PROHIBIT DELIVERY OF LOBBYISTS' POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS IN STATE FACILITIES

House Bill 6022

Sponsor:  Rep. Jennifer Haase

Committee:  Ethics and Elections

Complete to9-21-10

A SUMMARY OF HOUSEBILL 6022 AS INTRODUCED3-25-10

House Bill 6022 would amend Public Act 472 of 1978, which regulates lobbyists and lobbying activities, to prohibit the delivery by lobbyists of political contributions in state government facilities.  The bill would take effect 90 days after the date it was enacted into law.

More specifically, the bill would prohibit a lobbyist (to include a lobbyist agent, a representative of the lobbyist, or any person acting on behalf of a lobbyist or lobbyist agent) from delivering a contribution to a candidate (or any person acting on behalf of candidate), in any facility or portion of a facility owned or leased by the state that is used primarily for conducting government business.

Under the bill, a person who violated this section of the law would be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine equal to the greater of $1,000 or the amount of the contribution made, or both.

The bill specifies that "candidate" and "contribution" would mean those terms as they are defined under Sections 3 and 4 of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act, respectively.

The bill is tie-barred to House Bill 4382, so that it will not go into effect unless House Bill 4382 is also enacted into law.  House Bill 4382 would prohibit candidate financial solicitations in state facilities, and also in facilities owned by other public bodies (to include local government and school facilities).  House Bill 4382 has passed the House of Representatives, and also the Senate, where it was amended.  The bill awaits concurrence on the House calendar.]

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 4382 would have an indeterminate, but likely negligible, fiscal impact.  Any fiscal impact would be the result of the number of violations under the provisions of the bill.  Any fine revenue collected for violations of the provisions of this bill would be dedicated to public libraries.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                   Fiscal Analyst:   Ben Gielczyk

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.