An Act To Limit the Influence of Lobbyists by Expanding the Prohibition on Accepting Political Contributions
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0413
Committee Amendment CA_B_S78 (Senate)
Amends: 1 MRSA §1015

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" g "to S.P. 140, L.D. 413, Bill, "An Act To Limit 
the Influence of Lobbyists by Expanding the Prohibition on Accepting Political 
Contributions" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 1 MRSA §1015, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2009, c. 286, § 1, is further 
amended to read: 
3. 
Campaign contributions and solicitations prohibited. 
The following 
provisions prohibit certain campaign contributions and solicitation of campaign 
contributions during a legislative session. 
A. 
As used in this subsection, the terms "employer," "lobbyist" and "lobbyist 
associate" have the same meanings as in Title 3, section 312-A. As used in this 
subsection, "contribution" has the same meaning as in Title 21-A, section 1012 and 
includes seed money contributions as defined in Title 21-A, section 1122, subsection 
9. 
B. The Governor, a member of the Legislature or any constitutional officer or the 
staff or agent of the Governor, a member of the Legislature or any constitutional 
officer or a candidate for Governor or the Legislature may not intentionally solicit or 
accept a contribution from a lobbyist, lobbyist associate or employer during any 
period of time in \Yhich the Legislature is convened before final adjournment, except 
for a qualifying contribution as defined under Title 21-A, section 1122, subsection 7. 
A lobbyist, lobbyist associate or employer may not intentionally give, offer or 
promise a contribution, other than a qualifying contribution, to the Governor, a 
member of the Legislature or any constitutional officer or the staff or agent of the 
Governor, a member of the Legislature or any constitutional officer during any time 
in v,rhioh tho Legislature is convened before final adjournment or a candidate for 
Governor or the Legislature. These prohibitions apply to contributions directly and 
indirectly solicited or accepted by, or given, offered and promised to a political action 
committee, ballot question committee or party committee of which the Governor, a 
Page I - 128LR0487(02)-1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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I!-;)• 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" 8 "to S.P. 140, L.D. 413 
member of the Legislature, a constitutional officer or the staff or agent of these 
officials is a treasurer, officer or primary fund-raiser or decision maker. 
C. This subsection does not apply to: 
(1) 
Solicitations or contributions for bona fide social events hosted for 
nonpartisan, charitable purposes; 
(2) Solicitations or contributions relating to a special election to fill a vacancy 
from the time of announcement of the election until the election; aHd 
( 4) 
Solicitations or contributions accepted by a member of the Legislature 
supporting that member's campaign for federal office,; and 
(5) Solicitations made or contributions accepted before the Legislature convenes 
or after final adjournment by a party committee for which the Governor. a 
member of the Legislature. a constitutional officer or the staff or agent of these 
officials is not a treasurer. officer or primary fund-raiser or decision maker. 
C-1. This subsection does not prohibit the attendance of the Governor, a member of 
the Legislature or any constitutional officer or the staff or agent of the Governor, a 
member of the Legislature or any constitutional officer at fund-raising events held by 
a municipal, county, state or national political party organized pursuant to Title 21-A, 
chapter 5, nor the advertisement of the expected presence of any such official at any 
such event, as long as any such official has no involvement in soliciting attendance at 
the event and all proceeds are paid directly to the political party organization hosting 
the event or a nonprofit charitable organization. 
D. A person who intentionally violates this subsection is subject to a civil penalty not 
to exceed $1,000, payable to the State and recoverable in a civil action.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill and is the minority report of the committee. Like 
the bill, the amendment prohibits a member of the Legislature, the Governor or any 
constitutional officer from soliciting or accepting a contribution from a lobbyist or an 
employer. The amendment provides that candidates for the Legislature or Governor are 
also subject to this year-round contribution prohibition. The amendment also provides 
that party committees may solicit or accept contributions when the Legislature is not in 
session as long as a member of the Legislature, the Governor or a constitutional officer is 
not the treasurer, an officer or primary decision maker or fund-raiser for the party 
committee. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT