1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to campaign finance; providing for additional disclosure; making various 
1.3 	changes to campaign finance and public disclosure law; providing penalties;
1.4 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 10A.01, subdivisions 10, 11, 
1.5 	27, 28, by adding subdivisions; 10A.02, subdivisions 9, 10, 11, 12; 10A.025, 
1.6 	subdivisions 2, 3; 10A.105, subdivision 1; 10A.12, subdivisions 1, 1a, 2; 
1.7 	10A.121; 10A.14, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 10A.15, subdivisions 
1.8 	1, 2, 3; 10A.20, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, by adding a subdivision; 10A.25, 
1.9 	subdivisions 2, 2a, 3, 3a; 10A.257, subdivision 1; 10A.27, subdivisions 1, 10, 11, 
1.10 	13, 14, 15; 10A.323; 211B.32, subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law in 
1.11 	Minnesota Statutes, chapter 10A; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 
1.12 	10A.24; 10A.242; 10A.25, subdivision 6.
1.13 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.14 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.01, is amended by adding a 
1.15 	subdivision to read:
1.16 		Subd. 7c.Ballot question political committee. "Ballot question political 
1.17 	committee" means a political committee that makes only expenditures to promote or defeat 
1.18 	a ballot question and disbursements permitted under section 10A.121, subdivision 1.

1.19 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.01, is amended by adding a subdivision 
1.20 	to read:
1.21 		Subd. 7d.Ballot question political fund. "Ballot question political fund" means 
1.22 	a political fund that makes only expenditures to promote or defeat a ballot question and 
1.23 	disbursements permitted under section 10A.121, subdivision 1.

1.24 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.01, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
2.1 		Subd. 10.Candidate. "Candidate" means an individual who seeks nomination or 
2.2 	election as a state constitutional officer, legislator, or judge. An individual is deemed to seek 
2.3 	nomination or election if the individual has taken the action necessary under the law of this 
2.4 	state to qualify for nomination or election, has received contributions or made expenditures 
2.5 	in excess of $100, or has given implicit or explicit consent for any other person to receive 
2.6 	contributions or make expenditures in excess of $100, for the purpose of bringing about the 
2.7 	individual's nomination or election. A candidate remains a candidate until the candidate's 
2.8 	principal campaign committee is dissolved as provided in section 10A.24 10A.243.

2.9 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.01, subdivision 11, is amended to read:
2.10 		Subd. 11.Contribution. (a) "Contribution" means money, a negotiable instrument, 
2.11 	or a donation in kind that is given to a political committee, political fund, principal 
2.12 	campaign committee, or party unit. An allocation by an association of general treasury 
2.13 	money to be used for activities that must be or are reported through the association's 
2.14 	political fund is considered to be a contribution for the purposes of disclosure required 
2.15 	by this chapter.
2.16 	(b) "Contribution" includes a loan or advance of credit to a political committee, 
2.17 	political fund, principal campaign committee, or party unit, if the loan or advance of credit 
2.18 	is: (1) forgiven; or (2) repaid by an individual or an association other than the political 
2.19 	committee, political fund, principal campaign committee, or party unit to which the loan 
2.20 	or advance of credit was made. If an advance of credit or a loan is forgiven or repaid as 
2.21 	provided in this paragraph, it is a contribution in the year in which the loan or advance 
2.22 	of credit was made.
2.23 	(c) "Contribution" does not include services provided without compensation by an 
2.24 	individual volunteering personal time on behalf of a candidate, ballot question, political 
2.25 	committee, political fund, principal campaign committee, or party unit; the publishing or 
2.26 	broadcasting of news items or editorial comments by the news media; or an individual's 
2.27 	unreimbursed personal use of an automobile owned by the individual while volunteering 
2.28 	personal time.

2.29 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.01, is amended by adding a subdivision 
2.30 	to read:
2.31 		Subd. 16a.Expressly advocating. "Expressly advocating" means:
2.32 	(1) that a communication clearly identifies a candidate and uses words or phrases 
2.33 	of express advocacy; or
3.1 	(2) that a communication, when taken as a whole and with limited reference to 
3.2 	external events, such as the proximity to the election, is susceptible of no interpretation 
3.3 	by a reasonable person other than as advocating the election or defeat of one or more 
3.4 	clearly identified candidates.

3.5 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.01, is amended by adding a subdivision 
3.6 	to read:
3.7 		Subd. 17c.General treasury money. "General treasury money" means money 
3.8 	that an association other than a principal campaign committee, party unit, or political 
3.9 	committee accumulates through membership dues and fees, donations to the association 
3.10 	for its general purposes, and income from the operation of a business. General treasury 
3.11 	money does not include money collected to influence the nomination or election of 
3.12 	candidates or to promote or defeat a ballot question.

3.13 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.01, is amended by adding a subdivision 
3.14 	to read:
3.15 		Subd. 26a.Person "Person" means an individual, an association, a political 
3.16 	subdivision, or a public higher education system.

3.17 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.01, subdivision 27, is amended to read:
3.18 		Subd. 27.Political committee. "Political committee" means an association whose 
3.19 	major purpose is to influence the nomination or election of a candidate one or more 
3.20 	candidates or to promote or defeat a ballot question, other than a principal campaign 
3.21 	committee or a political party unit.

3.22 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.01, subdivision 28, is amended to read:
3.23 		Subd. 28.Political fund. "Political fund" means an accumulation of dues or 
3.24 	voluntary contributions by an association other than a political committee, principal 
3.25 	campaign committee, or party unit, if the accumulation is collected or expended to 
3.26 	influence the nomination or election of a candidate one or more candidates or to promote 
3.27 	or defeat a ballot question. The term "political fund" as used in this chapter may also refer 
3.28 	to the association acting through its political fund.

3.29 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.02, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
3.30 		Subd. 9.Documents; information. The executive director must inspect all material 
3.31 	filed with the board as promptly as necessary to comply with this chapter and, with other 
4.1 	provisions of law requiring the filing of a document with the board, and with other 
4.2 	provisions of law under the board's jurisdiction pursuant to subdivision 11. The executive 
4.3 	director must immediately notify the an individual required to file a document with the 
4.4 	board if a written complaint is filed with the board alleging, or it otherwise appears, that a 
4.5 	document filed with the board is inaccurate or does not comply with this chapter, or that 
4.6 	the individual has failed to file a document required by this chapter or has failed to comply 
4.7 	with this chapter or other provisions under the board's jurisdiction pursuant to subdivision 
4.8 	11. The executive director may provide an individual required to file a document under 
4.9 	this chapter with factual information concerning the limitations on corporate campaign 
4.10 	contributions imposed by section 211B.15.

4.11 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.02, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
4.12 		Subd. 10.Audits and investigations. The board may make audits and investigations, 
4.13 	impose statutory civil penalties, and issue orders for compliance with respect to statements 
4.14 	and reports that are filed or that should have been filed under the requirements of this 
4.15 	chapter and provisions under the board's jurisdiction pursuant to subdivision 11. In all 
4.16 	matters relating to its official duties, the board has the power to issue subpoenas and cause 
4.17 	them to be served. If a person does not comply with a subpoena, the board may apply to 
4.18 	the District Court of Ramsey County for issuance of an order compelling obedience to the 
4.19 	subpoena. A person failing to obey the order is punishable by the court as for contempt.

