An Act To Prohibit Undisclosed Political Spending
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §1017-A, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:
1-A. Identification of contributions from certain entities. A party committee shall report all donors disclosed to the party committee pursuant to section 1017-B, subsection 4.
Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §1017-B, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4. Record of contributions from certain entities. An entity qualifying for tax-exempt status under 26 United States Code, Section 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5) or 501(c)(6) that makes a contribution to a party committee shall disclose to the party committee all donors to that tax-exempt entity during the previous 2 calendar years. The treasurer of the party committee shall keep a record of the disclosure and may not accept a contribution from a tax-exempt entity unless the contribution is accompanied by the disclosure.
Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA §1057, sub-§3-A is enacted to read:
3-A. Record of contributions from certain entities. An entity qualifying for tax-exempt status under 26 United States Code, Section 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5) or 501(c)(6) that makes a contribution to a political action committee or to an out-of-state political action committee that makes expenditures to influence a campaign in the State shall disclose to the political action committee all donors to that tax-exempt entity during the previous 2 calendar years. The treasurer of the political action committee shall keep a record of the disclosure and may not accept a contribution from a tax-exempt entity unless the contribution is accompanied by the disclosure.
Sec. 4. 21-A MRSA §1060, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2011, c. 389, §47, is further amended to read:
6. Identification of contributions. Names, occupations, places of business and mailing addresses of contributors who have given more than $50 to the political action committee in the reporting period and the amount and date of each contribution, except that an organization qualifying as a political action committee under section 1052, subsection 5, paragraph A, subparagraph (5) is required to report only those contributions made to the organization for the purpose of influencing a ballot question or the nomination or election of a candidate to political office and all transfers to or funds used to support the political action committee from the general treasury of the organization; and
Sec. 5. 21-A MRSA §1060, sub-§6-A is enacted to read:
6-A. Identification of contributions from certain entities. Donors disclosed to the political action committee under section 1057, subsection 3-A. Out-of-state political action committees not required to register with the commission in receipt of donor information under section 1057, subsection 3-A shall disclose this donor information within 14 days of receiving a contribution; and
summary
This bill requires nonprofit entities to disclose their donors from the previous 2 calendar years when making a contribution to a registered Maine party committee, registered Maine political action committee or out-of-state political action committee making expenditures to influence an election in Maine.