97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB1273

 

Introduced 02/08/11, by Rep. William D. Burns

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
10 ILCS 5/9-25.1  from Ch. 46, par. 9-25.1; formerly   Ch. 46, pars. 102, 103 and 104
10 ILCS 5/12A-5
30 ILCS 105/5.786 new
35 ILCS 5/507YY new

    Creates the Lincoln Act. Provides for a voluntary program of public financing for candidates for the executive branch constitutional offices and General Assembly members beginning in 2011, to be administered by the State Board of Elections. Amends the State Finance Act and the Illinois Income Tax Act to create the necessary special fund and an income tax check-off to support the financing program. Amends the Election Code. Makes a conforming change concerning the use of public funds. Requires that the State Board of Elections publish its Internet voters' guide before every general election (now, general elections when statewide officers are elected) and include candidates for the General Assembly and a list of candidates participating in the public financing program. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1273LRB097 06828 HLH 46919 b

1    AN ACT concerning elections.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Lincoln Act.
 
6    Section 1.5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
7    (1) "Board" means the State Board of Elections.
8    (2) "Fund" means the Citizens' Election Fund established in
9Section 2 of this Act.
10    (3) "Depository account" means the single checking account
11at the depository institution designated as the depository for
12permitted contributions from natural persons and funds
13received from the Citizens' Election Fund.
14    (4) "Immediate family", when used with reference to a
15candidate, includes the candidate's spouse, parents, and
16dependent children.
17    (5) "Personal funds" means funds contributed by a candidate
18or a member of a candidate's immediate family.
19    (6) "Natural person" means any one human being.
20    (7) "General election cycle" means that period beginning
21with the day after the general primary and concluding the
22December 31 after the general election.
23    (8) " General primary election cycle" means that period

 

 

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1beginning with January 1 of the year after the general election
2and leading up to the first Tuesday in February.
3    (9) "Contested general primary election" and "contested
4general election" mean a primary or a general election in which
52 or more candidates are certified to have their names printed
6on the ballot by the Board.
7    (10) "Uncontested general primary election" and
8"uncontested general election" means a primary or a general
9election in which only one candidate has been certified to have
10his or her name printed on the ballot by the Board. If a
11candidate for nomination or election has an opponent who is
12exempted from filing a disclosure with the Board, as specified
13by the Illinois Campaign Disclosure Act, that race shall also
14be considered uncontested.
15    (11) "Candidate" means a qualified candidate for any of the
16following offices:
17        (i) Governor;
18        (ii) Lieutenant Governor;
19        (iii) Attorney General;
20        (iv) Secretary of State;
21        (v) Comptroller;
22        (vi) Treasurer;
23        (vii) State Senator; or
24        (viii) State Representative.
25    (12) "Qualified candidate" means any individual who seeks
26nomination to public office through a political party or

 

 

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1election to a public office as a candidate of a political party
2or as an independent candidate for public office. A person is
3considered a candidate only if he or she takes the actions
4necessary as required by the Election Code to qualify as a
5candidate for public office and is certified by the State Board
6of Elections to have his or her name placed on a ballot for
7election.
8    (13) "Clean election candidate" means a "qualified
9candidate" for public office who participates in the Citizens'
10Election Program.
11    (14) "Non-participating candidate" means a "qualified
12candidate" for public office who opts out or is disqualified
13from the Citizens' Election Program.
14    (15) "Qualifying report" is a list of all qualifying
15contributors and the dates and amounts of each of their
16contributions. Candidates may list more contributions on their
17qualifying report than are necessary to establish eligibility
18for receipt of an initial public financing benefit. Any
19contributors listed on a qualifying report over and above the
20minimum number necessary to establish eligibility shall be
21deemed for the purpose of matching funds.
22    (16) "Primary election campaign period" means the period
23beginning 30 days after the last day prescribed by law for
24filing nomination papers and ending on the day of the general
25primary election.
26    (17) "Public financing qualifying period" means, for

 

 

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1candidates seeking the nomination of an established party in a
2general primary election, the period beginning on the first day
3of July of an odd-numbered year and ending on the day before
4the beginning of the primary election campaign period. For all
5other candidates, the period beginning on the first day of July
6in an odd-numbered year and ending 7 days after the last date
7for nomination of candidates as set forth in Section 10-6 of
8the Election Code.
 