4.20 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.02, subdivision 11, is amended to read:
4.21 		Subd. 11.Violations; enforcement. (a) The board may investigate any alleged 
4.22 	violation of this chapter. The board may also investigate an alleged violation of section 
4.23 	211B.04, 211B.12, or 211B.15 by or related to a candidate, treasurer, principal campaign 
4.24 	committee, political committee, political fund, or party unit, as those terms are defined in 
4.25 	this chapter. The board must investigate any violation that is alleged in a written complaint 
4.26 	filed with the board and must within 30 days after the filing of the complaint make a public 
4.27 	finding of whether there is probable cause to believe a violation has occurred findings and 
4.28 	conclusions as to whether a violation has occurred and must issue an order, except that 
4.29 	if the complaint alleges a violation of section 10A.25 or 10A.27, the board must either 
4.30 	enter a conciliation agreement or make a public finding of whether there is probable cause,
4.31 	 findings and conclusions as to whether a violation has occurred and must issue an order
4.32 	 within 60 days after the filing of the complaint. The deadline for action on a written 
4.33 	complaint may be extended by majority vote of the board.
5.1 	(b) The board may bring legal actions in its own name to recover money raised from 
5.2 	contributions subject to the conditions in this paragraph.
5.3 	(1) No action may be commenced unless the board has made a formal determination, 
5.4 	after an investigation, that the money was raised for political purposes as defined in 
5.5 	section 211B.01, subdivision 6, and that the money was used for purposes not permitted 
5.6 	under this chapter or under section 211B.12.
5.7 	(2) Prior to commencing an action, the board must give the association written 
5.8 	notice by certified mail of its intent to take action under this subdivision and must give the 
5.9 	association a reasonable opportunity, for a period of not less than 90 days, to recover the 
5.10 	money without board intervention. This period must be extended for at least an additional 
5.11 	90 days for good cause if the association is actively pursuing recovery of the money. The 
5.12 	board may not commence a legal action under this subdivision if the association has 
5.13 	commenced a legal action for the recovery of the same money.
5.14 	(3) Any funds recovered under this subdivision must be distributed as follows:
5.15 	(i) an amount equal to the board's actual costs and disbursements in the action, 
5.16 	including court reporter fees for depositions taken in the course of an investigation, must 
5.17 	be returned to the board's general operating appropriation account;
5.18 	(ii) an amount equal to the reasonable value of legal services provided by the Office 
5.19 	of the Attorney General must be deposited into the general operating account of the Office 
5.20 	of the Attorney General and is available for general purposes of the office; and
5.21 	(iii) any remaining balance must be returned to the association to which the money 
5.22 	was originally contributed.
5.23 	(4) Notwithstanding clause (3), item (iii), if the candidate of a principal campaign 
5.24 	committee is the person who used the association's money for illegal purposes, or if the 
5.25 	association or political fund whose money was misused is no longer registered with the 
5.26 	board, any money remaining after the payments specified in clause (3), items (i) and (ii), 
5.27 	must be deposited into the general account of the state elections campaign account.
5.28 	(5) Any action by the board under this paragraph must be commenced not later than 
5.29 	four years after the improper use of money is shown on a report filed with the board or the 
5.30 	board has actual knowledge of improper use. No action may be commenced under this 
5.31 	paragraph for improper uses disclosed on reports for calendar years prior to 2011.
5.32 	(6) If the board prevails in an action brought under this subdivision and the court 
5.33 	makes a finding that the misuse of funds was willful, the court may enter judgment in favor 
5.34 	of the board and against the person misusing the funds in the amount of the misused funds.
5.35 	(b) (c) Within a reasonable time after beginning an investigation of an individual 
5.36 	or association, the board must notify the individual or association of the fact of the 
6.1 	investigation. The board must not make a finding of whether there is probable cause to 
6.2 	believe a violation has occurred without notifying the individual or association of the 
6.3 	nature of the allegations and affording an opportunity to answer those allegations.
6.4 	(c) (d) A hearing or action of the board concerning a complaint or investigation 
6.5 	other than a finding concerning probable cause or a conciliation agreement is confidential. 
6.6 	Until the board makes a public finding concerning probable cause or enters a conciliation 
6.7 	agreement:
6.8 	(1) a member, employee, or agent of the board must not disclose to an individual 
6.9 	information obtained by that member, employee, or agent concerning a complaint or 
6.10 	investigation except as required to carry out the investigation or take action in the matter 
6.11 	as authorized by this chapter; and
6.12 	(2) an individual who discloses information contrary to this subdivision is subject 
6.13 	to a civil penalty imposed by the board of up to $1,000.
6.14 	(e) A matter that is under the board's jurisdiction pursuant to this section and that 
6.15 	may result in a criminal offense must be finally disposed of by the board before the alleged 
6.16 	violation may be prosecuted by a county attorney.

6.17 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.02, subdivision 12, is amended to read:
6.18 		Subd. 12.Advisory opinions. (a) The board may issue and publish advisory 
6.19 	opinions on the requirements of this chapter and of those sections listed in subdivision 11
6.20 	 based upon real or hypothetical situations. An application for an advisory opinion may 
6.21 	be made only by an individual or association a person who is subject to chapter 10A and 
6.22 	who wishes to use the opinion to guide the individual's or the association's person's own 
6.23 	conduct. The board must issue written opinions on all such questions submitted to it 
6.24 	within 30 days after receipt of written application, unless a majority of the board agrees 
6.25 	to extend the time limit.
6.26 	(b) A written advisory opinion issued by the board is binding on the board in a 
6.27 	subsequent board proceeding concerning the person making or covered by the request and 
6.28 	is a defense in a judicial proceeding that involves the subject matter of the opinion and is 
6.29 	brought against the person making or covered by the request unless:
6.30 	(1) the board has amended or revoked the opinion before the initiation of the board 
6.31 	or judicial proceeding, has notified the person making or covered by the request of its 
6.32 	action, and has allowed at least 30 days for the person to do anything that might be 
6.33 	necessary to comply with the amended or revoked opinion;
6.34 	(2) the request has omitted or misstated material facts; or
7.1 	(3) the person making or covered by the request has not acted in good faith in 
7.2 	reliance on the opinion.
7.3 	(c) A request for an opinion and the opinion itself are nonpublic data. The board, 
7.4 	however, may publish an opinion or a summary of an opinion, but may not include in the 
7.5 	publication the name of the requester, the name of a person covered by a request from an 
7.6 	agency or political subdivision, or any other information that might identify the requester, 
7.7 	unless the person consents to the inclusion.

7.8 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.025, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
7.9 		Subd. 2.Penalty for false statements. (a) A report or statement required to be filed 
7.10 	under this chapter must be signed and certified as true by the individual required to file the 
7.11 	report. The signature may be an electronic signature consisting of a password assigned 
7.12 	by the board.
7.13 	(b) An individual who signs and certifies shall not sign and certify to be true a 
7.14 	report or statement knowing it contains false information or who knowingly knowing it
7.15 	 omits required information is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and subject to a civil penalty 
7.16 	imposed by the board of up to $3,000.
7.17 	(c) An individual shall not knowingly provide false or incomplete information to 
7.18 	a treasurer with the intent that the treasurer will rely on that information in signing and 
7.19 	certifying to be true a report or statement.
7.20 	(d) A person who violates paragraph (b) or (c) is subject to a civil penalty imposed 
7.21 	by the board of up to $3,000. A violation of paragraph (b) or (c) is a gross misdemeanor.
7.22 	(e) The board may impose an additional civil penalty of up to $3,000 on the principal 
7.23 	campaign committee or candidate, party unit, political committee, or association that has a 
7.24 	political fund that is affiliated with an individual who violated paragraph (b) or (c).

7.25 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.025, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
7.26 		Subd. 3.Record keeping; penalty. (a) A person required to file a report or statement
7.27 	 or who has accepted record-keeping responsibility for the filer must maintain records on 
7.28 	the matters required to be reported, including vouchers, canceled checks, bills, invoices, 
7.29 	worksheets, and receipts, that will provide in sufficient detail the necessary information 
7.30 	from which the filed reports and statements may be verified, explained, clarified, and 
7.31 	checked for accuracy and completeness. The person must keep the records available for 
7.32 	audit, inspection, or examination by the board or its authorized representatives for four 
7.33 	years from the date of filing of the reports or statements or of changes or corrections to 
7.34 	them. A person who knowingly violates this subdivision is guilty of a misdemeanor.
8.1 	(b) The board may impose a civil penalty of up to $3,000 on a person who knowingly 
8.2 	violates this subdivision. The board may impose a separate civil penalty of up to $3,000 
8.3 	on the principal campaign committee or candidate, party unit, political committee, or 
8.4 	association that has a political fund that is affiliated with an individual who violated 
8.5 	this subdivision.
8.6 	(c) A knowing violation of this subdivision is a gross misdemeanor.

8.7 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.105, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
8.8 		Subdivision 1.Single committee. A candidate must not accept contributions from a 
8.9 	source, other than self, in aggregate in excess of $100 $750 or accept a public subsidy 
8.10 	unless the candidate designates and causes to be formed a single principal campaign 
8.11 	committee for each office sought. A candidate may not authorize, designate, or cause to be 
8.12 	formed any other political committee bearing the candidate's name or title or otherwise 
8.13 	operating under the direct or indirect control of the candidate. However, a candidate may 
8.14 	be involved in the direct or indirect control of a party unit.

8.15 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.12, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
8.16 		Subdivision 1.When required for contributions and approved expenditures. An 
8.17 	association other than a political committee or party unit may not contribute more than 
8.18 	$100 $750 in aggregate in any one calendar year to candidates, political committees, or 
8.19 	party units or make any approved or independent expenditure or expenditure to promote 
8.20 	or defeat a ballot question expenditures of more than $750 in aggregate in any calendar 
8.21 	year unless the contribution or expenditure is made from through a political fund.

8.22 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.12, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
8.23 		Subd. 1a.When required for independent expenditures or ballot questions. An 
8.24 	association other than a political committee that makes only independent expenditures 
8.25 	and disbursements permitted under section 10A.121, subdivision 1, or expenditures to 
8.26 	promote or defeat a ballot question must do so by forming and registering through an 
8.27 	independent expenditure or ballot question political fund if the expenditure is in excess of 
8.28 	$100 independent expenditures aggregate more than $1,500 in a calendar year or if the 
8.29 	expenditures to promote or defeat a ballot question aggregate more than $5,000 in a 
8.30 	calendar year,  or by contributing to an existing independent expenditure or ballot question
8.31 	 political committee or political fund.

