, Section 19; 
E.  The ratification of the issue of bonds by the State or any agency thereof; and 
F.  Any county or municipal referendum. 
Sec. 26.  21-A MRSA §1052, sub-§3, ¶C, as amended by PL 2005, c. 575, §3, is 
further amended to read: 
C.  Any funds received by a political action committee that are to be transferred to 
any candidate, committee, campaign or organization for the purpose of promoting, 
defeating or initiating a candidate, referendum, political party or initiative, including 
the collection of signatures for a direct initiative, in this State initiating or influencing 
a campaign; or 
Sec. 27.  21-A MRSA §1052, sub-§3, ¶D, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is 
amended to read: 
D.  The payment, by any person or organization, of compensation for the personal 
services of other persons provided to a political action committee which that is used 
by the political action committee to promote, defeat or initiate a candidate, campaign 
political party, referendum or initiated petition in this State initiate or influence a 
campaign. 
Sec. 28.  21-A MRSA §1052, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, §28, 
is further amended to read: 
4.  Expenditure.  The term "expenditure:"  
A.  Includes:  
(1)  A purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or 
anything of value, made for the purpose of initiating or influencing the 
nomination or election of any person to political office; or for the initiation, 
support or defeat of a campaign, referendum or initiative, including the collection 
of signatures for a direct initiative, in this State;  
(2)  A contract, promise or agreement, expressed or implied, whether or not 
legally enforceable, to make any expenditure for the purposes set forth in this 
paragraph; and  
(3)  The transfer of funds by a political action committee to another candidate or 
political committee; and 
B.  Does not include:  
(1)  Any expense incurred in the production or distribution of a news story, 
commentary or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting 
station, cable television system, publicly accessible site on the Internet, 
newspaper, magazine or other periodical publication of general circulation that 
routinely publishes or distributes news or commentary of general interest, unless 
these facilities are owned or controlled by any political party, political 
committee, candidate or member of the candidate's immediate family or an agent 
of any political party, political committee, candidate or member of the candidate's 
immediate family or unless the facilities have been compensated for the 
production or distribution of the news story, commentary or editorial by any 
political party, political committee, candidate or member of the candidate's 
immediate family or an agent of any political party, political committee, 
candidate or member of the candidate's immediate family; 
(2)  Activity designed to encourage individuals to register to vote or to vote, if 
that activity or communication does not mention a clearly identified candidate;  
(3)  Any communication by any membership organization or corporation to its 
members or stockholders, if that membership organization or corporation is not 
organized primarily for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of 
any person to state or county office;  
(4)  The use of real or personal property and the cost of invitations, food and 
beverages, voluntarily provided by a political action committee in rendering 
voluntary personal services for candidate-related activities, if the cumulative 
value of these activities by the political action committee on behalf of any 
candidate does not exceed $100 with respect to any election;  
(5)  Any unreimbursed travel expenses incurred and paid for by a political action 
committee that volunteers personal services to a candidate, if the cumulative 
amount of these expenses does not exceed $100 with respect to any election; and  
(6)  Any communication by any political action committee member that is not 
made for the purpose of influencing the nomination for election, or election, of 
any person to state or county office. 
Sec. 29.  21-A MRSA §1052, sub-§4-A is enacted to read: 
4-A.  Influence.  "Influence" means to promote, support, oppose or defeat. 
Sec. 30.  21-A MRSA §1052, sub-§4-B is enacted to read: 
4-B.  Initiate.  "Initiate" includes the collection of signatures and related activities to 
qualify a state or local initiative or referendum for the ballot. 
Sec. 31.  21-A MRSA §1052, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. A, §16, 
is further amended to read: 
5.  Political action committee.  The term "political action committee:"  
A.  Includes: 
(1)  Any separate or segregated fund established by any corporation, membership 
organization, cooperative or labor or other organization whose purpose is to 
initiate or influence the outcome of an election, including a candidate election or 
ballot question a campaign;  
(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 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 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 
B.    Does not include:  
(1)  A candidate or a candidate's treasurer under section 1013-A, subsection 1;  
(2)  A candidate's authorized political committee under section 1013-A, 
subsection 1, paragraph B; or 
(3)  A party committee under section 1013-A, subsection 3.; or 
(4)  An organization whose only payments of money in the prior 2 years for the 
purpose of influencing a campaign in this State are contributions to candidates, 
party committees, political action committees or ballot question committees 
registered with the commission or a municipality and that has not raised and 
accepted any contributions during the calendar year for the purpose of 
influencing a campaign in this State. 
Sec. 32.  21-A MRSA §1053, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, §29, 
is further amended to read: 
6.  Statement of support or opposition.  A statement indicating the positions of the 
committee, support or opposition, with respect to a candidate, political committee, 
referendum, initiated petition or campaign, if known at the time of registration.  If a 
committee has no position on a candidate, campaign or issue at the time of registration, 
the committee must inform the commission as soon as the committee knows this 
information. 
Sec. 33.  21-A MRSA §1053, last ¶, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, §29, 
is further amended to read: 
Every change in information required by this section must be included in an amended 
registration form submitted to the commission within 10 days of the date of the change.  
The committee must file an updated registration form every 2 years between January 1st 
and March 1st of an election each year in which a general election is held.  The 
commission may waive the updated registration requirement for newly registered political 
action committees or other registered political action committees if it determines that the 
requirement would cause an administrative burden disproportionate to the public benefit 
of updated information. 
Sec. 34.  21-A MRSA §1053-A, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. A, §18, is 
amended to read: 
§1053-A.  Municipal elections 
Organizations that qualify as political action committees under section 1052, 
subsection 5 and that are organized receive contributions or make expenditures to 
influence elections on the a municipal ballot campaign 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 30-A, section 2502.  The reports 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 the subject 
municipality.  The commission retains the sole authority to prescribe the content of all 
reporting forms.  The commission does not have responsibility to oversee the filing of 
registrations or campaign finance reports relating to municipal campaigns, except that the 
commission shall enforce late-filing penalties under section 1020-A, subsection 3 upon 
the request of a municipal clerk. 
Sec. 35.  21-A MRSA §1053-B, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. A, §19, is 
amended to read: 
§1053-B.  Out-of-state political action committees 
A political action committee organized outside of this State shall register and file 
reports with the commission in accordance with sections 1053 and 1058.  The committee 
is not required to register and file reports if the committee’s only financial activity within 
the State is to make contributions to candidates, party committees, political action 
committees or ballot question committees registered with the commission or a 
municipality and the committee has not raised and accepted any contributions during the 
calendar year to influence an election or a campaign in this State. 
Sec. 36.  21-A MRSA §1056, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2001, c. 430, §10, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Aggregate expenditures.  A committee may not make contributions in support of 
the candidacy of one person aggregating more than $500 in any election for a 
gubernatorial candidate, or $250 in any election for any other candidate the contribution 
limits established by the commission pursuant to section 1015. 
Sec. 37.  21-A MRSA §1056-B, first ¶, as repealed and replaced by PL 2009, c. 
524, §8, is amended to read: 
A person not defined as a political action committee who 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 campaign as defined by section 1052, subsection 1, must shall 
file reports with the commission in accordance with this section.  For the purposes of this 
section, "campaign" does not include activities to promote or defeat or in any way 
influence the nomination or election of a candidate.  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.  For the purposes of this section, 
expenditures include paid staff time spent for the purpose of initiating or influencing in 
any way a campaign.  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.  Until July 31, 2011, in the case of a municipal election, the registration and 
reports must be filed with the clerk of that municipality.  Beginning August 1, 2011, in 
the case of a municipal election, the registration and reports must be filed with the 
commission. 
