House Bill 4053
Sponsor: Rep. William Callahan
Committee: Constitutional Law and Ethics
Complete to 1-28-99
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4053 AS INTRODUCED 1-27-99
House Bill 4053 would amend the Michigan Campaign Finance Act to prohibit certain kinds of mailing envelopes for campaign mailings, and to provide penalties if the prohibition is violated.
Specifically, the bill would prohibit envelopes that have an image resembling an official governmental seal; a return address that uses words indicating the envelope is from a governmental unit; and words or images that refer to an absent voter ballet, indicating the ballot is enclosed or the subject of the mailing. Under the bill, an individual violator of these prohibitions would be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both. Others in violation would pay a fine not greater than $10,000.
MCL 169.247a
Analyst: J. Hunault