HF 3644

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/13/2024 03:52pm

A bill for an act
relating to elections; establishing a working group on local candidate campaign
finance reporting; requiring a report; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. WORKING GROUP ON LOCAL CANDIDATE CAMPAIGN FINANCE
REPORTING.

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

(a) For purposes of this section, the terms have the meanings
given.

(b) "Board" means the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.

(c) "Candidate" means an individual who seeks nomination or election to a county,
municipal, school district, or other political subdivision office. This definition does not
include an individual seeking a judicial office.

(d) "Local campaign report" means any report that a candidate is required to file pursuant
to chapter 211A.

Subd. 2.

Establishment.

The working group on local candidate campaign finance
reporting is established to examine whether local candidate campaign finance reports should
be filed with the board instead of with a local filing officer.

Subd. 3.

Membership.

(a) The working group consists of the following members:

(1) two members of the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board affiliated with
different political parties appointed by the board's chair;

(2) the executive director of the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board;

(3) one member appointed by the League of Minnesota Cities;

(4) one member appointed by the Association of Minnesota Counties;

(5) one member appointed by the Minnesota Association of Townships;

(6) one member appointed by the Minnesota School Board Association;

(7) one senator appointed by the senate majority leader and one senator appointed by
the senate minority leader; and

(8) one representative appointed by the speaker of the house and one representative
appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.

(b) Appointments to the working group must be made within two weeks after the effective
date of this act.

(c) Member compensation and reimbursement for expenses are governed by Minnesota
Statutes, section 15.059, subdivision 3.

Subd. 4.

Chairs; meetings.

(a) The executive director of the board must convene the
first meeting of the working group no later than four weeks after the effective date of this
act. At the first meeting, members must elect a chair from among the working group
members.

(b) Working group meetings are subject to the Minnesota Open Meeting Law under
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13D.

Subd. 5.

Administrative support.

The Legislative Coordinating Commission must
provide administrative support and meeting space for the working group.

Subd. 6.

Duties.

At a minimum, the working group must:

(1) examine and make recommendations on whether any or all local candidate campaign
finance reports should be filed with the board instead of with a local filing officer;

(2) assess the extent to which local filing officers are currently able to provide support
to local candidates and the public related to their duty to accept campaign finance reports
from local candidates;

(3) review the reporting requirements for local candidates in chapter 211A and any
changes to those requirements that should be made, especially if the reports were to be filed
with the board;

(4) study the impact of the potential increase of reports being made to the board in terms
of budgetary and staffing needs and the ability of the board to support the local candidates
in filing the reports;

(5) study local campaign finance reporting requirements and make any recommendations
to changes on the laws; and

(6) propose draft legislation to implement any of the working group's recommendations.

Subd. 7.

Report.

No later than January 15, 2025, the working group must submit a
written report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees and
divisions with jurisdiction over elections. The report must outline a description of the
working group's activities, how the working group addressed each duty described in
subdivision 6, any recommendations made by the working group, and any proposed
legislation recommended by the working group.

Subd. 8.

Expiration.

The working group expires upon submission of the report required
under subdivision 7, or January 16, 2025, whichever is later.

Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.

$....... in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the Legislative
Coordinating Commission for the working group on local candidate campaign finance
reporting established in section 1. This appropriation does not cancel, but is available until
June 30, 2025. This is a onetime appropriation.

Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This act is effective the day following final enactment.