CAMPAIGN STATEMENT DEADLINES S.B. 1488: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
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Senate Bill 1488 (as introduced 9-11-08)
Sponsor: Senator Michelle A. McManus
Committee: Campaign and Election Oversight


Date Completed: 9-17-08

CONTENT The bill would amend the Michigan Campaign Finance Act to require ballot question committees to file campaign statements by April 10, July 10, and October 10 every year, instead of by the 30th day after an election, and the 35th day after a ballot question qualifies for the ballot or the final deadline for qualifying.

Under the Act, a ballot question committee must file a campaign statement according to the following schedule:

-- A preelection campaign statement with a closing date of the 16th day before an election must be filed by the 11th day before the election.
-- A postelection campaign statement with a closing date of the 20th day following an election must be filed by the 30th day following the election.


If all liabilities of the committee are paid before the closing date and additional contributions are not expected, the postelection campaign statement may be filed at any time after the election, but not later than 30 days following the election.

A ballot question committee supporting or opposing a statewide ballot question must file a campaign statement within 35 days after the ballot question is qualified for the ballot with a closing date of the 28th day after the qualification of the measure. If the ballot question fails to qualify for the ballot, the ballot question committee must file the campaign statement within 35 days after the final deadline for qualifying with a closing date of the 28th day after the deadline.


The bill would delete the above provisions except the requirement for filing a preelection campaign statement. Under the bill, in addition to the preelection campaign statement, a ballot question committee would have to file campaign statements by the following dates every year:

-- April 10 with a closing date of March 31.
-- July 10 with a closing date of June 30.
-- October 10 with a closing date of September 30.

(A campaign statement of a committee, other than a political party committee, must contain information specified in the Act, including the following:

-- -- The total amount of contributions received during the period covered by the campaign statement. -- The total amount of expenditures made during the period covered by the statement. -- Payment of a loan by a third party.
-- The balance of cash on hand at the beginning and the end of the period covered by the statement.
-- Information regarding each fund-raising event including the total amount of all contributions; the gross receipts of the event; and the expenditures incident to it.
-- The full name of each individual from whom contributions are received during the period covered by the campaign statement, together with the amount contributed, the date on which each contribution was received, and the cumulative amount contributed by that individual. -- The cumulative amount contributed and the name and address of each individual who contributed to the committee. -- The name of each person, other than an individual, from whom contributions are received during the period covered by the statement, together with an itemization of the amounts contributed, the date on which each contribution was received, and the cumulative amount contributed by that person.
-- The name and amount given by an individual who contributed to the total amount contributed by a person who is other than a committee or an individual. -- The cumulative total of expenditures of $50 or less made during the period covered by the statement except for expenditures made to or on behalf of another committee, candidate, or ballot question.
-- The full name of each person to whom expenditures totaling more than $50 were made, together with the amount of each separate expenditure to each person during the period covered by the statement, and the purpose of the expenditure.
-- An itemized list of all expenditures during the reporting period for election day busing of electors to the polls, get-out-the-vote activities, slate cards, challengers, poll watchers, and poll workers.


The period covered by a campaign statement is the period beginning with the day after the closing date of the most recent campaign statement filed under the Act, and ending with the closing date of the campaign statement in question. If the committee filing the statement has not previously filed a campaign statement, the period covered begins on the date the committee was formed.)


MCL 169.234 Legislative Analyst: Craig Laurie

FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco

Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb1488/0708