Sec. 38.  21-A MRSA §1056-B, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2009, c. 524, §9, is 
further amended to read: 
2.  Content.  A report 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; the 
name and address of each contributor, payee or creditor; and the occupation and principal 
place of business, if any, for any person who has made contributions exceeding $100 in 
the aggregate.  The filer is required to report only those contributions made to the filer for 
the purpose of initiating, promoting, defeating or influencing in any way a campaign 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 reports. 
Sec. 39.  21-A MRSA §1056-B, sub-§2-A, ¶B, as amended by PL 2009, c. 524, 
§11, is further amended to read: 
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 campaign; 
Sec. 40.  21-A MRSA §1056-B, sub-§2-A, ¶C, as amended by PL 2009, c. 524, 
§12, is further amended to read: 
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 
campaign when viewed in the context of the contribution and the recipient's activities 
regarding a campaign; and 
Sec. 41.  21-A MRSA §1056-B, sub-§4, ¶A, as amended by PL 2009, c. 524, 
§13, is further amended to read: 
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 campaign and 
all expenditures made for those purposes. 
Sec. 42.  21-A MRSA §1059, first ¶, as repealed and replaced by PL 2009, c. 
652, Pt. A, §22, is amended to read: 
Committees required to register under section 1053, 1053-B or 1056-B shall file an 
initial campaign finance report at the time of registration and thereafter shall file reports 
in compliance with this section.  All reports must be filed by 11:59 p.m. on the day of the 
filing deadline, except that reports submitted to a municipal clerk in a town or city that 
has chosen to be governed by this subchapter must be filed by the close of business on the 
day of the filing deadline. 
Sec. 43.  21-A MRSA §1059, sub-§2, ¶A, as amended by PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. A, 
§24, is further amended to read: 
A.  Quarterly All committees shall file quarterly reports must be filed: 
(1)  On January 15th and must be complete as of December 31st; 
(2)  On April 10th and must be complete as of March 31st; 
(3)  On July 15th and must be complete as of June 30th; and 
(4)  On October 10th and must be complete as of September 30th. 
Sec. 44.  21-A MRSA §1059, sub-§2, ¶C, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, 
§35, is further amended to read: 
C.  Reports of spending to influence Preelection and post-election reports for special 
elections, referenda, initiatives, bond issues or constitutional amendments ballot 
measure campaigns must be filed: 
(1)  On the 11th day before the date on which the election is held and must be 
complete as of the 14th day before that date; and 
(2)  On the 42nd day after the date on which the election is held and must be 
complete as of the 35th day after that date. 
Sec. 45.  21-A MRSA §1060, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. A, §25, 
is further amended to read: 
4.  Itemized expenditures.  An itemization of each expenditure made 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 initiate or 
influence any campaign, including the date, payee and purpose of the expenditure; the 
name of each candidate, campaign, political committee, political action committee or 
party committee 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 report must 
contain the name of the person; the amount spent by that person on behalf of the 
candidate, campaign, political committee, political action committee, party 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 specify the categories of expenditures that are to be 
reported to enable the commission to closely monitor the activities of political action 
committees; 
Sec. 46.  21-A MRSA §1060, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2007, c. 477, §6, is 
further amended to read: 
6.  Identification of contributions.  Names, occupations, places of business and 
mailing addresses of contributors who have given more than $50 to the political action 
committee in the reporting period and the amount and date of each contribution, 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 contributions 
made to the organization for the purpose of promoting, defeating or influencing a ballot 
question or the nomination or election of a candidate to political office and all transfers to 
or funds used to support the political action committee from the general treasury of the 
organization; and 
Sec. 47.  21-A MRSA §1060, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. A, §26, 
is further amended to read: 
7.  Other expenditures.  Operational expenses and other expenditures 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. 48.  21-A MRSA §1062-A, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. A, 
§30, is further amended to read: 
4.  Maximum penalties.  The maximum penalty under this subchapter is $10,000 for 
reports required under section 1056-B or section 1059, except that if the financial activity 
reported late exceeds $50,000, the maximum penalty is 1/5 of the amount reported late. 