9    Section 2. Citizens' Election Fund. The Citizens' Election
10Fund is created as a special fund. The fund may contain any
11moneys required by law to be deposited into the fund. The State
12Comptroller shall administer the fund. Any balance remaining in
13the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward
14in the fund for the next fiscal year. All moneys deposited into
15the fund shall be used for the purposes of this Act, including
16but not limited to ensuring compliance with this Act and
17promoting the income tax checkoff.
 
18    Section 3. Program established.
19    (a) There is established a Citizens' Election Program under
20which the candidate for nomination to the office of Governor,
21Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller,
22Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Senator, or State
23Representative may receive a grant from the Citizens' Election
24Fund for the candidate's primary campaign for that nomination.

 

 

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1    (b) Any such candidate committee is eligible to receive
2such grants for a general primary campaign, if applicable, and
3a general election campaign if (1) the candidate certifies as a
4clean election candidate under Section 4, (2) the candidate's
5committee receives the required amount of qualifying
6contributions under Section 5, (3) the candidate's committee
7returns all contributions that do not meet the criteria for
8qualifying contributions under Section 5 to the Citizens'
9Election Fund, and (4) the candidate submits an application and
10the Board approves the application in accordance with the
11provisions of Sections 7 and 8.
 
12    Section 4. Participation.
13    (a) In order to participate in the Citizens' Election
14Program, candidates for nomination or election to the office of
15Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State
16Comptroller, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State
17Senator, or State Representative shall file an affidavit with
18the Board. The affidavit shall include written certifications
19(1) that the candidate is determined to abide by contribution
20restrictions under the Citizens' Election Program set forth in
21this Act during both the general primary and general election;
22(2) that the campaign treasurer of the candidate committee for
23that candidate shall expend any moneys received from the
24Citizens' Election Fund in accordance with rules adopted by the
25Board; (3) that the candidate shall repay to the fund moneys up

 

 

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1to the amount of the grant plus matching funds received from
2the Citizens' Election Fund remaining in the candidate's
3depository account; and (4) stating if the candidate shall be
4referred to as an established party or new party candidate and
5the name of such party. A candidate for nomination or election
6to any such office shall file such affidavit during the
7specified public financing qualifying period.
8    (b) A candidate who so certifies his or her intent to abide
9by the contribution restrictions under the Citizens' Election
10Program set forth in this Act shall be referred to as a "clean
11election candidate".
12    (c) In addition to reports required to be filed under the
13Election Code, a candidate who receives a public financing
14benefit must furnish complete financial records, including
15receipts and expenditures, on the last day of each month.
16    (d) A clean election candidate may withdraw from
17participation in the Citizens' Election Program before
18applying for an initial grant under Section 7 of this Act, by
19filing an affidavit with the Board, which includes a written
20certification of such withdrawal. A candidate who files such an
21affidavit shall be deemed to be a non-participating candidate
22for the purposes of Sections 1 to 17, inclusive, of this Act
23and shall not be penalized for such withdrawal. No clean
24election candidate shall withdraw from participation in the
25Citizens' Election Program after applying for an initial grant
26under Section 7 of this Act.

 

 

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1    (e) The campaign treasurer must submit reporting slips and
2an amount equal to the sum of the contributions collected to
3the Board throughout the general primary and general election
4cycles. The 3-part reporting slip, as defined in this
5subsection, shall include the printed name, registration
6address, and signature of the contributor, the name of the
7candidate for whom the contribution is made, the date, and the
8printed name and signature of the solicitor. If a contribution
9is received unsolicited, the candidate or contributor or
10campaign treasurer may sign the contribution form as the
11solicitor. Nothing in this Act shall prohibit the use of direct
12mail or the Internet to obtain contributions. A copy of the
13reporting slip shall be given as a receipt to the contributor,
14and the candidate's campaign committee shall retain a copy. The
15candidate must comply with this Act and ensure that the
16original slip is tendered to the Board, a copy remains with the
17candidate, and a copy is given to the contributor. Reporting
18lists shall be received by the campaign treasurer not later
19than 24 hours immediately preceding each required filing date.
20    (f) A clean election candidate shall only be permitted to
21use money received from the Citizens' Election Fund for
22purposes of nomination or election.
 
23    Section 5. Qualifying contributors.
24    (a) The number of qualifying contributors that the
25candidate committee of a candidate shall be required to receive

 

 

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1during the public financing qualifying period in order to be
2eligible for grants from the Citizens' Election Fund shall be:
3        (1) In the case of a candidate for nomination or
4    election to the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
5    Attorney General, State Comptroller, State Treasurer, or
6    Secretary of State, contributions from 3,500 natural
7    persons, of which 90% must reside in the State, must be
8    received by that candidate in order to qualify for the
9    Citizens' Election Program. The provisions of this
10    subsection shall be subject to the following: (A) the
11    candidate committee shall return the portion of any
12    contribution or contributions from any natural person,
13    including the candidate, that exceeds $500 and such excess
14    portion shall not be considered in calculating the
15    aggregate contribution amount under this subsection, and
16    (B) all contributions received by an exploratory committee
17    established by the candidate that meet the criteria for
18    qualifying contributors under this Section shall be
19    considered in tallying contributors; and
20        (2) In the case of a candidate for nomination or
21    election to the office of State Senator for a district,
22    contributions from 1,000 natural persons, of which 90% must
23    reside in the State, must be received by the candidate in
24    order to qualify for the Citizens' Election Program. The
25    provisions of this subsection shall be subject to the
26    following: (A) the candidate committee shall return the

 

 

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1    portion of any contribution or contributions from any
2    natural person that exceeds $500, and such excess portion
3    shall not be considered in calculating the aggregate
4    contribution amount under this subsection, and (B) all
5    contributions received by an exploratory committee
6    established by the candidate that meet the criteria for
7    qualifying contributors to candidate committees under this
8    Section shall be considered in tallying contributors.
9        (3) In the case of a candidate for nomination or
10    election to the office of State Representative for a
11    district, contributions from 500 natural persons, of which
12    90% must reside in the State, must be received by the
13    candidate in order to qualify for the Citizens' Election
14    Program. The provisions of this subsection shall be subject
15    to the following: (A) the candidate committee shall return
16    the portion of any contribution or contributions from any
17    natural person that exceeds $500, and such excess portion
18    shall not be considered in calculating the aggregate
19    contribution amount under this subsection, and (B) all
20    contributions received by an exploratory committee
21    established by the candidate that meet the criteria for
22    qualifying contributors to candidate committees under this
23    Section shall be considered in tallying contributors.
24        (4) The following shall not be deemed to be qualifying
25    contributions under subsection (a) of this Section and
26    shall be returned by the campaign treasurer of the

 

 

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1    candidate committee to the Citizens' Election Fund: (A) a
2    contribution of $5 or more from a natural person who does
3    not provide the full name and complete address of the
4    person; and (B) a contribution from a person who does not
5    reside in the State, in excess of the applicable limit on
6    contributions from out-of-state natural persons in
7    subsection (a) of this Section.
8    (b) Contributions received by clean election candidates
9over the set qualifying number of contributors specified in
10subsection (a) would count towards the match defined in Section
1112 of this Act.
12    (c) A candidate or a person, who later becomes a candidate,
13or an agent of that candidate, may not assist another person in
14qualifying as a candidate for the same office if such a
15candidacy would result in a greater distribution of funds from
16the Citizens' Election Fund in a contested election, as
17specified under Section 8 of this Act.
 
18    Section 6. Agreement by candidate. An eligible candidate
19who accepts funds from the Citizens' Election Fund during the
20primary election campaign period must agree to comply with all
21requirements of this Act throughout the general election cycle
22as a precondition to receipt of public funds. An eligible
23candidate who accepts a public financing benefit during a
24primary election campaign period may not elect to accept
25private contributions in violation of this Act during the

 

 

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1corresponding general election cycle.
 
