HB 2164 -- Public Financing of Certain 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 a
party or independent candidate to receive public funding for an
election campaign;

(2)  Establishes limitations on private contributions to fund an
election campaign for a participating candidate.  Specified
amounts of contributions will be allowed during the exploratory
period before a candidate qualifies for public funding;

(3)  Requires the Missouri Ethics Commission to determine by
July 1, 2011, and at least every two years thereafter, 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 a candidate 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; revenue from tax checkoffs that are
established by the bill; excess seed money contributions to
candidates; unspent funds distributed to a participating
candidate; voluntary donations; and moneys collected from certain
fines;

(9)  Requires the State Treasurer to issue a debit card to an
eligible candidate and requires a candidate to use the card 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 on a candidate who spends
more than the allocated amount.  A candidate receiving
contributions in excess of the imposed limits 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 periods and deadlines established by
the commission.

The bill contains a referendum clause and will be submitted to
qualified voters in November 2010.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:13 pm