8.32 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.12, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
9.1 		Subd. 2.Commingling prohibited. The contents of a an association's political 
9.2 	fund may not be commingled with other funds or with the personal funds of an officer or 
9.3 	member of the association or the fund. It is not commingling for an association that uses 
9.4 	only its own general treasury money to make expenditures and disbursements permitted 
9.5 	under section 10A.121, subdivision 1, directly from the depository used for its general 
9.6 	treasury money. An association that accepts more than $1,500 in contributions to influence 
9.7 	the nomination or election of candidates or more than $5,000 in contributions to promote 
9.8 	or defeat a ballot question must establish a separate depository for those contributions.

9.9 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.121, is amended to read:
9.10 	10A.121 INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE AND BALLOT QUESTION 
9.11 	POLITICAL COMMITTEES AND INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE POLITICAL 
9.12 	FUNDS.
9.13 		Subdivision 1.Permitted disbursements. An independent expenditure political 
9.14 	committee or an independent expenditure politicalfund, or a ballot question political 
9.15 	committee or fund, in addition to making independent expenditures, may:
9.16 	(1) pay costs associated with its fund-raising and general operations;
9.17 	(2) pay for communications that do not constitute contributions or approved 
9.18 	expenditures; and
9.19 	(3) make contributions to other independent expenditure or ballot question political 
9.20 	committees or independent expenditure political funds;
9.21 	(4) make independent expenditures; 
9.22 	(5) make disbursements for electioneering communications;
9.23 	(6) make expenditures to promote or defeat ballot questions;
9.24 	(7) return a contribution to its source; 
9.25 	(8) for a political fund, record bookkeeping entries transferring the association's 
9.26 	general treasury money allocated for political purposes back to the general treasury of 
9.27 	the association; and
9.28 	(9) for a political fund, return general treasury money transferred to a separate 
9.29 	depository to the general depository of the association.
9.30 		Subd. 2.Penalty. (a) An independent expenditure political committee or 
9.31 	independent expenditure political fund is subject to a civil penalty of up to four times the 
9.32 	amount of the contribution or approved expenditure if it does the following:
9.33 	(1) makes a contribution to a candidate, party unit, political committee, or political 
9.34 	fund other than an independent expenditure political committee or an independent 
9.35 	expenditure political fund; or
10.1 	(2) makes an approved expenditure.
10.2 	(b) No other penalty provided in law may be imposed for conduct that is subject to a 
10.3 	civil penalty under this section.

10.4 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.14, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
10.5 		Subdivision 1.First registration. The treasurer of a political committee, political 
10.6 	fund, principal campaign committee, or party unit must register with the board by filing 
10.7 	a registration statement of organization no later than 14 days after the committee, fund, 
10.8 	or party unit has made a contribution, received contributions, or made expenditures in 
10.9 	excess of $100 $750, or by the end of the next business day after it has received a loan 
10.10 	or contribution that must be reported under section 10A.20, subdivision 5, whichever is 
10.11 	earlier. This subdivision does not apply to ballot question or independent expenditure 
10.12 	political committees or funds, which are subject to subdivision 1a.

10.13 	Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.14, is amended by adding a subdivision 
10.14 	to read:
10.15 		Subd. 1a.Independent expenditure or ballot question political committees 
10.16 	and funds; first registration; reporting. The treasurer of an independent expenditure 
10.17 	or ballot question political committee or fund must register with the board by filing 
10.18 	a registration statement:
10.19 	(1) no later than 14 calendar days after the committee or the association registering 
10.20 	the political fund has:
10.21 	(i) received aggregate contributions for independent expenditures of more than 
10.22 	$1,500 in a calendar year;
10.23 	(ii) received aggregate contributions for expenditures to promote or defeat a ballot 
10.24 	question of more than $5,000 in a calendar year;
10.25 	(iii) made aggregate independent expenditures of more than $1,500 in a calendar 
10.26 	year; or
10.27 	(iv) made aggregate expenditures to promote or defeat a ballot question of more 
10.28 	than $5,000 in a calendar year; or
10.29 	(2) by the end of the next business day after it has received a loan or contribution 
10.30 	that must be reported under section 10A.20, subdivision 5, and it has met one of the 
10.31 	requirements of clause (1).

10.32 	Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.15, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
11.1 		Subdivision 1.Anonymous contributions. A political committee, political fund, 
11.2 	principal campaign committee, or party unit may not retain an anonymous contribution in 
11.3 	excess of $20 $50, but must forward it to the board for deposit in the general account of 
11.4 	the state elections campaign fund account.

11.5 	Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.15, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
11.6 		Subd. 2.Source; amount; date. An individual who receives a contribution in 
11.7 	excess of $20 $50 for a political committee, political fund, principal campaign committee, 
11.8 	or party unit must, on demand of the treasurer, inform the treasurer of the name and, if 
11.9 	known, the address of the source of the contribution, the amount of the contribution, and 
11.10 	the date it was received.

11.11 	Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.15, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
11.12 		Subd. 3.Deposit. All contributions received by or on behalf of a candidate, 
11.13 	principal campaign committee, political committee, political fund, or party unit must 
11.14 	be deposited in an account designated "Campaign Fund of ..... (name of candidate, 
11.15 	committee, fund, or party unit)." All contributions must be deposited promptly upon 
11.16 	receipt and, except for contributions received during the last three days of a reporting 
11.17 	period as described in section 10A.20, must be deposited during the reporting period 
11.18 	in which they were received. A contribution received during the last three days of a 
11.19 	reporting period must be deposited within 72 hours after receipt and must be reported 
11.20 	as received during the reporting period whether or not deposited within that period. A 
11.21 	candidate, principal campaign committee, political committee, political fund, or party unit 
11.22 	may refuse to accept a contribution. A deposited contribution may be returned to the 
11.23 	contributor within 60 90 days after deposit. A contribution deposited and not returned 
11.24 	within 60 90 days after that deposit must be reported as accepted.

11.25 	Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.20, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
11.26 		Subdivision 1.First filing; duration. The treasurer of a political committee, political 
11.27 	fund, principal campaign committee, or party unit must begin to file the reports required 
11.28 	by this section in for the first year it receives contributions or makes expenditures in excess 
11.29 	of $100 that require it to register under section 10A.14 and must continue to file until the 
11.30 	committee, fund, or party unit is terminated. The reports must be filed electronically in a 
11.31 	standards-based open format specified by the board. For good cause shown, the board 
11.32 	must grant exemptions to the requirement that reports be filed electronically.

12.1 	Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.20, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
12.2 		Subd. 2.Time for filing. (a) The reports must be filed with the board on or before 
12.3 	January 31 of each year and additional reports must be filed as required and in accordance 
12.4 	with paragraphs (b) to (d).
12.5 	(b) In each year in which the name of the a candidate for legislative or district court 
12.6 	judicial office is on the ballot, the report of the principal campaign committee must be 
12.7 	filed 15 days before a primary and ten days before a general election, seven days before a 
12.8 	special primary and a special election, and ten days after a special election cycle.
12.9 	(c) In each general election year, a political committee or, a political fund must file 
12.10 	reports 28 and 15 days before a primary and 42 and ten days before a general election. 
12.11 	Beginning in 2012, reports required under this paragraph must also be filed 56 days before 
12.12 	a primary., a state party committee, a party unit established by all or a part of the party 
12.13 	organization within a house of the legislature, and the principal campaign committee 
12.14 	of a candidate for constitutional or appellate court judicial office must file reports on 
12.15 	the following schedule:
12.16 	(1) a first-quarter report covering the calendar year through March 31, which is 
12.17 	due April 14;
12.18 	(2) in a year in which a primary election is held in August, a report covering the 
12.19 	calendar year through May 31, which is due June 14;
12.20 	(3) in a year in which a primary election is held before August, a pre-general-election 
12.21 	report covering the calendar year through July 15, which is due July 29;
12.22 	(4) a pre-primary-election report due 15 days before a primary election;
12.23 	(5) a pre-general-election report due 42 days before the general election;
12.24 	(6) a pre-general-election report due ten days before a general election; and
12.25 	(7) for a special election, a constitutional office candidate whose name is on the 
12.26 	ballot must file reports seven days before a special primary and a special election, and ten 
12.27 	days after a special election cycle.
12.28 	(d) In each general election year, a party unit not included in paragraph (c) must file 
12.29 	reports 15 days before a primary election and ten days before a general election.
12.30 	(e) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) to (d), the principal campaign committee of a 
12.31 	candidate whose name will not be on the general election ballot is not required to file the 
12.32 	report due ten days before a general election or seven days before a special election.

