_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING CONSTITUENT ACCOUNT LAWS; REAFFIRMING THAT MONEY IN A CONSTITUENT ACCOUNT MAY NOT BE USED FOR CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES; ALLOWING A HOLDER TO MAKE EXPENDITURES FROM A CONSTITUENT ACCOUNT WHILE THE HOLDER HAS AN OPEN CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT; AMENDING SECTION 13-37-402, MCA; and PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE."

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

Section 1. Section 13-37-402, MCA, is amended to read:

"13-37-402. Constituent accounts -- reports. (1) A constituent services account may be established to pay for constituent services by a successful candidate required to report under 13-37-229. A constituent services account may be established by filing an appropriate form with the commissioner.

(2)        (a) A successful candidate may deposit only surplus campaign funds in a constituent services account.

(b)        The money in the account may be used only for constituent services. The money in the account may not be used for:

(i)         personal benefit; or

(ii)        campaign expenditures authorized pursuant to Title 13, chapter 37, part 2. Expenditures from a constituent services account may not be made when the holder of the constituent services account also has an open campaign account.

(3)        A person described in subsection (1) may not establish any account related to the public official's office other than a constituent services account. This subsection does not prohibit a person from establishing a campaign account.

(4)        The holder of a constituent services account shall file a quarterly report with the commissioner, by a date established by the commissioner by rule. The report must disclose the source of all money deposited in the account and enumerate expenditures from the account. The report must include the same information as required for a candidate required to report under 13-37-229. The report must be certified as provided in 13-37-231.

(5)        The holder of a constituent services account shall close the account within 120 days after the account holder leaves public office."

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.