HOUSE BILL No. 5931

 

 

May 3, 2018, Introduced by Rep. Howrylak and referred to the Committee on Elections and Ethics.

 

     A bill to amend 1976 PA 388, entitled

 

"Michigan campaign finance act,"

 

by amending sections 10 and 20 (MCL 169.210 and 169.220), section

 

10 as amended by 2015 PA 269 and section 20 as amended by 2017 PA

 

114.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 10. (1) "Major political party" means a political party

 

qualified to have its name candidates' names listed on the general

 

election ballot whose candidate for governor received 25% or more

 

of the popular vote cast in the preceding gubernatorial election.

 

If only 1 political party received 25% or more of the popular vote

 

cast for governor in the preceding gubernatorial election, then the

 

political party with the second highest vote is considered a major

 

political party.

 

     (2) "Mass mailing" means mailing by United States mail or


facsimile of more than 500 pieces of mail matter of an identical or

 

substantially similar nature within any 30-day period.

 

     (3) "Minor political party" means a political party qualified

 

to have its name candidates' names listed on the general election

 

ballot but that does not qualify as a major political party.

 

     (4) "Nominee" means an individual nominated to be a candidate.

 

     Sec. 20. (1) An individual is not considered a candidate if

 

the individual has done any of the following:

 

     (a) Filed a fee, affidavit of incumbency, or nominating

 

petition for an elective office, if the individual withdraws within

 

the time limit established by law, and if the individual has not

 

received a contribution, made an expenditure, or given consent for

 

another person to receive a contribution or make an expenditure to

 

secure the individual's nomination or election to an elective

 

office. For purposes of this subdivision, a payment of a filing fee

 

for elective office is not considered an expenditure.

 

     (b) Has been nominated as a candidate for elective office by a

 

political party caucus or convention, if the individual nominated

 

withdraws within the time limit established by law or does not

 

submit the notice of acceptance of nomination according to the

 

procedures established by law, and if the individual has not

 

received a contribution, made an expenditure, or given consent for

 

another person to receive a contribution or make an expenditure to

 

secure the individual's nomination or election to an elective

 

office.

 

     (c) Has been nominated as a candidate for elective office by a

 

political party caucus or convention, if the party does not qualify


to have its name and candidates' names appear on the general

 

election ballot under section 685 of the Michigan election law,

 

1954 PA 116, MCL 168.685, and if the individual has not received a

 

contribution or made an expenditure to secure the individual's

 

nomination or election to an elective office.

 

     (d) Has been appointed to fill a vacancy in an elective office

 

if the individual does not meet 1 of the criteria of section 3(1).

 

     (2) An individual who receives votes at an election solely by

 

the write-in method as provided by law is considered a candidate

 

under this act as follows:

 

     (a) An individual who receives a contribution, makes an

 

expenditure, or gives consent for another person to receive a

 

contribution or make an expenditure with a view to bringing about

 

the individual's receiving write-in votes at an election is a

 

candidate under this act at the time of receiving the contribution

 

or making the expenditure or giving consent to another person to

 

receive the contribution or make the expenditure.

 

     (b) An individual who is not a candidate by reason of

 

subdivision (a), but who is certified as a nominee as a result of

 

write-in votes received at a primary election and does not withdraw

 

as a nominee as provided by law is a candidate under this act as of

 

5 days following the certification of the nomination by the board

 

of canvassers canvassing the primary.

 

     (c) An individual who is not a candidate by reason of

 

subdivision (a) or (b), but who is elected to an office by

 

receiving write-in votes in an election is a candidate under this

 

act at the time the individual qualifies for the office.


     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days

 

after the date it is enacted into law.

 

     Enacting section 2. This amendatory act does not take effect

 

unless Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5930 (request no.

 

05945'18) of the 99th Legislature is enacted into law.