12.33 	Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.20, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
12.34 		Subd. 3.Contents of report. (a) The report required by this section must include 
12.35 	each of the items listed in paragraphs (b) to (o) that are applicable to the filer. The board 
13.1 	shall prescribe forms based on filer type indicating which of those items must be included 
13.2 	on the filer's report.
13.3 	(a) (b) The report must disclose the amount of liquid assets on hand at the beginning 
13.4 	of the reporting period.
13.5 	(b) (c) The report must disclose the name, address, and employer, or occupation if 
13.6 	self-employed, of each individual or association that has made one or more contributions 
13.7 	to the reporting entity, including the purchase of tickets for a fund-raising effort, that in 
13.8 	aggregate within the year exceed $100 $200 for legislative or statewide candidates or more 
13.9 	than $500 for ballot questions, together with the amount and date of each contribution, and 
13.10 	the aggregate amount of contributions within the year from each source so disclosed. A 
13.11 	donation in kind must be disclosed at its fair market value. An approved expenditure must 
13.12 	be listed as a donation in kind. A donation in kind is considered consumed in the reporting 
13.13 	period in which it is received. The names of contributors must be listed in alphabetical 
13.14 	order. Contributions from the same contributor must be listed under the same name. When 
13.15 	a contribution received from a contributor in a reporting period is added to previously 
13.16 	reported unitemized contributions from the same contributor and the aggregate exceeds 
13.17 	the disclosure threshold of this paragraph, the name, address, and employer, or occupation 
13.18 	if self-employed, of the contributor must then be listed on the report.
13.19 	(c)(d) The report must disclose the sum of contributions to the reporting entity 
13.20 	during the reporting period.
13.21 	(d)(e) The report must disclose each loan made or received by the reporting entity 
13.22 	within the year in aggregate in excess of $100 $200, continuously reported until repaid or 
13.23 	forgiven, together with the name, address, occupation, and principal place of business, 
13.24 	if any, of the lender and any endorser and the date and amount of the loan. If a loan 
13.25 	made to the principal campaign committee of a candidate is forgiven or is repaid by an 
13.26 	entity other than that principal campaign committee, it must be reported as a contribution 
13.27 	for the year in which the loan was made.
13.28 	(e)(f) The report must disclose each receipt over $100 $200 during the reporting 
13.29 	period not otherwise listed under paragraphs (b) (c) to (d) (e).
13.30 	(f)(g) The report must disclose the sum of all receipts of the reporting entity during 
13.31 	the reporting period.
13.32 	(g)(h) The report must disclose the name and address of each individual or 
13.33 	association to whom aggregate expenditures, including approved expenditures,
13.34 	 independent expenditures, ballot question expenditures, and disbursements for 
13.35 	electioneering communications have been made by or on behalf of the reporting entity 
13.36 	within the year in excess of $100 $200, together with the amount, date, and purpose of 
14.1 	each expenditure and the name and address of, and office sought by, each candidate on 
14.2 	whose behalf the expenditure was made or, in the case of electioneering communications, 
14.3 	each candidate identified positively in the communication, identification of the ballot 
14.4 	question that the expenditure was intended to promote or defeat and an indication of 
14.5 	whether the expenditure was to promote or to defeat the ballot question, and in the 
14.6 	case of independent expenditures made in opposition to a candidate or electioneering 
14.7 	communications in which a candidate is identified negatively, the candidate's name, 
14.8 	address, and office sought. A reporting entity making an expenditure on behalf of more 
14.9 	than one candidate for state or legislative office must allocate the expenditure among the 
14.10 	candidates on a reasonable cost basis and report the allocation for each candidate.
14.11 	(h)(i) The report must disclose the sum of all expenditures made by or on behalf of 
14.12 	the reporting entity during the reporting period.
14.13 	(i)(j) The report must disclose the amount and nature of an advance of credit 
14.14 	incurred by the reporting entity, continuously reported until paid or forgiven. If an advance 
14.15 	of credit incurred by the principal campaign committee of a candidate is forgiven by the 
14.16 	creditor or paid by an entity other than that principal campaign committee, it must be 
14.17 	reported as a donation in kind for the year in which the advance of credit was made.
14.18 	(j)(k) The report must disclose the name and address of each political committee, 
14.19 	political fund, principal campaign committee, or party unit to which contributions have 
14.20 	been made that aggregate in excess of $100 $200 within the year and the amount and 
14.21 	date of each contribution.
14.22 	(k)(l) The report must disclose the sum of all contributions made by the reporting 
14.23 	entity during the reporting period.
14.24 	(l)(m) The report must disclose the name and address of each individual or 
14.25 	association to whom noncampaign disbursements have been made that aggregate in excess 
14.26 	of $100 $200 within the year by or on behalf of the reporting entity and the amount, date, 
14.27 	and purpose of each noncampaign disbursement.
14.28 	(m)(n) The report must disclose the sum of all noncampaign disbursements made 
14.29 	within the year by or on behalf of the reporting entity.
14.30 	(n)(o) The report must disclose the name and address of a nonprofit corporation that 
14.31 	provides administrative assistance to a political committee or political fund as authorized 
14.32 	by section 211B.15, subdivision 17, the type of administrative assistance provided, and the 
14.33 	aggregate fair market value of each type of assistance provided to the political committee 
14.34 	or political fund during the reporting period.

14.35 	Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.20, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
15.1 		Subd. 5.Preelection Pre-election reports. (a) Any loan, contribution, or 
15.2 	contributions:
15.3 	(1) to a political committee or political fund from any one source totaling more than
15.4 	 $1,000 or more, or in a statewide election for;
15.5 	(2) to the principal campaign committee of a candidate for an appellate court judicial 
15.6 	office, any loan, contribution, or contributions from any one source totaling more than
15.7 	 $2,000 or more, or in any judicial;
15.8 	(3) to the principal campaign committee of a candidate for district court judge
15.9 	 totaling more than $400 or more, and any loan, contribution, or contributions; or
15.10 	(4) to the principal campaign committee of a candidate for constitutional office or 
15.11 	for the legislature from any one source totaling 80 more than 50 percent or more of the
15.12 	 election cycle contribution limit for the office, received between the last day covered in 
15.13 	the last report before an election and the election must be reported to the board in one of 
15.14 	the following ways: in the manner provided in paragraph (b).
15.15 	(b) A loan, contribution, or contributions required to be reported to the board under 
15.16 	paragraph (a) must be reported to the board either:
15.17 	(1) in person by the end of the next business day after its receipt; or
15.18 	(2) by electronic means sent within 24 hours after its receipt.
15.19 	(c) These loans and contributions must also be reported in the next required report.
15.20 	(d) This notice requirement does not apply with respect to in a primary in which 
15.21 	the statewide or legislative election to a candidate who is unopposed in the primary, in a 
15.22 	primary election to a ballot question political committee or fund, or in a general election to 
15.23 	a candidate whose name is not on the general election ballot. The board must post the 
15.24 	report on its Web site by the end of the next business day after it is received.
15.25 	(e) This subdivision does not apply to a ballot question or independent expenditure 
15.26 	political committee or fund that has not met the registration threshold of section 10A.14, 
15.27 	subdivision 1a. However, if a contribution that would be subject to this section triggers the 
15.28 	registration requirement in section 10A.14, subdivision 1a, then both registration under 
15.29 	that section and reporting under this section are required.

15.30 	Sec. 30. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.20, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
15.31 		Subd. 6.Report when no committee. (a) A candidate who does not designate 
15.32 	and cause to be formed a principal campaign committee and an individual who makes 
15.33 	independent expenditures or campaign expenditures expressly advocating the approval or 
15.34 	defeat of a ballot question in aggregate in excess of $100 $750 in a year must file with 
15.35 	the board a report containing the information required by subdivision 3. Reports required 
16.1 	by this subdivision must be filed on by the dates on which reports by principal campaign
16.2 	 committees, funds, and party units are must be filed.
16.3 	(b) An individual who makes independent expenditures that aggregate more than 
16.4 	$1,500 in a calendar year or expenditures to promote or defeat a ballot question that 
16.5 	aggregate more than $5,000 in a calendar year must file with the board a report containing 
16.6 	the information required by subdivision 3. A report required by this subdivision must be 
16.7 	filed by the date on which the next report by political committees and political funds 
16.8 	must be filed.

16.9 	Sec. 31. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.20, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
16.10 		Subd. 7.Statement of inactivity. If a reporting entity principal campaign 
16.11 	committee, party unit, or political committee, has no receipts or expenditures during a 
16.12 	reporting period, the treasurer must file with the board at the time required by this section 
16.13 	a statement to that effect.

