HB 1322 -- Campaign Contributions Sponsor: LeVota Beginning January 1, 2011, this bill changes the laws regarding campaign contributions to candidates and committees. In its main provisions, the bill: (1) Limits campaign donations from any person other than the candidate in any one election to candidates for statewide office at $2,000; for state senator, $1,000; and for state representative, $500. Contribution limits for local candidate donations are based on population and are specified in the bill. Candidate committees will be exempt from these limits; (2) Limits donations made or accepted by political party committees to $2,000 for a statewide candidate; $1,000 for a state senator candidate; $500 for a state representative candidate; and 10 times the allowable individual contribution for candidates for other local offices; (3) Requires contributions from 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 contribution to the contributor within 10 business days; and (5) Requires a separate accounting procedure for funds used before January 1, 2011, and allows the use of those funds based on the current laws.Copyright (c) Missouri House of Representatives