CAMPAIGN FINANCE:  ALLOW LATE FILING FEE PAYMENT FROM COMMITTEE FUNDS

House Bill 4479

Sponsor:  Rep. Andy Schor

Committee:  Elections and Ethics

Complete to 5-10-13

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4479 AS INTRODUCED 3-19-13

House Bill 4479 would amend the Michigan Campaign Finance Act (MCL 169.235) to allow the payment of a late filing fee assessed against an overdue annual statement to be paid from committee funds.  A more detailed description follows.

Now under the law, the committee, candidate, treasurer, or person designated as responsible for report-filing on behalf of all candidate committees for state elective offices or judicial offices is assessed a late filing fee if a report is not filed in a timely manner.  If the committee had raised $10,000 or less in the previous two years, then the late filing fee is $25 for each business day the campaign statement remains unfiled, but the late fee cannot exceed $500.  If the committee had raised more than $10,000 during the previous two years, then the late filing fee is $50 for each business day the campaign statement remains unfiled, but it cannot exceed $1,000. House Bill 4479 would retain these provisions.

In addition, the law now specifies that "the late filing fee assessed under this subsection shall be paid by the candidate, and the candidate shall not use committee funds to pay that fee."  House Bill 4479 would eliminate this provision.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There would be no significant fiscal impact on the state or local units of government.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Paul Holland

■ 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.