HB 687 -- Campaign Contributions

Sponsor:  Bringer

Beginning January 1, 2010, this bill changes the laws regarding
campaign contributions to candidates and committees.  In its main
provisions, the bill:

(1)  Limits campaign contributions made from any person other
than the candidate in any one election to candidates for
statewide office at $1,275; for state senator, $650; and for
state representative, $325.  Limits for local candidate
contributions are based on population and are specified in the
bill.  Candidate committees will be exempt from these limits;

(2)  Limits contributions made or accepted by political party
committees to $10,000 for a statewide candidate; $5,000 for a
state senator candidate; $2,500 for a state representative
candidate; and 10 times the allowable individual contribution for
candidates for other local offices;

(3)  Requires contributions made by children younger than 14
years of age to be counted equally toward their parents'
contribution limits or, in the case of a single parent, counted
fully against that parent's contribution;

(4)  Establishes a surcharge penalty payable to the Missouri
Ethics Commission of $1,000 plus the amount of the nonallowable
contribution for a violation of the campaign contribution limits
by any committee and requires the candidate to return the
nonallowable contributions to the contributor within 10 business
days; and

(5)  Requires a separate accounting procedure for funds used
before January 1, 2010, and allows the use of those funds based
on the current laws.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:25 am