2017 Montana Legislature

HOUSE BILL NO. 207

INTRODUCED BY B. BENNETT, B. BROWN, G. CUSTER, F. GARNER, F. MANDEVILLE

AN ACT REVISING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE CANDIDATES, STATEWIDE BALLOT ISSUE COMMITTEES, AND STATEWIDE CANDIDATE OR STATEWIDE BALLOT ISSUE POLITICAL COMMITTEES; ELIMINATING THE REQUIREMENT THAT THESE COMMITTEES SUBMIT A DISCLOSURE REPORT NOT MORE THAN 20 DAYS AFTER A PRIMARY ELECTION; AND AMENDING SECTION 13-37-226, MCA.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Section 13-37-226, MCA, is amended to read:

"13-37-226. Time for filing reports. (1) Candidates for a state office filled by a statewide vote of all the electors of Montana, statewide ballot issue committees, and political committees that receive a contribution or make an expenditure supporting or opposing a candidate for statewide office or a statewide ballot issue shall file reports electronically as follows:

(a) quarterly, due on the 5th day following a calendar quarter, beginning with the calendar quarter in which:

(i) funds are received or expended during the year or years prior to the election year that the candidate expects to be on the ballot; or

(ii) an issue becomes a ballot issue, as defined in 13-1-101(6)(b);

(b) on the 1st day of each month from March through November during a year in which an election is held;

(d) within 2 business days after receiving a contribution of $200 or more if received between the 20th day before the election and the day of the election;

(e) not more than 20 days after the date of the general election; and

(f) on the 10th day of March and September of each year following an election until the candidate or political committee files a closing report as specified in 13-37-228(3).

(2) Candidates for a state district office, including but not limited to candidates for the legislature, the public service commission, or a district court judge, and political committees that receive contributions or make expenditures to support or oppose a particular state district candidate or issue, unless the political committee is already reporting under the provisions of subsection (1), shall file reports as follows:

(a) on the 35th and 12th days preceding the date on which an election is held;

(b) within 2 business days after receiving a contribution of $100 or more if received between the 17th day before the election and the day of the election;

(d) on the 10th day of March and September of each year following an election until the candidate or political committee files a closing report as specified in 13-37-228(3).

(3) Candidates for any other public office and political committees that receive contributions or make expenditures to support or oppose a particular local issue shall file the reports specified in subsection (2) only if the total amount of contributions received or the total amount of funds expended for all elections in a campaign, excluding the filing fee paid by the candidate, exceeds $500, except as provided in 13-37-206.

(4) Independent and political party committees not required to report under subsection (1) or (2) shall file:

(a) a report on the 90th, 35th, and 12th days preceding the date of an election in which they participate by making an expenditure;

(b) a report within 2 business days of receiving a contribution of $500 or more if received between the 17th day before the election and the day of the election;

(c) a report within 2 business days of making an expenditure of $500 or more for an electioneering communication if the expenditure is made between the 17th day before the election and the day of the election;

(d) a report not more than 20 days after the date of the election in which they participate by making an expenditure; and

(e) a report on a date to be prescribed by the commissioner for a closing report at the close of each calendar year.

(5) An incidental committee not required to report under subsection (1) or (2) shall file a report:

(a) on the 90th, 35th, and 12th days preceding the date of an election in which it participates by making an expenditure;

(b) within 2 business days of receiving a contribution as provided in 13-37-232(1) of $500 or more if received between the 17th day before an election and the day of the election;

(c) within 2 business days of making an expenditure of $500 or more for an electioneering communication if the expenditure is made between the 17th day before the election and the day of the election;

(d) not more than 20 days after the date of the election in which it participated; and

(e) on a date to be prescribed by the commissioner for a closing report at the close of each calendar year.

(6) The commissioner shall post on the commissioner's website:

(a) all reports filed under this section within 7 business days of filing; and

(b) for each election the calendar dates that correspond with the filing requirements of subsections (1), (2), (4), and (5).

(7) The commissioner may require reports filed under this section to be submitted electronically.

(8) Except as provided in subsections (1)(d), (2)(b), (4)(b), (4)(c), (5)(b), and (5)(c), all reports required by this section must be complete as of the 5th day before the date of filing as specified in 13-37-228(2) and this section.

(9) A political committee may file a closing report prior to the date prescribed by rule or set in 13-37-228(3) and after the complete termination of its contribution and expenditure activity during an election cycle."

- END -

Latest Version of HB 207 (HB0207.ENR)
Processed for the Web on February 20, 2017 (4:59pm)

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