2    Section 7. Application for grants.
3    (a) The application shall include a qualifying report,
4which demonstrates that the candidate committee has received
5contributions from the required number of contributors, and a
6written certification that;
7        (1) The candidate committee has repaid all moneys
8    borrowed on behalf of the campaign, as required by
9    subsection (b) of Section 11 of this Act;
10        (2) The candidate committee has returned any
11    contribution of $5 or more from a natural person who does
12    not include the person's name and address with the
13    contribution;
14        (3) The candidate committee has returned all
15    contributions or portions of contributions that do not meet
16    the criteria for qualifying contributions under Section 5
17    of this Act and returned all excess qualifying
18    contributions to the Citizens' Election Fund. That
19    contribution shall not count toward the maximum amount that
20    a contributor may contribute.
21        (4) The campaign treasurer of the candidate committee
22    will comply with the provisions of Sections 1 to 17,
23    inclusive, of this Act;
24        (5) All moneys received from natural persons and the
25    Citizens' Election Fund will be deposited upon receipt into

 

 

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1    the depository account of the candidate committee;
2        (6) The campaign treasurer of the candidate committee
3    will expend all moneys received from the fund in accordance
4    with the general statutes and rules adopted by the Board;
5    and
6        (7) If the candidate withdraws from the campaign,
7    becomes ineligible, or dies during the campaign, the
8    candidate committee of the candidate will return to the
9    Board, for deposit in the fund, all moneys received from
10    the fund, which that candidate committee has not spent or
11    encumbered as of the date of such occurrence.
12    (b) Conditions.
13        (1) A clean election candidate for nomination to the
14    office of Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller,
15    Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Senator, or
16    State Representative may apply to the Board for a grant
17    from the Citizens' Election Fund for a general election
18    campaign:
19            (A) After any primary held by such party for
20        nomination for that office, if the Board certifies that
21        the candidate is the party nominee;
22            (B) In the case of an independent candidate, after
23        approval by the Board of such candidate's nominating
24        petition.
25        (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of
26    this subsection, no clean election candidate for

 

 

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1    nomination or election who changes the candidate's status
2    as an established party or independent candidate or becomes
3    a candidate of a different party, after filing the
4    affidavit required under Section 4 of this Act, shall be
5    eligible to apply for a grant under the Citizens' Election
6    Program for such candidate's general primary campaign for
7    such nomination or general election campaign for such
8    election.
9    (c) The application shall be accompanied by a report of
10expenditures made and expenses incurred but not yet paid by the
11candidate committee as of 3 days before the date that the
12application is signed. The candidate and the campaign treasurer
13of the candidate committee shall swear to such accounting under
14penalty of perjury. The Board shall prescribe the form of the
15application and the cumulative itemized accounting. Both the
16candidate and the campaign treasurer of the candidate committee
17shall sign the application.
18    (d) Not later than 3 business days following receipt of any
19such application, the Board shall review the application,
20determine whether (1) the candidate committee for the applicant
21has received contributions from the required number of
22contributors, (2) in the case of an application for a grant
23from the fund for a general election campaign, the applicant
24has met the applicable condition under subsection (b) of this
25Section for applying for such grant and complied with the
26provisions of subsections (a) and (c) of this Section, (3) in

 

 

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1the case of an application for a grant from the fund for a
2general election campaign, the applicant has met the applicable
3condition under subsection (a) of this Section for applying for
4such moneys and complied with the provisions of subsection (c)
5of this Section, and (4) in the case of an application by an
6independent candidate for a grant from the fund for a general
7election campaign, the applicant qualifies as an eligible
8independent candidate. If the Board approves an application,
9the Board shall determine the amount of the grant payable to
10the candidate committee for the applicant pursuant to Section 8
11of this Act from the fund, and notify the State Comptroller and
12the candidate of such candidate committee, of such amount. As
13soon as practical, but in no event longer than 7 business days
14following notification by the Board, the State Comptroller
15shall draw an order for payment of such amount to the qualified
16candidate committee from the fund.
17    (e) If a nominated clean election candidate dies, withdraws
18the candidate's candidacy, or becomes disqualified to hold the
19office for which the candidate has been nominated after the
20Board approves the candidate's application for a grant under
21this Section, the candidate committee of the candidate who is
22nominated to replace that candidate shall be eligible to
23receive grants from the fund without complying with the
24provisions of Section 5 of this Act, if that replacement
25candidate files an affidavit under Section 4 of this Act
26certifying the candidate's intent to abide by the contribution

 

 

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1limits set forth in this Act and notifies the Board on a form
2prescribed by the Board.
 