Sec. 49.  21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. B, §6, 
is further amended to read: 
1.  Declaration of intent.  A participating candidate must file a declaration of intent 
to seek certification as a Maine Clean Election Act candidate and to comply with the 
requirements of this chapter.  The declaration of intent must be filed with the commission 
prior to or during the qualifying period, except as provided in subsection 11, according to 
forms and procedures developed by the commission.  A participating candidate must 
submit a declaration of intent within 5 business days of collecting qualifying 
contributions under this chapter.  Qualifying contributions collected more than 5 business 
days before the declaration of intent has been filed will not be counted toward the 
eligibility requirement in subsection 3. 
Sec. 50.  21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. B, §2 
and c. 363, §5, is further amended to read: 
5.  Certification of Maine Clean Election Act candidates.  Upon receipt of a final 
submittal of qualifying contributions by a participating candidate, the executive director 
of the commission or its executive director shall determine whether the candidate has: 
A.  Signed and filed a declaration of intent to participate in this Act; 
B.  Submitted the appropriate number of valid qualifying contributions; 
C.  Qualified as a candidate by petition or other means no later than 5 business days 
after the end of the qualifying period; 
C-1.  As a gubernatorial candidate, collected at least $40,000 in seed money 
contributions from registered voters in the State; 
D.  Not accepted contributions, except for seed money contributions, and otherwise 
complied with seed money restrictions; 
D-1.  Not run for the same office as a nonparticipating candidate in a primary election 
in the same election year;  
D-2.  Not been found to have made a material false statement in a report or other 
document submitted to the commission; 
D-3.  Not otherwise substantially violated the provisions of this chapter or chapter 13; 
D-4.  Not failed to pay any civil penalty assessed by the commission under this Title, 
except that a candidate has 3 business days from the date of the request for 
certification to pay the outstanding penalty and remain eligible for certification; and 
D-5.  Not submitted any fraudulent qualifying contributions or any falsified 
acknowledgement forms for qualifying contributions or seed money contributions; 
and 
E.  Otherwise met the requirements for participation in this Act. 
The commission or its executive director shall certify a candidate complying with the 
requirements of this section as a Maine Clean Election Act candidate as soon as possible 
after final submittal of qualifying contributions and other supporting documents required 
under subsection 4 but no later than 3 business days for legislative candidates and 5 
business days for gubernatorial candidates.  The commission and its executive director 
may take additional time if further investigation is necessary to verify compliance with 
this Act as long as the commission notifies the candidate regarding the anticipated 
schedule for conclusion of the investigation.  A candidate or other interested person may 
appeal the decision of the executive director to the members of the commission in 
accordance with subsection 14. 
A certified candidate must comply with all requirements of this Act after certification and 
throughout the primary and general election periods.  Failure to do so is a violation of this 
chapter. 
Sec. 51.  21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§5-B, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 642, §11, is 
amended to read: 
5-B.  Restrictions on serving as treasurer.  A participating or certified candidate 
may not serve as a treasurer or deputy treasurer for that candidate's campaign, except that 
the candidate may serve as treasurer or deputy treasurer for up to 14 days after declaring 
an intention to qualify for campaign financing under this chapter until the candidate 
identifies another person to serve as treasurer. 
Sec. 52.  21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2009, c. 105, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
6.  Restrictions on contributions and expenditures for certified candidates.  After 
certification, a candidate must limit the candidate's campaign expenditures and 
obligations, including outstanding obligations, to the revenues distributed to the candidate 
from the fund and may not accept any contributions unless specifically authorized by the 
commission.  Candidates may also accept and spend interest earned on fund revenues in 
campaign bank accounts.  All revenues distributed to a certified candidate from the fund 
must be used for campaign-related purposes. The candidate, the treasurer, the candidate's 
committee authorized pursuant to section 1013-A, subsection 1 or any agent of the 
candidate and committee may not use these revenues for any but campaign-related 
purposes.  A television advertisement purchased with these revenues must be closed-
captioned when closed-captioning is available from the broadcasting station who will 
broadcast the advertisement.  The commission shall publish guidelines outlining 
permissible campaign-related expenditures. 
