H.P. 1577 - L.D. 2224
An Act to Clarify the Definitions of "Contribution" and "Expenditure" under the Campaign Finance Laws
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §1012, sub-§2, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended to read:
B. Does not include:
(1) The value of services provided without compensation by individuals who volunteer a portion or all of their time on behalf of a candidate or political committee;
(2) The use of real or personal property and the cost of invitations, food and beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual to a candidate in rendering voluntary personal services for candidate-related activities, if the cumulative value of these activities by the individual on behalf of any candidate does not exceed $50 with respect to any election;
(3) The sale of any food or beverage by a vendor for use in a candidate's campaign at a charge less than the normal comparable charge, if the charge to the candidate is at least equal to the cost of the food or beverages to the vendor and if the cumulative value of the food or beverages does not exceed $50 with respect to any election;
(4) Any unreimbursed travel expenses incurred and paid for by an individual who volunteers his personal services to a candidate, if the cumulative amount of these expenses does not exceed $50 with respect to any election; or
(5) The payment by a party's state, district, county or municipal committee of the costs of preparation, display or mailing or other distribution incurred by the committee with respect to a printed slate card, sample ballot or other printed listing of 3 or more candidates for any political office.;
(6) Documents, in printed or electronic form, including party platforms, single copies of issue papers, information pertaining to the requirements of this Title and lists of registered voters, created or maintained by a political party for the general purpose of party building and provided to a candidate who is a member of that party;
(7) Compensation paid by a political party to an employee of that party for the following purposes:
(a) Providing advice to any one candidate for a period of no more than 20 hours in any election;
(b) Recruiting and overseeing volunteers for campaign activities involving 3 or more candidates; or
(c) Coordinating campaign events involving 3 or more candidates;
(8) Campaign training sessions provided to 3 or more candidates;
(9) The use of offices, telephones, computers and similar equipment when that use does not result in additional cost to the provider; or
(10) Activity or communication designed to encourage individuals to register to vote or to vote if that activity or communication does not mention a clearly identified candidate.
Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §1012, sub-§3, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended to read:
B. Does not include:
(1) Any news story, commentary or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine or other periodical publication, unless the facilities are owned or controlled by any political party, political committee or candidate;
(2) Nonpartisan activity Activity or communication designed to encourage individuals to register to vote or to vote if that activity or communication does not mention a clearly identified candidate;
(3) Any communication by any membership organization or corporation to its members or stockholders, if that membership organization or corporation is not organized primarily for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of any person to state or county office;
(4) The use of real or personal property and the cost of invitations, food and beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual to a candidate in rendering voluntary personal services for candidate-related activities, if the cumulative value of these activities does not exceed $50 with respect to any election;
(5) Any unreimbursed travel expenses incurred and paid for by an individual who volunteers his personal services to a candidate, if the cumulative amount of these expenses does not exceed $50 with respect to any election;
(6) Any communication by any person which that is not made for the purpose of influencing the nomination for election, or election, of any person to state or county office;
(7) The payment by a party's state, district, county or municipal committee of the costs of preparation, display or mailing or other distribution incurred by the committee with respect to a printed slate card or sample ballot, or other printed listing, of 3 or more candidates for any political office for which an election is held; or
(8) The use or distribution of any communication, as described in section 1014, prepared for a previous election and fully paid for during that election campaign which was not used or distributed in that previous election.;
(9) Documents, in printed or electronic form, including party platforms, single copies of issue papers, information pertaining to the requirements of this Title and lists of registered voters, created or main-tained by a political party for the general purpose of party building and provided to a candidate who is a member of that party;
(10) Compensation paid by a political party to an employee of that party for the following purposes:
(a) Providing advice to any one candidate for a period of no more than 20 hours in any election;
(b) Recruiting and overseeing volunteers for campaign activities involving 3 or more candidates; or
(c) Coordinating campaign events involving 3 or more candidates;
(11) Campaign training sessions provided to 3 or more candidates; or
(12) The use of offices, telephones, computers and similar equipment when that use does not result in additional cost to the provider.
Effective September 18, 1999, unless otherwise indicated.
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