SF 1499

Introduction - 80th Legislature (1997 - 1998)

Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00 a.m.

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to elections; requiring candidates who accept 
  1.3             a public subsidy to answer certain questions asked by 
  1.4             their opponents; amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, 
  1.5             section 10A.322, subdivision 1; proposing coding for 
  1.6             new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 10A. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 10A.322, 
  1.9   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.10     Subdivision 1.  [AGREEMENT BY CANDIDATE.] (a) As a 
  1.11  condition of receiving a public subsidy, a candidate shall sign 
  1.12  and file with the board a written agreement in which the 
  1.13  candidate agrees that the candidate will comply with sections 
  1.14  10A.25 and, 10A.324, and 10A.35. 
  1.15     (b) Before the first day of filing for office, the board 
  1.16  shall forward agreement forms to all filing officers.  The board 
  1.17  shall also provide agreement forms to candidates on request at 
  1.18  any time.  The candidate may sign an agreement and submit it to 
  1.19  the filing officer on the day of filing an affidavit of 
  1.20  candidacy or petition to appear on the ballot, in which case the 
  1.21  filing officer shall without delay forward signed agreements to 
  1.22  the board.  Alternatively, the candidate may submit the 
  1.23  agreement directly to the board at any time before September 1 
  1.24  preceding the candidate's general election.  An agreement may 
  1.25  not be filed after that date.  An agreement once filed may not 
  1.26  be rescinded. 
  2.1      (c) The board shall forward a copy of any agreement signed 
  2.2   under this subdivision to the commissioner of revenue.  
  2.3      (d) Notwithstanding any provisions of this section, when a 
  2.4   vacancy occurs that will be filled by means of a special 
  2.5   election and the filing period does not coincide with the filing 
  2.6   period for the general election, a candidate may sign and submit 
  2.7   a spending limit agreement at any time before the deadline for 
  2.8   submission of a signed agreement under section 10A.315. 
  2.9      Sec.  2.  [10A.35] [AGREEMENT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.] 
  2.10     Subdivision 1.  [AGREEMENT.] As a condition of receiving a 
  2.11  public subsidy, a major party candidate must agree to answer in 
  2.12  writing questions asked in writing by the candidate's major 
  2.13  party opponents for the same office as provided in this section. 
  2.14     Subd. 2.  [QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.] (a) Within seven days 
  2.15  after the primary, a major party candidate may serve up to 50 
  2.16  written questions on any other major party candidate for the 
  2.17  same office.  The candidate upon whom the questions were served 
  2.18  must respond within 14 days after service by serving upon the 
  2.19  candidate who asked the questions written answers to them.  The 
  2.20  candidates shall file the written questions and answers with the 
  2.21  board within 21 days after the primary.  
  2.22     (b) Each question must embrace only one issue or subject.  
  2.23  A candidate may not ask questions relating to privileged 
  2.24  information or data.  Written answers must first state the 
  2.25  question and then the answer.  The answer must respond directly 
  2.26  to the question.  A candidate may refuse to answer a question, 
  2.27  but must state a reason for the refusal.  All answers must be 
  2.28  signed by the candidate.  
  2.29     (c) Service of questions and answers must be by certified 
  2.30  mail or personal service on the opposing candidate or on the 
  2.31  treasurer of the opposing candidate's principal campaign 
  2.32  committee.  Service and filing by mail is complete on mailing to 
  2.33  the proper address. 
  2.34     Subd. 3.  [ENFORCEMENT.] If a candidate does not file 
  2.35  answers to the questions within the deadline, the board shall 
  2.36  reduce the public subsidy for which the candidate was otherwise 
  3.1   eligible by one-half.  A candidate's failure to answer may be 
  3.2   used by any other candidate for the same office in campaign 
  3.3   advertising or for other campaign purposes.