Sec. 53.  21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§6-D is enacted to read: 
6-D.  Expenditures for personal electronic devices.  A certified candidate for 
legislative office may not use fund revenues to purchase a personal computer, tablet 
computer, mobile telephone with enhanced computing or electronic mail capabilities, 
personal digital assistant, mobile electronic mail device or any other personal electronic 
device with enhanced computing or electronic mail capabilities as determined by the 
commission. 
Sec. 54.  21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§6-E is enacted to read: 
6-E.  Expenditures for television advertising.  A candidate must include closed-
captioning within any television advertisement that the candidate provides to a 
broadcasting or cable television station for broadcast to the public, except for an 
advertisement aired in the final 4 days before an election if inclusion of closed-captioning 
during that period is impractical or would materially affect the timing of the candidate’s 
advertisement.   
Sec. 55.  21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§10, as repealed and replaced by PL 2009, c. 
652, Pt. A, §27 and affected by §28, is 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 
documents under subsection 4 by 5:00 p.m. on April 15th 20th 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-A.  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-A.  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-A.  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. 
Sec. 56.  21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§12-A, ¶E, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 524, 
§16, is amended to read: 
E.  A contemporaneous document such as an invoice, contract or timesheet that 
specifies in detail the services provided by a vendor who was paid $500 or more for 
the election cycle for providing campaign staff or consulting services to a candidate. 
Sec. 57.  21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§13-A, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 524, §18, is 
amended to read: 
13-A.  Distributions not to exceed amount in fund.  The commission may not 
distribute revenues to certified candidates in excess of the total amount of money 
deposited in the fund as set forth in section 1124.  Notwithstanding any other provisions 
of this chapter, if the commission determines that the revenues in the fund are insufficient 
to meet distributions under subsection 8-A or 9, the commission may permit certified 
candidates to accept and spend contributions, reduced by any seed money contributions, 
aggregating no more than $750 per donor per election for gubernatorial candidates and 
$350 per donor per election for State Senate and State House candidates the applicable 
contribution limits established by the commission pursuant to section 1015, up to the 
applicable amounts set forth in subsections 8-A and 9 according to rules adopted by the 
commission. 
This subsection takes effect September 1, 2011. 
Sec. 58.  21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§14, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. B, §6, 
is further amended to read: 
14.  Appeals.  A candidate who has been denied certification as a Maine Clean 
Election Act candidate by the commission's executive director, the opponent of a 
candidate who has been granted certification as a Maine Clean Election Act candidate or 
other interested persons may challenge a certification decision by the commission or its 
executive director as follows. 
A.  A challenger may appeal to the full commission within 7 days of the certification 
decision.  The appeal must be in writing and must set forth the reasons for the appeal. 
B.  Within 5 days after an appeal is properly made and after notice is given to the 
challenger and any opponent, the commission shall hold a hearing, except that the 
commission may extend this period upon agreement of the challenger and the 
candidate whose certification is the subject of the appeal, or in response to the request 
of either party upon a showing of good cause.  The appellant has the burden of 
proving that the certification decision was in error as a matter of law or was based on 
factual error.  The commission must rule on the appeal within 5 business days after 
the completion of the hearing. 
C.  A challenger may appeal the decision of the commission in paragraph B by 
commencing an action in Superior Court within 5 days of the date of the 
commission's decision.  The action must be conducted in accordance with Rule 80C 
of the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure, except that the court shall issue its written 
decision within 20 days of the date of the commission's decision.  Any aggrieved 
party may appeal the decision of the Superior Court by filing a notice of appeal 
within 3 days of that decision.  The record on appeal must be transmitted to the Law 
Court within 3 days after the notice of appeal is filed.  After filing the notice of 
appeal, the parties have 4 days to file briefs and appendices with the clerk of the 
court.  The court shall consider the case as soon as possible after the record and briefs 
have been filed and shall issue its decision within 14 days of the decision of the 
Superior Court. 
