HB 2312 -- Public Funding of Certain Election Campaigns

Sponsor:  Holsman

This bill establishes a process for funding elections that 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 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, tax checkoffs that are established by the bill
beginning January 1, 2008, excess seed money contributions to
candidates, excess election funds, voluntary donations, and
fines;

(9)  Requires the State Treasurer to issue debit cards to
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.  Candidates who knowingly violate these provisions or
who knowingly conceal information from the commission will be
guilty of a class D felony and fined up to $20,000 or five years
in prison, 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 special and runoff
elections with time lines established by the commission.

The bill contains a referendum clause.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:12 pm