16.14 	Sec. 32. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.20, is amended by adding a subdivision 
16.15 	to read:
16.16 		Subd. 7a.Activity of political fund. An association is not required to file any 
16.17 	statement or report for a reporting period when the association accepted no contributions 
16.18 	into the association's political fund and made no expenditures from its political fund since 
16.19 	the last date included in its most recent filed report. If the association maintains a separate 
16.20 	checking account for its political fund, the receipt of interest on the proceeds of that 
16.21 	account and the payment of fees to maintain that account do not constitute activity that 
16.22 	requires the filing of a report for an otherwise inactive political fund.

16.23 	Sec. 33. [10A.201] ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS.
16.24 		Subdivision 1.Electioneering communication. (a) "Electioneering 
16.25 	communication" means a communication distributed by television, radio, satellite, or 
16.26 	cable broadcasting system; by means of printed material, signs, or billboards; or through 
16.27 	the use of telephone communications that:
16.28 	(1) refers to a clearly identified candidate;
16.29 	(2) is made within:
16.30 	(i) 30 days before a primary election or special primary election for the office sought 
16.31 	by the candidate; or
16.32 	(ii) 60 days before a general election or special election for the office sought by 
16.33 	the candidate;
17.1 	(3) is targeted to the relevant electorate; and
17.2 	(4) is made without the express or implied consent, authorization, or cooperation 
17.3 	of, and not in concert with or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate or a candidate's 
17.4 	principal campaign committee or agent.
17.5 	(b) Electioneering communication does not include:
17.6 	(1) the publishing or broadcasting of news items or editorial comments by the news 
17.7 	media;
17.8 	(2) a communication that constitutes an approved expenditure or an independent 
17.9 	expenditure;
17.10 	(3) a communication by an association distributed only to the association's own 
17.11 	members, donors, or subscribers in a newsletter or similar publication in a form that is 
17.12 	routinely sent to the association's members;
17.13 	(4) a voter guide, which is a pamphlet or similar printed materials, intended to help 
17.14 	voters compare candidates' positions on a set of issues, as long as each of the following is 
17.15 	true:
17.16 	(i) the guide does not focus on a single issue or a narrow range of issues, but 
17.17 	includes questions and subjects sufficient to encompass major issues of interest to the 
17.18 	entire electorate;
17.19 	(ii) the questions and any other description of the issues are clear and unbiased in 
17.20 	both their structure and content;
17.21 	(iii) the questions posed and provided to the candidates are identical to those 
17.22 	included in the guide;
17.23 	(iv) each candidate included in the guide is given a reasonable amount of time and 
17.24 	the same opportunity as other candidates to respond to the questions;
17.25 	(v)  if the candidate is given limited choices for an answer to a question, for example: 
17.26 	"support," "oppose," "yes," or "no," the candidate is also given an opportunity, subject to 
17.27 	reasonable limits, to explain the candidate's position in the candidate's own words; the 
17.28 	fact that a candidate provided an explanation is clearly indicated in the guide; and the 
17.29 	guide clearly indicates that the explanations will be made available for public inspection, 
17.30 	subject to reasonable conditions;
17.31 	(vi) answers included in the guide are those provided by the candidates in response 
17.32 	to questions, the candidate's answers are unedited, and the answers appear in close 
17.33 	proximity to the question to which they respond;
17.34 	(vii) if the guide includes candidates' positions based on information other than 
17.35 	responses provided directly by the candidate, the positions are based on recorded votes, 
18.1 	reliable media reports, or public statements of the candidates and are presented in an 
18.2 	unedited and unbiased manner; and 
18.3 	(viii) the guide includes all major party candidates for each office listed in the guide;
18.4 	(5) any other communication specified in board rules or advisory opinions as being 
18.5 	excluded from the definition of electioneering communications; and
18.6 	(6) a communication that:
18.7 	(i) refers to a clearly identified candidate who is an incumbent member of the 
18.8 	legislature or a constitutional officer;
18.9 	(ii) refers to a clearly identified issue that is or was before the legislature in the 
18.10 	form of an introduced bill; and
18.11 	(iii) is made when the legislature is in session or within ten days after the last day of 
18.12 	a regular session of the legislature.
18.13 	(c) A communication that meets the requirements of paragraph (a) but is made with 
18.14 	the authorization or express or implied consent of, or in cooperation or in concert with, or 
18.15 	at the request or suggestion of a candidate, a candidate's principal campaign committee, or 
18.16 	a candidate's agent is an approved expenditure.
18.17 	(d) Distributing a voter guide questionnaire, survey, or similar document to 
18.18 	candidates and communications with candidates limited to obtaining their responses, 
18.19 	without more, do not constitute communications that would result in the voter guide being 
18.20 	an approved expenditure on behalf of the candidate.
18.21 		Subd. 2.Targeted to relevant electorate. (a) For purposes of this section, a 
18.22 	communication that refers to a clearly identified candidate is targeted to the relevant 
18.23 	electorate if the communication is distributed to or can be received by more than 1,500 
18.24 	persons in the district the candidate seeks to represent, in the case of a candidate for the 
18.25 	house of representatives, senate, or a district court judicial office or by more than 6,000 
18.26 	persons in the state, in the case of a candidate for constitutional office or appellate court 
18.27 	judicial office.
18.28 	(b) A communication consisting of printed materials, other than signs, billboards, 
18.29 	or advertisements published in the print media, is targeted to the relevant electorate if it 
18.30 	meets the requirements of paragraph (a) and is distributed to voters by means of United 
18.31 	States mail or through direct delivery to a resident's home or business.
18.32 		Subd. 3.Disclosure of electioneering communications. (a) Electioneering 
18.33 	communications made by a political committee, a party unit, or a principal campaign 
18.34 	committee must be disclosed on the periodic reports of receipts and expenditures filed by 
18.35 	the association on the schedule and in accordance with the terms of section 10A.20.
19.1 	(b) An association other than a political committee, party unit, or principal campaign 
19.2 	committee may register a political fund with the board and disclose its electioneering 
19.3 	communications on the reports of receipts and expenditures filed by the political fund. 
19.4 	If it does so, it must disclose its disbursements for electioneering communication on the 
19.5 	schedule and in accordance with the terms of section 10A.20.
19.6 	(c) An association that does not disclose its disbursements for electioneering 
19.7 	communication under paragraph (a) or (b) must disclose its electioneering communications 
19.8 	according to the requirements of subdivision 4.
19.9 		Subd. 4.Statement required for electioneering communications made by 
19.10 	unregistered associations. (a) Except for associations providing disclosure as specified 
19.11 	in subdivision 3, paragraph (a) or (b), every person who makes a disbursement for the 
19.12 	costs of producing or distributing electioneering communications that aggregate more than 
19.13 	$1,500 in a calendar year must, within 24 hours of each disclosure date, file with the board 
19.14 	a disclosure statement containing the information described in this subdivision.
19.15 	(b) Each statement required to be filed under this section must contain the following 
19.16 	information:
19.17 	(1) the names of: (i) the association making the disbursement; (ii) any person 
19.18 	exercising direction or control over the activities of the association with respect to the 
19.19 	disbursement; and (iii) the custodian of the financial records of the association making 
19.20 	disbursement;
19.21 	(2) the address of the association making the disbursement;
19.22 	(3) the amount of each disbursement of more than $200 during the period covered 
19.23 	by the statement, a description of the purpose of the disbursement, and the identification of 
19.24 	the person to whom the disbursement was made;
19.25 	(4) the names of the candidates identified or to be identified in the communication;
19.26 	(5) if the disbursements were paid out of a segregated bank account that consists 
19.27 	of funds donated specifically for electioneering communications, the name and address 
19.28 	of each person who gave the association more than $200 in aggregate to that account 
19.29 	during the period beginning on the first day of the preceding calendar year and ending on 
19.30 	the disclosure date; and
19.31 	(6) if the disbursements for electioneering communications were made using general 
19.32 	treasury money of the association, an association that has paid more than $5,000 in 
19.33 	aggregate for electioneering communications during the calendar year must file with its 
19.34 	disclosure statement a written statement that includes the name, address, and amount 
19.35 	attributable to each person that paid the association membership dues or fees, or made 
19.36 	donations to the association that, in total, aggregate more than $5,000 of the money used 
20.1 	by the association for electioneering communications. The statement must also include 
20.2 	the total amount of the disbursements for electioneering communications attributable to 
20.3 	persons not subject to itemization under this clause. The statement must be certified as 
20.4 	true by an officer of the association that made the disbursements for the electioneering 
20.5 	communications.
20.6 	(c) To determine the amount of the membership dues or fees, or donations 
20.7 	made by a person to an association and attributable to the association's disbursements 
20.8 	for electioneering communications, the association must separately prorate the total 
20.9 	disbursements made for electioneering communications during the calendar year over all 
20.10 	general treasury money received during the calendar year.
20.11 	(d) If the amount spent for electioneering communications exceeds the amount of 
20.12 	general treasury money received by the association during that year:
20.13 	(1) the electioneering communications must be attributed first to all receipts of 
20.14 	general treasury money received during the calendar year in which the electioneering 
20.15 	communications were made;
20.16 	(2) any amount of current year electioneering communications that exceeds the total 
20.17 	of all receipts of general treasury money during the current calendar year must be prorated 
20.18 	over all general treasury money received in the preceding calendar year; and
20.19 	(3) if the allocation made in clauses (1) and (2) is insufficient to cover the subject 
20.20 	electioneering communications, no further allocation is required.
20.21 	(e) After a portion of the general treasury money received by an association 
20.22 	from a person has been designated as the source of a disbursement for electioneering 
20.23 	communications, that portion of the association's general treasury money received 
20.24 	from that person may not be designated as the source of any other disbursement for 
20.25 	electioneering communications or as the source for any contribution to an independent 
20.26 	expenditure political committee or fund.
20.27 		Subd. 5.Disclosure date. For purposes of this section, the term "disclosure date" 
20.28 	means the earlier of:
20.29 	(1) the first date on which an electioneering communication is publicly distributed, 
20.30 	provided that the person making the electioneering communication has made 
20.31 	disbursements for the direct costs of producing or distributing one or more electioneering 
20.32 	communication aggregating in excess of $1,500; or
20.33 	(2) any other date during the same calendar year on which an electioneering 
20.34 	communication is publicly distributed, provided that the person making the electioneering 
20.35 	communication has made disbursements for the direct costs of distributing one or more 
21.1 	electioneering communications aggregating in excess of $1,500 since the most recent 
21.2 	disclosure date.
21.3 		Subd. 6.Contracts to disburse. For purposes of this section, a person shall be 
21.4 	treated as having made a disbursement if the person has entered into an obligation to 
21.5 	make the disbursement.
21.6 		Subd. 7.Statement of attribution. (a) An electioneering communication must 
21.7 	include a statement of attribution.
21.8 	(1) For communications distributed by printed material, signs, and billboards, the 
21.9 	statement must say, in conspicuous letters: "Paid for by [association name] [address]."
21.10 	(2) For communications distributed by television, radio, satellite, or cable 
21.11 	broadcasting system, the statement must be included at the end of the communication and 
21.12 	must orally state at a volume and speed that a person of ordinary hearing can comprehend: 
21.13 	"The preceding communication was paid for by the [association name]."
21.14 	(3) For communications distributed by telephone communication, the statement 
21.15 	must precede the communication and must orally state at a volume and speed that a person 
21.16 	of ordinary hearing can comprehend: "The following communication is paid for by the 
21.17 	[association name]."
21.18 	(b) If the communication is paid for by an association registered with the board, the 
21.19 	statement of attribution must use the association's name as it is registered with the board. 
21.20 	If the communication is paid for by an association not registered with the board, the 
21.21 	statement of attribution must use the association's name as it is disclosed to the board on 
21.22 	the association's disclosure statement associated with the communication.
21.23 		Subd. 8.Failure to file; penalty. (a) If a person fails to file a statement required by 
21.24 	this section by the date the statement is due, the board may impose a late filing fee of $50 
21.25 	per day, not to exceed $1,000, commencing the day after the report was due.
21.26 	(b) The board must send notice by certified mail to a person who fails to file a 
21.27 	statement within ten business days after the statement was due that the person may be 
21.28 	subject to a civil penalty for failure to file the statement. A person who fails to file the 
21.29 	statement within seven days after the certified mail notice was sent by the board is subject 
21.30 	to a civil penalty imposed by the board of up to $1,000.
21.31 	(c) An association that provides disclosure under section 10A.20 rather than under 
21.32 	this section is subject to the late filing fee and civil penalty provisions of section 10A.20 
21.33 	and is not subject to the penalties provided in this subdivision.
21.34 	(d) An association that makes electioneering communications under this section and 
21.35 	willfully fails to provide the statement required by subdivision 4, paragraph (b), clause 
21.36 	(6), within the time specified is subject to an additional civil penalty of up to four times 
22.1 	the amount of the electioneering communications disbursements, but that should have 
22.2 	been included on the statement. 