3    Section 8. Grants.
4    (a) Governor.
5        (1) The clean election candidate committee of a
6    candidate for the office of Governor who has a general
7    primary for nomination to that office shall be eligible to
8    receive a grant from the Citizens' Election Fund for the
9    primary campaign in the amount of $1,250,000, that amount
10    to be adjusted under subsection (e) of this Section.
11        (2) If the clean election candidate for the office of
12    Governor has an uncontested general primary election, the
13    amount of the general primary election grant for which the
14    clean election candidate committee for that candidate
15    shall be eligible to receive is $375,000; that amount shall
16    be adjusted under subsection (e) of this Section.
17        (3) The clean election candidate committee for the
18    office of Governor who has been nominated shall be eligible
19    to receive a grant from the fund for the general election
20    campaign in the amount of $3,000,000, that amount to be
21    adjusted under subsection (e) of this Section.
22    (b) Other statewide offices.
23        (1) The clean election candidate committee for the
24    office of Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State
25    Comptroller, Secretary of State or State Treasurer who has

 

 

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1    a general primary election for nomination to that office
2    shall be eligible to receive a grant from the Citizens'
3    Election Fund for the primary campaign in the amount of
4    $425,000; that amount shall be adjusted under subsection
5    (e) of this Section.
6        (2) If the clean election candidate for the office of
7    Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller,
8    Secretary of State, or State Treasurer has an uncontested
9    general primary election the amount of the general primary
10    election grant for which the clean election candidate
11    committee for that candidate shall be eligible to receive
12    $375,000; that amount shall be adjusted under subsection
13    (e) of this Section.
14        (3) The clean election candidate committee for the
15    office of Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary
16    of State, or State Treasurer who has been nominated shall
17    be eligible to receive a grant from the fund for the
18    general election campaign in the amount of $1,000,000; that
19    amount shall be adjusted under subsection (e) of this
20    Section.
21    (c) State Senator.
22        (1) The clean election candidate committee of a
23    candidate for the office of State Senator who has a general
24    primary election for nomination to that office shall be
25    eligible to receive a grant from the Citizens' Election
26    Fund for the primary campaign in the amount of $300,000,

 

 

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1    provided if the vote totals of one established party
2    candidate for Governor from the previous gubernatorial
3    general election in the district served by that office
4    exceeds any other established party's vote totals by at
5    least 20%, the candidate from such party shall receive a
6    grant of $400,000; these amounts shall be adjusted under
7    subsection (e) of this Section.
8        (2) If the clean election candidate for the office of
9    State Senator has an uncontested general primary election,
10    the amount of the general primary grant for which the
11    qualified candidate committee for that candidate shall be
12    eligible to receive is $50,000;that amount shall be
13    adjusted under subsection (e) of this Section.
14        (3) The clean election candidate committee for the
15    office of State Senator who has been nominated shall be
16    eligible to receive a grant from the fund for a contested
17    general election campaign in the amount of $300,000; that
18    amount shall be adjusted under subsection (e) of this
19    Section.
20    (d) State Representative.
21        (1) The clean election candidate committee of a
22    candidate for the office of State Representative who has a
23    general primary election for nomination to that office
24    shall be eligible to receive a grant from the Citizens'
25    Election Fund for the primary campaign in the amount of
26    $150,000, provided if the vote totals of one established

 

 

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1    party candidate for Governor from the previous general
2    gubernatorial election in the district served by that
3    office exceeds any other established party's vote totals by
4    at least 20%, the candidate from such party shall receive a
5    grant of $200,000; these amounts shall be adjusted under
6    subsection (e) of this Section.
7        (2) If the clean election candidate for the office of
8    State Representative has an uncontested general primary
9    election, the amount of the general primary grant for which
10    the clean election candidate committee for that candidate
11    shall be eligible to receive is $25,000; that amount shall
12    be adjusted under subsection (e) of this Section.
13        (3) The clean election candidate committee for the
14    office of State Representative who has been nominated shall
15    be eligible to receive a grant from the fund for a
16    contested general election campaign in the amount of
17    $150,000; that amount shall be adjusted under subsection
18    (e) of this Section.
19    (e) Beginning on January 1, 2013 and every 2 years
20thereafter, the Board shall modify the public financing
21benefits provided for in Section 8 to adjust for the change in
22the Consumer Price Index, All Items, U. S. City Average,
23published by the United States Department of Labor for the
24preceding 2-year period ending on December 31.
25    (f) An independent candidate for the office of Governor,
26Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State,

