JUDGES' CAMPAIGN STATEMENT EXCEPTION                                         H.B. 4596 & 4597:

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bills 4596 and 4597 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Lisa Posthumous Lyons

House Committee:  Elections

Senate Committee:  Elections and Government Reform

CONTENT

House Bill 4596 would amend the Michigan Campaign Finance Act to excuse the committee of an incumbent judge or justice from filing a written statement indicating that the committee does not expect to receive or spend more than $1,000 for an election.

The Act requires a committee to file a statement of organization. When filing a statement of organization, a committee, other than an independent committee, a political committee, or a political party committee, may indicate in a written statement signed by the treasurer of the committee that it does not expect for each election to receive or spend more than $1,000.

Under the bill, the treasurer of a committee of an incumbent judge or justice automatically would be considered to have made the required statement after the judge's or justice's appointment or election.

House Bill 4597 would amend the Michigan Campaign Finance Act to extend to the committee of an incumbent judge or justice an exception to certain campaign statement filing requirements.

The exception currently applies to a committee that files a written statement indicating that it does not expect to receive or spend more than $1,000 for an election. The campaign statements that such a committee does not have to file include statements that are required in July and October in a year in which there is no election for the candidate the committee is supporting or opposing.

The bills are tie-barred and would take effect 90 days after enactment.

MCL 169.224 (H.B. 4596)                                             Legislative Analyst:  Suzanne Lowe

       169.233 (H.B. 4597)

FISCAL IMPACT

The bills would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed:  12-10-15                                                 Fiscal Analyst:  Bill Bowerman

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.