127th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1290		LR 1074(02)
	An Act To Repeal the Maine Clean Election Act and Direct the Savings To Be Used for the State's Contribution toward the Costs of Education Funding
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Current biennium referendum cost - General Fund Contingent current biennium revenue increase - General Fund Contingent current biennium cost increase - General Fund Contingent current biennium cost decrease - Other Special Revenue Funds Contingent current biennium revenue decrease - Other Special Revenue Funds
Referendum Costs		Month/Year	Election Type	Question	Length
		Nov-15	General	Referendum	Standard
	The Secretary of State's budget includes sufficient funds to accommodate one ballot of average length for the general election in November.  If the number or size of the referendum questions requires production and delivery of a second ballot, an additional appropriation of $107,250 may be required.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	If approved by the voters in a statewide referendum, the Maine Clean Election Act would be repealed. Repeal would increase General Fund revenue by $2,000,000 annually from eliminating the annual transfer from the General Fund to the Maine Clean Election Fund (MCEF) at the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices (Commission). The MCEF revenue from collecting qualifying contributions from candidates and from receiving $3 voluntary contributions from taxpayers would also be eliminated. Other Special Revenue Funds allocations to the Commission would be eliminated and payments to candidates would be stopped. One Registration and Reporting Officer position would be eliminated and 5 positions would need to be moved to the General Fund. These 5 positions relate to functions that would continue after repeal and General Fund appropriations would be required.
	To the extent that taxpayers who owe money to the State at the end of the tax year currently elect to contribute $3 to the Maine Clean Election Fund through the income tax form checkoff, General Fund and Local Government Fund revenue is reduced. This reduction would disappear. The amount received annually by this checkoff is approximately $130,000.