22.3 	Sec. 34. [10A.243] TERMINATION OF REGISTRATION.
22.4 		Subdivision 1.Termination report. A political committee, political fund, principal 
22.5 	campaign committee, or party unit may terminate its registration with the board after it 
22.6 	has disposed of all its assets in excess of $100 by filing a final report of receipts and 
22.7 	expenditures. The final report must be identified as a termination report and must include 
22.8 	all financial transactions that occurred after the last date included on the most recent 
22.9 	report filed with the board. The termination report may be filed at any time after the 
22.10 	asset threshold in this section is reached.
22.11 		Subd. 2.Asset disposition. "Assets" include credit balances at vendors, prepaid 
22.12 	postage and postage stamps, as well as physical assets. Assets must be disposed of at their 
22.13 	fair market value. Assets of a political fund that consist of, or were acquired using, only 
22.14 	the general treasury money of the fund's supporting association remain the property of the 
22.15 	association upon termination of the association's political fund registration and are not 
22.16 	subject to the disposal requirements of this section.

22.17 	Sec. 35. [10A.244] VOLUNTARY INACTIVE STATUS; POLITICAL FUNDS.
22.18 		Subdivision 1.Election of voluntary inactive status. An association that has a 
22.19 	political fund registered under this chapter may elect to have the fund placed on voluntary 
22.20 	inactive status if the following conditions are met:
22.21 	(1) the association makes a written request for inactive status;
22.22 	(2) the association has filed all periodic reports required by this chapter and 
22.23 	has received no contributions into its political fund and made no expenditures or 
22.24 	disbursements for electioneering communications through its political fund since the last 
22.25 	date included on the association's most recent report; and
22.26 	(3) the association has satisfied all obligations to the state for late filing fees and civil 
22.27 	penalties imposed by the board or the board has waived this requirement.
22.28 		Subd. 2.Effect of voluntary inactive status. After an association has complied 
22.29 	with the requirements of subdivision 1:
22.30 	(1) the board must notify the association that its political fund has been placed in 
22.31 	voluntary inactive status and of the terms of this section;
22.32 	(2) the board must stop sending the association reports, forms, and notices of report 
22.33 	due dates that are periodically sent to entities registered with the board;
23.1 	(3) the association is not required to file periodic disclosure reports for its political 
23.2 	fund as otherwise required under this chapter;
23.3 	(4) the association may not accept contributions into its political fund and may not 
23.4 	make expenditures, contributions, or disbursements for electioneering communications 
23.5 	through its political fund; and
23.6 	(5) if the association maintains a separate depository account for its political fund, 
23.7 	it may continue to pay bank service charges and receive interest paid on that account 
23.8 	while its political fund is in inactive status.
23.9 		Subd. 3.Resumption of active status or termination. (a) An association that 
23.10 	has placed its political fund in voluntary inactive status may resume active status upon 
23.11 	written notice to the board.
23.12 	(b) A political fund placed in voluntary inactive status must resume active status 
23.13 	within 14 days of the date that is has accepted contributions or made expenditures, 
23.14 	contributions, or disbursements for electioneering communications that aggregate more 
23.15 	than $750 since the political fund was placed on inactive status. If, after meeting this 
23.16 	threshold, the association does not notify the board that its fund has resumed active 
23.17 	status, the board may place the association's political fund in active status and notify the 
23.18 	association of the change in status.
23.19 	(c) An association that has placed its political fund in voluntary inactive status may 
23.20 	terminate the registration of the fund without returning it to active status.
23.21 		Subd. 4.Penalty for financial activity while in voluntary inactive status. If an 
23.22 	association fails to notify the board of its political fund's resumption of active status under 
23.23 	subdivision 3, the board may impose a civil penalty of $50 per day, not to exceed $1,000 
23.24 	commencing on the 15th calendar day after the fund resumed active status.

23.25 	Sec. 36. [10A.245] ADMINISTRATIVE TERMINATION OF INACTIVE 
23.26 	COMMITTEES AND FUNDS.
23.27 		Subdivision 1.Inactivity defined. (a) A principal campaign committee becomes 
23.28 	inactive on the later of the following dates:
23.29 	(1) six years after the last election in which the individual for whom the committee 
23.30 	exists was a candidate for the office sought or held at the time the principal campaign 
23.31 	committee registered with the board; or
23.32 	(2) six years after the last day on which the individual for whom the committee 
23.33 	exists served in an elective office subject to this chapter.
23.34 	(b) A political committee, political fund, or party unit becomes inactive when 
23.35 	four years have elapsed since the end of a reporting period during which the political 
24.1 	committee, political fund, or party unit made an expenditure or disbursement requiring 
24.2 	itemized disclosure under this chapter.
24.3 	(c) A political fund that has elected voluntary inactive status under section 10A.244 
24.4 	becomes inactive within the meaning of this section when four years have elapsed during 
24.5 	which the political fund was continuously in voluntary inactive status.
24.6 		Subd. 2.Termination by board. The board may terminate the registration of a 
24.7 	principal campaign committee, party unit, political committee, or political fund found to be 
24.8 	inactive under this section 60 days after sending written notice of inactivity by certified mail 
24.9 	to the affected association at the last address on record with the board for that association. 
24.10 	Within 60 days after the board sends notice under this section, the affected association must 
24.11 	dispose of its assets as provided in this subdivision. The assets of the principal campaign 
24.12 	committee, party unit, or political committee must be used for the purposes authorized by 
24.13 	this chapter or section 211B.12 or must be liquidated and deposited in the general account 
24.14 	of the state elections campaign account. The assets of an association's political fund that 
24.15 	were derived from the association's general treasury money revert to the association's 
24.16 	general treasury. Assets of a political fund that resulted from contributions to the political 
24.17 	fund must be used for the purposes authorized by this chapter or section 211B.12 or must 
24.18 	be liquidated and deposited in the general account of the state elections campaign account.

