An Act To Increase Transparency in the Direct Initiative Process
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1865
Committee Amendment CA_A_H714 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. A" to H.P. 1301, L.D. 1865, Bill, "An Act To 
Increase Transparency in the Direct Initiative Process" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 2, 3 and 4. 
Amend the bill in section 6 in §903-E in subsection 1 in paragraph Bin the first line 
(page 2, line 19 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: 
"Providing services" the 
following: 'other than notarial acts' 
Amend the bill in section 7 in § 1060-A in subsection 1 by striking out all of 
paragraph B (page 3, lines 5 to 8 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'B. "Major contributor" means a person, other than an individual, that makes one or 
more contributions aggregating in excess of $100,000 to a ballot question committee 
or political action committee for the purpose of initiating or influencing any one 
people's veto referendum campaign or any one direct initiative campaign.' 
Amend the bill in section 7 in §1060-A in subsection 2 in the 2nd line (page 3, line 10 
in L.D.) by striking out the following: "within a calendar year" 
Amend the bill in section 7 in § 1060-A by striking out all of subsection 3 (page 3, 
lines 18 to 27 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'3. 
Required reports. 
A major contributor shall file a report containing the 
information required in subsection 4 on or before the next regularly scheduled filing 
deadline under section 1059, subsection 2 occurring after the major contributor receives 
notice of the reporting requirement. If a major contributor has received a notice from a 
recipient committee or the commission during the last 13 days before an election as 
required under subsection 2, the major contributor shall file a report within 2 business 
days of receiving notice from the recipient committee or commission. The commission 
shall prescribe and prepare forms for these reports and may require major contributors to 
file reports electronically. 
Amend the bill in section 7 in §1060-A in subsection 4 in paragraph C in the last line 
(page 3, line 34 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "during the calendar year" 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
C, 
~ 
,J 
o· 
'~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT,/}, to H.P. 1301, L.D. 1865 
Amend the bill in section 7 in § 1060-A in subsection 4 by striking out all of 
paragraph E (page 3, lines 39 to 42 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'E. The names of the 5 largest sources of funds received by the major contributor 
during the period beginning 6 months prior to the first contribution made to the 
recipient committee and ending on the date of the filing of the report. This paragraph 
does not apply to funds received by the major contributor that are restricted to 
purposes that are unrelated to a people's veto referendum or direct initiative campaign 
in the State; and' 
Amend the bill in section 7 in§ 1060-A in subsection 4 in the last blocked paragraph 
in the last 3 lines (page 4, lines 7 to 9 in L.D.) by striking out all of the last sentence. 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the majority report of the committee. It removes the provisions in 
the bill requiring an additional statement on a petition for a direct initiative of legislation 
indicating if the circulator is being paid to solicit signatures. The amendment clarifies the 
definition of "major contributor." It provides that a person, other than an individual, 
becomes a major contributor upon making one or more contributions aggregating 
$100,000 or more to a ballot question committee or political action committee to 
influence any one direct initiative campaign or any one people's veto referendum 
campaign. The amendment also changes the date by which a major contributor must file 
a report. Under the bill, the report is due at the same time as the recipient committee's 
October quarterly report. The amendment provides that the major contributor files a 
report on or before the next regularly scheduled filing deadline after the major contributor 
receives notice of the reporting requirement. Under the bill, a major contributor is 
required to report the 5 largest sources of funds received by the major contributor during 
the 12 months prior to submitting the report. The amendment provides that the report 
must identify the 5 largest sources of funds received by the major contributor during the 
period 6 months before the first contribution is made to the direct initiative or people's 
veto campaign through the date the report is filed. Finally, the amendment provides that 
a major contributor is not required to identify a source of funds if that source restricted 
the use of those funds to purposes that are unrelated to a direct initiative or people's veto 
campaign. The bill allows for this exception to be governed by rules to be adopted by the 
Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices. 
FISCAL NOTE REQl'TRED 
(See auachtd) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 03/28/18 feac.. 
LD 1865 
LR 2910(02) 
An Act To Increase Transparency in the Direct Initiative Process 
_ 
0i 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'A' cH- 71;) 
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Additional costs to the Department of Secretary of State associated with implementing this legislation can be absorbed 
within existing budgeted resources. Additional reporting requirements would require the Commission on 
Governmental Ethics and Election Practices to modify the electronic filing system, resulting in minor costs that can be 
absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR29 l 0(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1