HB 1201 -- Funding of Election Campaigns

Sponsor:  Holsman

This bill establishes a public campaign financing system for
state elections which allows candidates to voluntarily agree to
campaign finance limitations in exchange for public funding.  In
its main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Establishes reporting and other requirements in order for
party and independent candidates to receive public funding for
their election campaigns;

(2)  Establishes limitations on private contributions to fund
election campaigns for participating candidates.  Specified
amounts of seed money will be allowed during the exploratory
period before candidates qualify for public funding;

(3)  Requires the Missouri Ethics Commission to determine the
amount of public funding available to participating candidates
during primary or general elections based on the type of race and
prior campaign expenditures.  The procedures for granting a line
of credit to candidates are specified in the bill;

(4)  Requires nonparticipating candidates and those making
independent campaign expenditures to file reports with the
commission if their funding exceeds certain limits;

(5)  Requires political parties to file quarterly reports with
the commission using the same schedule as candidates after
January 1 of an election year.  This provision applies to all
candidates and is not limited to expenditures on participating
candidates;

(6)  Limits the amount of contributions that participating
candidates may receive from political parties;

(7)  Limits donations to political parties to $5,000 per year
from individuals, committees, and other organizations.  This
provision applies to all candidates and is not limited to
expenditures on participating candidates;

(8)  Creates the Missouri Clean Election Fund to finance the
election campaigns of certified candidates for Governor, state
senator, and state representative and to pay the administrative
and enforcement costs of the commission.  The fund will receive
moneys from excess contributions made during the qualifying
period for public funding; general revenue allocations of $2
million per year; revenue from tax checkoffs that are established
by the bill beginning January 1, 2009; excess seed money
contributions to candidates; excess election funds; voluntary
donations; certain unspent fund revenues; moneys collected from
certain fines; and revenue from an additional 10% surcharge on
every civil or criminal fine or penalty;

(9)  Requires the State Treasurer to issue debit cards to
eligible candidates and requires candidates to use these cards to
make campaign expenditures of public moneys;

(10)  Imposes a civil penalty of up to 10 times the amount of an
excess expenditure from public funds for candidates spending
excess money.  A candidate receiving excess campaign funds will
also be liable for up to 10 times the amount of the excess funds
received.  A candidate who knowingly violates these provisions or
who knowingly conceals information from the commission will be
guilty of a class D felony and fined up to $20,000, imprisoned
for up to five years, or both;

(11)  Establishes rules for mass mailings by participating
candidates;

(12)  Allows judicial review of all commission actions and
decisions; and

(13)  Specifies that these provisions apply to all special and
runoff elections with time lines established by the commission.

The bill contains a referendum clause and will be submitted to
qualified voters in November 2009.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:26 am