D.  A candidate whose certification as a Maine Clean Election Act candidate is 
reversed on appeal must return to the commission any unspent revenues distributed 
from the fund.  If the commission or court finds that an appeal was made frivolously 
or to cause delay or hardship, the commission or court may require the moving party 
to pay costs of the commission, court and opposing parties, if any. 
Sec. 59.  30-A MRSA §2502, as amended by PL 2009, c. 366, §10 and affected by 
§12, is further amended to read: 
§2502.  Campaign reports in municipal elections 
1.  Reports by candidates.  A candidate for municipal office of a town or city with a 
population of 15,000 or more is governed by Title 21-A, sections 1001 to 1020-A and 
must register and file campaign reports with, except that registrations and campaign 
finance reports must be filed with the municipal clerk instead of the Commission on 
Governmental Ethics and Election Practices.  A town or city with a population of less 
than 15,000 may choose to be governed by Title 21-A, sections 1001 to 1020-A by vote 
of its legislative body at least 90 days before an election for office.  A candidate in a town 
or city with a population of less than 15,000 that has adopted those provisions must 
register and file campaign finance reports with the municipal clerk instead of the 
Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices. A town or city that votes to 
adopt those provisions may revoke that decision, but it must do so at least 90 days before 
an election subject to those sections. 
2.  Municipal referenda campaigns.  Municipal referenda campaigns in towns or 
cities with a population of 15,000 or more are governed by Title 21-A, chapter 13, 
subchapter 4.  The registrations and reports of political action committees and ballot 
question committees must be filed with the Commission on Governmental Ethics and 
Election Practices municipal clerk.  A town or city with a population of less than 15,000 
may choose to be governed by Title 21-A, chapter 13, subchapter 4 by vote of its 
legislative body at least 90 days before a referendum election.  The registrations and 
reports of political action committees and ballot question committees in a town or city 
that has adopted those provisions must be filed with the municipal clerk instead of the 
Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices.  A town or city that votes to 
adopt those provisions may revoke that decision, but it must do so at least 90 days before 
an election subject to that subchapter. 
3.  Public access to records.  A town or city with a population of less than 15,000 
that has adopted the provisions of Title 21-A, chapter 13 that receives registrations or 
reports pursuant to this section must keep the campaign reports for at least them for 8 
years. 
Sec. 60.  Effective date.  Those sections of this Act that amend the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 21-A, section 1011; section 1013-A, subsection 1, paragraph A; section 
1017, subsection 3-A; section 1017-A, subsection 8; section 1019-B, subsection 4; 
section 1020-A, subsection 3; section 1056-B, first paragraph; section 1059, first 
paragraph; and Title 30-A, section 2502 take effect August 1, 2011.  Those sections of 
this Act that amend Title 21-A, section 1125, subsections 10 and 13-A take effect 
September 1, 2011. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved, except as otherwise indicated. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the campaign finance laws by: 
1.  Extending the time period within which the Commission on Governmental Ethics 
and Election Practices must meet during the 28 days before an election upon the filing of 
a complaint.  The bill provides that the commission shall meet within 2 business days, 
rather than the current period of one calendar day, and allows the commission to defer 
hearing minor complaints until after the election; 
2.  Clarifying that the commission is authorized to investigate disclosure violations by 
all organizations required to file campaign finance reports with the commission, including 
party committees and ballot question committees; 
3.  Maintaining the requirement that a candidate seeking elective office in a town or 
city with a population of 15,000 or more, and a political action committee seeking to 
promote or oppose ballot questions in those municipalities, register and file campaign 
finance reports with the municipal clerk.  The town or city must keep these reports for 8 
years; 
4.  Exempting from the definition of “contribution” and “expenditure” any purchase 
of apparel from a commercial vendor with a cost of $25 or less when the vendor received 
a graphic or design from a candidate;  
