_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT revising laws related to the filing of reports by committees headquartered outside of montana; revising the rulemaking authority of the commissioner of political practices; and AMENDING SECTION 13-37-227, MCA."

WHEREAS, independent committees headquartered outside of Montana often use federal forms to respond to Montana filing requirements; and

WHEREAS, requirements for Montana-based committees include a different form that requires specific details that are absent from the federal filing forms; and

WHEREAS, federal reports do not always include information reported on the same timelines as Montana reports, leaving Montanans with a gap in what information they can access related to specific campaigns.

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

Section 1. Section 13-37-227, MCA, is amended to read:

"13-37-227. Comprehensive report when several candidates or issues involved. (1) The commissioner shall adopt rules that will permit political committees, including political parties or joint fundraising committees, to file copies of a single comprehensive report when they support or oppose more than one candidate or issue. The commissioner shall adopt rules under which:

(a)        committees filing periodic reports with the federal election commission and committees headquartered outside the state of Montana shall report in accordance with this title Title 13; and

(b)        committees headquartered outside of the state shall report using the same forms in substantially the same manner as a Montana committee.

(2)        The commissioner shall inspect each report submitted pursuant to subsection (1)(b) within 10 business days."