Sec. 15. 21-A MRSA §1017, sub-§8, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 504, §§17 and 31, is amended to read:

A. Pro rata distribution Returning contributions to the candidate's or candidate's authorized political committee's contributors, as long as no contributor receives more than the amount contributed;

Sec. 16. 21-A MRSA §1017, sub-§10 is enacted to read:

10.__Electronic filing.__Beginning January 1, 2006, the treasurer of a candidate or committee that has receipts or expects to have receipts of more than $1,500 shall file each report required by this section through an electronic filing system developed by the commission.__The commission may make an exception to this electronic filing requirement if a candidate or committee submits a written request that states that the candidate or committee lacks access to the technology or the technological ability to file reports electronically.__The request for an exception must be submitted by April 15th of the election year.__The commission shall grant all reasonable requests for exceptions.

Sec. 17. 21-A MRSA §1017-A, sub-§4-A, ¶E, as amended by PL 2003, c. 628, Pt. B, §4, is further amended to read:

E. A state party committee shall report any expenditure of $500 or more, made after the 12th day before the election and more than 24 hours before 5:00 p.m. on the day of the election, within 24 hours of that expenditure or by noon of the first business day after the expenditure, whichever is later.

Sec. 18. 21-A MRSA §1017-A, sub-§4-B, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 628, Pt. A, §2, is amended to read:

C. Any contribution or expenditure of $1,000 or more made after the 12th day before any election and more than 24 hours before that election must be reported within 24 hours of that contribution or expenditure or by noon of the first business day after the contribution or expenditure, whichever is later.

Sec. 19. 21-A MRSA §1017-A, sub-§4-C is enacted to read: