HF 931

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/13/2017 06:00pm

A bill for an act
relating to elections; modifying requirements related to the certification of the
names of candidates for president and vice president of the United States; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2016, sections 13.607, by adding a subdivision; 207A.13,
subdivision 2; 208.03.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 13.607, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

Subd. 9.

Presidential candidates; income tax returns.

Income tax returns of presidential
candidates are governed by section 207A.13, subdivision 2, and section 208.03.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 207A.13, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Candidates on the ballot.

(a) Each party must determine which candidates are
to be placed on the presidential nomination primary ballot for that party. The chair of each
party must submit to the secretary of state the names of the candidates to appear on the
ballot for that party no later than 63 days before the presidential nomination primary. The
names of the candidates submitted by the chair must be accompanied by, for each candidate,
a complete copy of the candidate's federal income tax returns covering the previous five
years and, as applicable, complete copies of the candidate's income tax returns filed in any
state covering the previous five years, provided that for each return the candidate's Social
Security number and any personal tax identification numbers may be redacted.

Once submitted, changes must not be made to the candidates that will appear on the
ballot. The secretary of state must not accept a candidate's name for placement on the
presidential nomination primary ballot unless the chair of the party has complied with all
requirements of this paragraph in submitting the candidate's name.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, and except as provided in this
paragraph, a presidential candidate's tax return submitted to the secretary of state under
paragraph (a) is public data. If practicable, the secretary of state must post a copy of each
return on the secretary's Web site. Social Security numbers submitted to the secretary of
state under paragraph (a) are classified as provided in section 13.355, subdivision 1. Tax
identification numbers submitted to the secretary of state are private data on individuals, as
defined in section 13.02, subdivision 12.

(b) (c) No later than the seventh day before the presidential nomination primary, the
chair of each party must submit to the secretary of state the names of write-in candidates,
if any, to be counted for that party.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 208.03, is amended to read:

208.03 NOMINATION OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS AND ALTERNATES.

(a) Presidential electors and alternates for the major political parties of this state shall
be nominated by delegate conventions called and held under the supervision of the respective
state central committees of the parties of this state. At least 71 days before the general
election day the chair of the major political party shall certify to the secretary of state the
names of the persons nominated as presidential electors, the names of persons nominated
as alternate presidential electors, and the names of the party candidates for president and
vice president. The chair shall also certify that the party candidates for president and vice
president have no affidavit on file as a candidate for any office in this state at the ensuing
general election.

(b) The party chair's certification of the names of the party's candidates for president
and vice president under paragraph (a) must be accompanied by, for each candidate, a
complete copy of the candidate's federal income tax returns covering the previous five years
and, as applicable, complete copies of the candidate's income tax returns filed in any state
covering the previous five years, provided that for each return the candidate's Social Security
number and any personal tax identification numbers may be redacted.

The secretary of state must not accept the party chair's certification of the names of
presidential electors and alternates, or the names of the party's candidates for president and
vice president, unless the party chair has complied with all requirements of this section in
certifying the names.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, and except as provided in this
paragraph, a presidential candidate's tax return submitted to the secretary of state under
paragraph (b) is public data. If practicable, the secretary of state must post a copy of each
return on the secretary's Web site. Social Security numbers submitted to the secretary of
state under paragraph (a) are classified as provided in section 13.355, subdivision 1. Tax
identification numbers submitted to the secretary of state are private data on individuals, as
defined in section 13.02, subdivision 12.

Sec. 4. TITLE.

This act may be referred to as the "Tax Returns Uniformly Made Public" Act.