HB 522 -- Campaign Finance

Sponsor:  LeVota

This bill changes the laws regarding campaign financing.  In its
main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Repeals the prohibition on monetary contributions from a
political party committee to a candidate committee, continuing
committee, or to another political party committee;

(2)  Allows all statewide officials to accept contributions
during the legislative session as specified by Shrink v. Maupin,
922 F. Supp. 1413 (E.D. Mo. 1996);

(3)  Imposes limits on the amount of contributions that may be
received from a person, who is not the candidate, to candidate
committees, exploratory committees, campaign committees, and
continuing committees that are not political party committees.
Beginning August 28, 2007, the maximum contribution for the
Office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State,
State Treasurer, State Auditor, and Attorney General will be
$1,275.  The maximum contribution for a state senator will be
$650 and $325 for a state representative.  For all other offices,
including judicial offices, in districts or wards with
populations under 100,000, the maximum contribution will be $350,
$650 for districts or wards with a population of 100,000 to
249,999, and $1,275 for districts or wards with a population of
at least 250,000;

(4)  Specifies a formula for increasing these maximum
contribution limits in even-numbered years based on the
cumulative federal Consumer Price Index;

(5)  Establishes maximum contribution limits to political party
committees at $12,750 for the Office of Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Auditor, and
Attorney General; $6,400 for a state senator; and $3,200 for a
state representative.  The maximum contribution for all other
offices will be 10 times the contribution limits for these
offices as previously specified;

(6)  Requires contributions from individuals 13 years of age or
younger to be considered as contributions made by their parents
or guardians.  If there are two custodial parents, the
contribution is attributed 50% to each parent; and

(7)  Creates a penalty of $1,000 plus the full amount of the
illegal contributions for violating the campaign contribution
rules and failing to return illegal contributions within 10
business days after notice from the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:19 am