24.19 	Sec. 37. [10A.246] UNPAID DEBT UPON TERMINATION.
24.20 	Termination of a registration with the board does not affect the liability, if any, of the 
24.21 	association or its candidates, officers, or other individuals for obligations incurred in the 
24.22 	name of the association or its political fund.

24.23 	Sec. 38. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.25, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
24.24 		Subd. 2.Amounts. (a) In a year in which an election is held each election cycle for 
24.25 	an office sought by a candidate, the principal campaign committee of the candidate must 
24.26 	not make campaign expenditures nor permit approved expenditures to be made on behalf 
24.27 	of the candidate that result in aggregate expenditures in excess of the following:
24.28 	(1) for governor and lieutenant governor, running together, $2,577,200 $5,000,000;
24.29 	(2) for attorney general, $429,600;
24.30 	(3) for secretary of state, and state auditor, separately, $214,800 each $1,500,000;
24.31 	(4) (3) for state senator, $68,100 $120,000;
24.32 	(5) (4) for state representative, $34,300 $60,000.
24.33 	(b) In addition to the amount in paragraph (a), clause (1), a candidate for 
24.34 	endorsement for the office of lieutenant governor at the convention of a political party 
25.1 	may make campaign expenditures and approved expenditures of five percent of that 
25.2 	amount to seek endorsement.
25.3 	(c) If a special election cycle occurs during a general election cycle, expenditures by 
25.4 	or on behalf of a candidate in the special election cycle do not count as expenditures by or 
25.5 	on behalf of the candidate in the general election cycle.
25.6 	(d) The expenditure limits in this subdivision for an office are increased by ten 
25.7 	percent for a candidate who is running for that office for the first time has not previously 
25.8 	held the same office, whose name has not previously been on the primary or general 
25.9 	election ballot for that office, and who has not in the past ten years raised or spent 
25.10 	more than $750 in a run previously for any other office whose territory now includes a 
25.11 	population that is more than one-third of the population in the territory of the new office.
25.12 	 In the case of a legislative candidate, the office is that of a member of the house of 
25.13 	representatives or senate without regard to any specific district.

25.14 	Sec. 39. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.25, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
25.15 		Subd. 2a.Aggregated expenditures. If a candidate makes expenditures from more 
25.16 	than one principal campaign committee for nomination or election to statewide office 
25.17 	in the same election year cycle, the amount of expenditures from all of the candidate's 
25.18 	principal campaign committees for statewide office for that election year cycle must be 
25.19 	aggregated for purposes of applying the limits on expenditures under subdivision 2.

25.20 	Sec. 40. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.25, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
25.21 		Subd. 3.Governor and lieutenant governor a single candidate. For the purposes 
25.22 	of sections 10A.11 to 10A.34 this chapter, a candidate for governor and a candidate 
25.23 	for lieutenant governor, running together, are considered a single candidate. Except 
25.24 	as provided in subdivision 2, paragraph (b), all expenditures made by or all approved 
25.25 	expenditures made on behalf of the candidate for lieutenant governor are considered to be 
25.26 	expenditures by or approved expenditures on behalf of the candidate for governor.

25.27 	Sec. 41. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.25, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:
25.28 		Subd. 3a.Independent expenditures and electioneering communications. The 
25.29 	principal campaign committee of a candidate must not make independent expenditures or 
25.30 	disbursements for electioneering communications.

25.31 	Sec. 42. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.257, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
26.1 		Subdivision 1.Unused funds. After all campaign expenditures and noncampaign 
26.2 	disbursements for an election cycle have been made, an amount up to 50 25 percent of the 
26.3 	election year cycle expenditure limit for the office may be carried forward. Any remaining 
26.4 	amount up to the total amount of the public subsidy from the state elections campaign fund 
26.5 	must be returned to the state treasury for credit to the general fund under section 10A.324. 
26.6 	Any remaining amount in excess of the total public subsidy must be contributed to the 
26.7 	state elections campaign fund account or a political party for multicandidate expenditures 
26.8 	as defined in section 10A.275.

26.9 	Sec. 43. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.27, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
26.10 		Subdivision 1.Contribution limits. (a) Except as provided in subdivision 2, 
26.11 	a candidate must not permit the candidate's principal campaign committee to accept 
26.12 	aggregate contributions in an election cycle made or delivered by any individual, political 
26.13 	committee, or political fund, or association not registered with the board in excess of 
26.14 	the following:
26.15 	(1) to candidates for governor and lieutenant governor running together, $2,000 in 
26.16 	an election year for the office sought and $500 in other years $6,000;
26.17 	(2) to a candidate for attorney general, secretary of state, or state auditor, $1,000 in 
26.18 	an election year for the office sought and $200 in other years $4,000;
26.19 	(3) to a candidate for state senator, $500 in an election year for the office sought 
26.20 	and $100 in other years $3,000;
26.21 	(4) to a candidate for state representative, $500 in an election year for the office 
26.22 	sought and $100 in the other year $1,500; and
26.23 	(5) to a candidate for judicial office, $2,000 in an election year for the office sought 
26.24 	and $500 in other years $4,500.
26.25 	(b) The following deliveries are not subject to the bundling limitation in this 
26.26 	subdivision:
26.27 	(1) delivery of contributions collected by a member of the candidate's principal 
26.28 	campaign committee, such as a block worker or a volunteer who hosts a fund-raising 
26.29 	event, to the committee's treasurer; and
26.30 	(2) a delivery made by an individual on behalf of the individual's spouse.
26.31 	(c) A lobbyist, political committee, political party unit, or an association that has a
26.32 	 political fund, or an association not registered with the board must not make a contribution 
26.33 	a candidate is prohibited from accepting.

26.34 	Sec. 44. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.27, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
27.1 		Subd. 10.Limited personal contributions. A candidate who accepts a public 
27.2 	subsidy signs an agreement under section 10A.322 may not contribute to the candidate's 
27.3 	own campaign during a year an election cycle more than ten five times the candidate's 
27.4 	election year cycle contribution limit under subdivision 1.

27.5 	Sec. 45. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.27, subdivision 11, is amended to read:
27.6 		Subd. 11.Contributions from certain types of contributors. A candidate must 
27.7 	not permit the candidate's principal campaign committee to accept a contribution from 
27.8 	a political committee, political fund, lobbyist, or large contributor, or association not 
27.9 	registered with the board if the contribution will cause the aggregate contributions from 
27.10 	those types of contributors to exceed an amount equal to 20 percent of the expenditure 
27.11 	limits for the office sought by the candidate, provided that the 20 percent limit must be 
27.12 	rounded to the nearest $100. For purposes of this subdivision, "large contributor" means 
27.13 	an individual, other than the candidate, who contributes an amount that is more than $100 
27.14 	and more than one-half the amount an individual may contribute.

27.15 	Sec. 46. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.27, subdivision 13, is amended to read:
27.16 		Subd. 13.Unregistered association limit; statement; penalty. (a) The treasurer of 
27.17 	a political committee, political fund, principal campaign committee, or party unit must not 
27.18 	accept a contribution of more than $100 $200 from an association not registered under 
27.19 	this chapter unless the contribution is accompanied by a written statement that meets the 
27.20 	disclosure and reporting period requirements imposed by section 10A.20. This statement 
27.21 	must be certified as true and correct by an officer of the contributing association. The 
27.22 	committee, fund, or party unit that accepts the contribution must include a copy of the 
27.23 	statement with the report that discloses the contribution to the board. This subdivision 
27.24 	does not apply when a national political party contributes money to its affiliate in this state.
27.25 	(b) An unregistered association may provide the written statement required by this 
27.26 	subdivision to no more than three committees, funds, or party units in a calendar year. Each 
27.27 	statement must cover at least the 30 days immediately preceding and including the date on 
27.28 	which the contribution was made. An unregistered association or an officer of it is subject 
27.29 	to a civil penalty imposed by the board of up to $1,000, if the association or its officer:
27.30 	(1) fails to provide a written statement as required by this subdivision; or
27.31 	(2) fails to register after giving the written statement required by this subdivision to 
27.32 	more than three committees, funds, or party units in a calendar year.
27.33 	(c) The treasurer of a political committee, political fund, principal campaign 
27.34 	committee, or party unit who accepts a contribution in excess of $100 $200 from an 
28.1 	unregistered association without the required written disclosure statement is subject to a 
28.2 	civil penalty up to four times the amount in excess of $100 $200.
28.3 	(d) This subdivision does not apply:
28.4 	(1) when a national political party contributes money to its state committee; or
28.5 	(2) to purchases by candidates for federal office of tickets to events or space rental 
28.6 	at events held by party units in this state (i) if the geographical area represented by the 
28.7 	party unit includes any part of the geographical area of the office that the federal candidate 
28.8 	is seeking and (ii) the purchase price is not more than that paid by other attendees or 
28.9 	renters of similar spaces.

28.10 	Sec. 47. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.27, subdivision 14, is amended to read:
28.11 		Subd. 14.Contributions of business revenue. An association may, if not prohibited 
28.12 	by other law, contribute revenue from the operation of a business to an independent 
28.13 	expenditure or ballot question political committee or an independent expenditure political
28.14 	 fund without complying with subdivision 13.

28.15 	Sec. 48. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.27, subdivision 15, is amended to read:
28.16 		Subd. 15.Contributions of dues or contribution revenue or use of general 
28.17 	treasury money. (a) An association may, if not prohibited by other law, contribute revenue 
28.18 	from membership dues or fees, or from contributions received by the association its general 
28.19 	treasury money to an independent expenditure or ballot question political committee or 
28.20 	an independent expenditure political fund, including its own independent expenditure or 
28.21 	ballot question political committee or fund, without complying with subdivision 13.
28.22 	(b) Before the day when the recipient committee or fund's next report must be 
28.23 	filed with the board under section 10A.20, subdivision 2 or 5, an association that has 
28.24 	contributed more than $5,000 or more in aggregate to independent expenditure political 
28.25 	committees or funds during the calendar year or has contributed more than $5,000 in 
28.26 	aggregate to ballot question political committees or funds during the calendar year 
28.27 	must provide in writing to the recipient's treasurer a statement that includes the name, 
28.28 	address, and amount attributable to each individual or association person that paid the 
28.29 	association dues or fees, or made contributions donations to the association that, in total, 
28.30 	aggregate more than $1,000 or more $5,000 of the contribution from the association to the 
28.31 	independent expenditure or ballot question political committee or fund. The statement 
28.32 	must also include the total amount of the contribution from individuals or associations
28.33 	 attributable to persons  not subject to itemization under this section. The statement must be 
28.34 	certified as true and correct by an officer of the donor association.
29.1 	(b) (c) To determine the amount of membership dues or fees, or contributions
29.2 	 donations made by an individual or association that exceed $1,000 of the contribution 
29.3 	made by the donor association a person to an association and attributable to the 
29.4 	association's contribution to the independent expenditure or ballot question political 
29.5 	committee or fund, the donor association must: separately prorate the total independent 
29.6 	expenditures and ballot question expenditures made during the calendar year over all 
29.7 	general treasury money received during the calendar year.
29.8 	(1) apply a pro rata calculation to all unrestricted dues, fees, and contributions 
29.9 	received by the donor association in the calendar year; or
29.10 	(2) as provided in paragraph (c), identify the specific individuals or associations 
29.11 	whose dues, fees, or contributions are included in the contribution to the independent 
29.12 	expenditure political committee or fund.
29.13 	(c) Dues, fees, or contributions from an individual or association must be identified 
29.14 	in a contribution to an independent expenditure political committee or fund under 
29.15 	paragraph (b), clause (2), if:
29.16 	(1) the individual or association has specifically authorized the donor association to 
29.17 	use the individual's or association's dues, fees, or contributions for this purpose; or
29.18 	(2) the individual's or association's dues, fees, or contributions to the donor 
29.19 	association are unrestricted and the donor association designates them as the source of the 
29.20 	subject contribution to the independent expenditure political committee or fund.
29.21 	(d) If the amount contributed to independent expenditure and ballot question 
29.22 	political committees or funds in a calendar year exceeds the amount of general treasury 
29.23 	money received by the association during that year:
29.24 	(1) the contributions must be attributed first to all receipts of general treasury money 
29.25 	received during the calendar year in which the contributions were made;
29.26 	(2) any amount of current-year contributions that exceeds the total of all receipts of 
29.27 	general treasury money during the current calendar year must be prorated over all general 
29.28 	treasury money received in the preceding calendar year; and
29.29 	(3) if the allocation made in clauses (1) and (2) is insufficient to cover the subject 
29.30 	contributions, no further allocation is required.
29.31 	(e) After a portion of an individual's or association's dues, fees, or contributions to 
29.32 	the donor association havethe general treasury money received by an association from a 
29.33 	person has been designated as the source of a contribution to an independent expenditure or 
29.34 	ballot question political committee or fund, that portion of the individual's or association's 
29.35 	dues, fees, or contributions to the donor association association's general treasury money 
29.36 	received from that person may not be designated as the source of any other contribution to 
30.1 	an independent expenditure or ballot question political committee or fund or as the source 
30.2 	of funds for a disbursement for electioneering communications made by that association.
30.3 	(d) For the purposes of this section, "donor association" means the association 
30.4 	contributing to an independent expenditure political committee or fund that is required to 
30.5 	provide a statement under paragraph (a).

30.6 	Sec. 49. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 10A.323, is amended to read:
30.7 	10A.323 AFFIDAVIT OF CONTRIBUTIONS.
30.8 	(a) In addition to the requirements of section 10A.322, to be eligible to receive a 
30.9 	public subsidy under section 10A.31 a candidate or the candidate's treasurer must file an 
30.10 	affidavit with the board stating that:
30.11 	(1) between January 1 of the previous year and the cutoff date for transactions 
30.12 	included in the report of receipts and expenditures due before the primary election the 
30.13 	candidate has accumulated, accumulate contributions from persons individuals eligible to 
30.14 	vote in this state in at least the amount indicated for the office sought, counting only the 
30.15 	first $50 received from each contributor, excluding in-kind contributions:
30.16 	(1) (i) candidates for governor and lieutenant governor running together, $35,000;
30.17 	(2) (ii) candidates for attorney general, $15,000;
30.18 	(3) (iii) candidates for secretary of state and state auditor, separately, $6,000;
30.19 	(4) (iv) candidates for the senate, $3,000; and
30.20 	(5) (v) candidates for the house of representatives, $1,500.;
30.21 	(2) the candidate or the candidate's treasurer must file an affidavit with the board 
30.22 	stating that the principal campaign committee has complied with this paragraph. The 
30.23 	affidavit must state the total amount of contributions that have been received from persons
30.24 	 individuals eligible to vote in this state, disregarding excluding:
30.25 	(i) the portion of any contribution in excess of $50.;
30.26 	(ii) any in-kind contribution; and
30.27 	(iii) any contribution for which the name and address of the contributor is not known 
30.28 	and recorded; and
30.29 	(3) the candidate or the candidate's treasurer must submit the affidavit required 
30.30 	by this section to the board in writing by the deadline for reporting of receipts and 
30.31 	expenditures before a primary under section 10A.20, subdivision 4.
30.32 	(b) A candidate for a vacancy to be filled at a special election for which the filing 
30.33 	period does not coincide with the filing period for the general election must accumulate 
30.34 	the contributions specified in paragraph (a) and must submit the affidavit required by this 
31.1 	section to the board within five days after the close of the filing period for the special 
31.2 	election for which the candidate filed.
31.3 	(c) A candidate whose name is placed on the ballot after the date by which the 
31.4 	affidavit must be filed under this subdivision must accumulate the required contributions 
31.5 	and must file the affidavit required by this section within ten days of the date that the 
31.6 	candidate's name was placed on the ballot.

31.7 	Sec. 50. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 211B.32, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
31.8 		Subdivision 1.Administrative remedy; exhaustion. (a) Except as provided in 
31.9 	paragraph (b), a complaint alleging a violation of chapter 211A or 211B must be filed with 
31.10 	the office. The complaint must be finally disposed of by the office before the alleged 
31.11 	violation may be prosecuted by a county attorney.
31.12 	(b) Complaints arising under those sections and related to those individuals and 
31.13 	associations specified in section 10A.02, subdivision 11, paragraph (a), must be filed with 
31.14 	the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.

31.15 	Sec. 51.  REPEALER.
 31.16 	Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 10A.24; 10A.242; and 10A.25, subdivision 6, are 
31.17 	repealed.

31.18 	Sec. 52. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 31.19 	This act is effective the day following final enactment.