‘Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §1017, sub-§7-A, as corrected by RR 1995, c. 2, §36, is amended to read:
7-A. Reporting exemption. A candidate seeking election to a county or municipal office is exempt from reporting as provided by this subsection.
A. A candidate seeking election to a county or municipal office may, at the time the candidate registers under section 1013-A, notify the commission that the candidate and the candidate's agents, if any, will not personally accept contributions, make expenditures or incur obligations associated with that candidate's candidacy. The notification must be sworn and notarized. A candidate who provides this notice to the commission is not required to appoint a treasurer and is not subject to the filing requirements of this subchapter if the statement is true.
B. The notice provided to the commission under paragraph A may be revoked. Prior to revocation, the candidate must appoint a treasurer. The candidate may not accept contributions, make expenditures or incur obligations before the appointment of a treasurer and the filing of a revocation notice are accomplished. A revocation notice must be in the form of an amended registration, which must be filed with the commission no later than 10 days after the appointment of a treasurer. The candidate and the candidate's treasurer, as of the date the revocation notice is filed with the commission, may accept contributions, make expenditures and incur obligations associated with the candidate's candidacy. Any candidate who fails to file a timely revocation notice is subject to the penalties prescribed in section 1020-A, subsection 4 4-A, up to a maximum of $5,000. Lateness is calculated from the day a contribution is received, an expenditure is made or an obligation is incurred, whichever is earliest.’