Montana Code Annotated 2017

TITLE 13. ELECTIONS

CHAPTER 37. CONTROL OF CAMPAIGN PRACTICES

Part 2. Campaign Finance

Disclosure Requirements For Candidates, Ballot Issue Committees, Political Party Committees, And Independent Committees

13-37-229. Disclosure requirements for candidates, ballot issue committees, political party committees, and independent committees. (1) The reports required under 13-37-225 through 13-37-227 from candidates, ballot issue committees, political party committees, and independent committees must disclose the following information concerning contributions received:

(a) the amount of cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period;

(b) the full name, mailing address, occupation, and employer, if any, of each person who has made aggregate contributions, other than loans, of $35 or more to a candidate or political committee, including the purchase of tickets and other items for events, such as dinners, luncheons, rallies, and similar fundraising events;

(c) for each person identified under subsection (1)(b), the aggregate amount of contributions made by that person within the reporting period and the total amount of contributions made by that person for all reporting periods;

(d) the total sum of individual contributions made to or for a political committee or candidate and not reported under subsections (1)(b) and (1)(c);

(e) the name and address of each political committee or candidate from which the reporting committee or candidate received any transfer of funds, together with the amount and dates of all transfers;

(f) each loan from any person during the reporting period, together with the full names, mailing addresses, occupations, and employers, if any, of the lender and endorsers, if any, and the date and amount of each loan;

(g) the amount and nature of debts and obligations owed to a political committee or candidate, in the form prescribed by the commissioner;

(h) an itemized account of proceeds that total less than $35 from a person from mass collections made at fundraising events;

(i) each contribution, rebate, refund, or other receipt not otherwise listed under subsections (1)(b) through (1)(h) during the reporting period;

(j) the total sum of all receipts received by or for the committee or candidate during the reporting period; and

(k) other information that may be required by the commissioner to fully disclose the sources of funds used to support or oppose candidates or issues.

(2) (a) Except as provided in subsection (2)(c), the reports required under 13-37-225 through 13-37-227 from candidates, ballot issue committees, political party committees, and independent committees must disclose the following information concerning expenditures made:

(i) the full name, mailing address, occupation, and principal place of business, if any, of each person to whom expenditures have been made by the committee or candidate during the reporting period, including the amount, date, and purpose of each expenditure and the total amount of expenditures made to each person;

(ii) the full name, mailing address, occupation, and principal place of business, if any, of each person to whom an expenditure for personal services, salaries, and reimbursed expenses has been made, including the amount, date, and purpose of that expenditure and the total amount of expenditures made to each person;

(iii) the total sum of expenditures made by a political committee or candidate during the reporting period;

(iv) the name and address of each political committee or candidate to which the reporting committee or candidate made any transfer of funds, together with the amount and dates of all transfers;

(v) the name of any person to whom a loan was made during the reporting period, including the full name, mailing address, occupation, and principal place of business, if any, of that person and the full names, mailing addresses, occupations, and principal places of business, if any, of the endorsers, if any, and the date and amount of each loan;

(vi) the amount and nature of debts and obligations owed by a political committee or candidate in the form prescribed by the commissioner; and

(vii) other information that may be required by the commissioner to fully disclose the disposition of funds used to support or oppose candidates or issues.

(b) Reports of expenditures made to a consultant, advertising agency, polling firm, or other person that performs services for or on behalf of a candidate or political committee must be itemized and described in sufficient detail to disclose the specific services performed by the entity to which payment or reimbursement was made.

(c) A candidate is required to report the information specified in this subsection (2) only if the transactions involved were undertaken for the purpose of supporting or opposing a candidate.

History: En. 23-4779 by Sec. 4, Ch. 480, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 23-4779(1) through (9), (part (16)); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 36, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 75, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 462, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 259, L. 2015.