5.  Defining the term “influence” in campaign finance disclosure requirements to 
mean promoting, supporting, opposing or defeating a candidate or ballot question, in 
order to better describe those activities that require campaign finance disclosure.  The bill 
makes corresponding changes to the definition of “expenditure,” “campaign” and other 
disclosure requirements throughout the campaign finance laws; 
6.  Extending the expenditure exception for news stories, commentaries and editorials 
to communications distributed through a cable television system or publicly accessible 
site on the Internet, except in cases where the facility distributing the story or editorial has 
been compensated by a political party or candidate; 
7.  Prohibiting a candidate who is seeking Maine Clean Election Act funding from 
serving as the treasurer of the candidate's political campaign, except during the 14 days 
after the candidate registers until the candidate identifies another person to serve as 
treasurer; 
8.  Extending the attribution and disclaimer requirements for advertisements 
distributed through cable television systems; 
9.  Exempting small electronic media advertisements from the attribution and 
disclaimer requirements when compliance would be impractical due to size or character 
limitations; 
10.  Increasing the penalty for violations of the attribution and disclaimer 
requirements to $5,000 per violation, except that a penalty of $200 applies to yard signs 
that are in violation; 
11.  Creating exceptions to the attribution and disclaimer requirements for handbills, 
campaign signs and Internet activities costing $100 or less by individuals acting 
independently of and without authorization by candidates, political action committees and 
party committees; 
12.  Extending contribution limitations to donations raised by a candidate on behalf 
of a political action committee that is organized primarily to promote that candidate; 
13.  Exempting from the independent expenditure reporting requirement opinion polls 
conducted by telephone, telephone calls made to identify individuals’ positions on 
candidates and voter guides consisting primarily of candidates’ responses to surveys and 
questionnaires; 
14.  Increasing the civil penalties for the late filing of campaign finance reports by 
political action committees and party committees when more than $50,000 in financial 
activity is reported late;  
15.  Clarifying that organizations that donate to a political action committee do not 
qualify as a political action committee merely by making a donation; 
16.  Requiring a political action committee to identify candidates or campaigns that 
the committee intends to support or oppose at the time of registration; 
17.  Specifying that qualifying contributions received by a candidate seeking Maine 
Clean Election Act funding that are collected more than 5 business days before the 
candidate files the declaration of intent with the commission are not valid; 
18.  Clarifying that the executive director of the commission shall make the initial 
determination whether a candidate has met the qualifications to receive Maine Clean 
Election Act funding, and that candidates and interested persons may appeal the 
executive director’s determination to the members of the commission, in accordance with 
current practice; 
19.  Requiring a candidate seeking Maine Clean Election Act funding to qualify as a 
candidate no later than 5 business days after the end of the period to qualify for public 
funding; 
20.  Permitting the commission to decline to pay Maine Clean Election Act funding 
to candidates who have submitted fraudulent qualifying contributions or acknowledgment 
forms; 
21.  Prohibiting a candidate from spending Maine Clean Election Act funds to 
purchase computers or telephones with enhanced computing or electronic mail 
capabilities; 
22.  Requiring a candidate who spends Maine Clean Election Act funds for 
advertising on cable television systems to include closed-captioning, except for 
advertisements aired in the final 4 days before an election if inclusion of the closed-
captioning during that period is impractical or would materially affect the timing of the 
candidate’s advertisement; 
23.  Requiring a legislative candidate who is not enrolled in a political party to 
qualify for Maine Clean Election Act funding by the same deadline as a legislative 
candidates who is enrolled in a political party; and 
24.  Requiring a Maine Clean Election Act candidate who pays more than $500 in 
Maine Clean Election Act funds to a vendor who has provided campaign staff or 
consulting services to keep a record that was created contemporaneously with the 
provision of services.