HF 1193

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to elections; campaign finance; providing
that certain costs of a suggestion solicitation and
postage are constituent services; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2004, section 10A.01, subdivision 26.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 10A.01,
subdivision 26, is amended to read:

Subd. 26.

Noncampaign disbursement.

"Noncampaign
disbursement" means a purchase or payment of money or anything
of value made, or an advance of credit incurred, or a donation
in kind received, by a principal campaign committee for any of
the following purposes:

(1) payment for accounting and legal services;

(2) return of a contribution to the source;

(3) repayment of a loan made to the principal campaign
committee by that committee;

(4) return of a public subsidy;

(5) payment for food, beverages, entertainment, and
facility rental for a fund-raising event;

(6) services for a constituent by a member of the
legislature or a constitutional officer in the executive branch,
new text begin including the costs of preparing and mailing a suggestion
solicitation postcard to constituents, new text end performed from the
beginning of the term of office to adjournment sine die of the
legislature in the election year for the office held, and half
the cost of services for a constituent by a member of the
legislature or a constitutional officer in the executive branch
performed from adjournment sine die to 60 days after adjournment
sine die;

(7) payment for food and beverages provided to campaign
volunteers while they are engaged in campaign activities;

(8) payment of expenses incurred by elected or appointed
leaders of a legislative caucus in carrying out their leadership
responsibilities;

(9) payment by a principal campaign committee of the
candidate's expenses for serving in public office, other than
for personal uses;

(10) costs of child care for the candidate's children when
campaigning;

(11) fees paid to attend a campaign school;

(12) costs of a postelection party during the election year
when a candidate's name will no longer appear on a ballot or the
general election is concluded, whichever occurs first;

(13) interest on loans paid by a principal campaign
committee on outstanding loans;

(14) filing fees;

(15) post-general election thank-you notes or
advertisements in the news media;

(16) the cost of campaign material purchased to replace
defective campaign material, if the defective material is
destroyed without being used;

(17) contributions to a party unit; and

(18) other purchases or payments specified in board rules
or advisory opinions as being for any purpose other than to
influence the nomination or election of a candidate or to
promote or defeat a ballot question.

The board must determine whether an activity involves a
noncampaign disbursement within the meaning of this subdivision.

A noncampaign disbursement is considered to be made in the
year in which the candidate made the purchase of goods or
services or incurred an obligation to pay for goods or services.