 

 

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1Comptroller, Treasurer, State Senator, or State Representative
2who is not seeking the nomination of an established party,
3after having received approval by the Board of such candidate's
4nominating petition and qualifying contributors, shall be
5eligible to receive a grant from the fund in the amount of
6three-quarters of the grant allocated to candidates for that
7office in an uncontested general primary election during the
8primary election campaign period.
9    (g) Increase in the grants under special circumstances.
10        (1) If the opposing, non-participating candidate's
11    excess expenditures with respect to a clean election
12    candidate for nomination or election exceeds the threshold
13    amount, the initial grant for both the general primary and
14    general election under this Section shall be increased in
15    accordance with the formula in paragraph (3). As used in
16    this subsection, "excess expenditure" means an expenditure
17    made, or obligated to be made, by a nonparticipating
18    candidate who is opposed by one or more clean election
19    candidates in a primary campaign or a general election
20    campaign, which is in excess of the amount of the
21    applicable grant for the clean election candidates for the
22    campaign authorized under Section 8 of this Act.
23        (2) Threshold amount.
24            (A) In this subsection, the threshold amount with
25        respect to an election period of a candidate described
26        in paragraph (3) is an amount equal to the sum of:

 

 

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1                (i) $100,000; and
2                (ii) $0.04 multiplied by the voting age
3            population of the district in which the candidates
4            are seeking office.
5            (B) For the purpose of subparagraph (g) (2) (A),
6        the term "voting age population" means the number of
7        adults over the age of 18 found residing in every
8        county in the district or circuit by the U.S. Census
9        Bureau at the last preceding decennial census.
10        (3) If the opposing candidate's personal funds amount
11    is over:
12            (A) 2 times the threshold amount, but not over 4
13        times the amount, then the match, as specified under
14        subsection (d) of Section 12 of this Act, shall be
15        increased to a 4-to-1 match and the maximum amount of
16        matching funds allocated, as specified under
17        subsection (e) of Section 12 of this Act, shall be
18        multiplied by 1.25.
19            (B) 4 times the threshold amount, but not over 10
20        times the amount, then the match, as specified under
21        subsection (d) of Section 12 of this Act, shall be
22        increased to a 5-to-1 match and the maximum amount of
23        matching funds allocated, as specified under
24        subsection (e) of Section 12 of this Act, shall be
25        multiplied by 1.5.
26            (C) 10 times the threshold amount, then the match,

 

 

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1        as specified under subsection (d) of Section 12 of this
2        Act, shall be increased to a 6-to-1 match and the
3        maximum amount of matching funds allocated, as
4        specified under subsection (e) of Section 12 of this
5        Act, shall be multiplied by 2.
6        (4) If a court of competent jurisdiction prohibits or
7    limits any provision of subsection (g) as
8    unconstitutional, the provision within subsection (g)
9    shall be inoperative.
10    (h) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) to
11(g), inclusive, of this Section:
12        (1) The initial grant that a clean election candidate
13    committee for a candidate is eligible to receive under
14    subsections (a) to (g), inclusive, of this Section shall be
15    reduced by the amount of any personal funds that the
16    candidate provides for the candidate's campaign for
17    nomination or election pursuant to subsection (c) of
18    Section 11 of this Act.
19        (2) If a clean election candidate is nominated at a
20    general primary election and does not expend the entire
21    grant for the primary campaign authorized under subsection
22    (a), (b), (c), or (d) of this Section or all moneys that
23    may be received for the general primary campaign under
24    Section 12 of this Act, the amount of the grant for the
25    general election campaign shall be reduced by the total
26    amount of any such unexpended primary campaign grant and

 

 

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1    moneys.
2        (3) If a clean election candidate has an uncontested
3    general election campaign, the candidate shall be eligible
4    to receive 30% of the applicable general election grant set
5    forth in subsections (a) to (d), inclusive.
 
6    Section 9. Depository accounts. The deposit of moneys from
7the Citizens' Election Fund shall be transferred into the
8depository account of a qualified candidate committee, no
9contribution, loan, amount of the candidate's own moneys, or
10any other moneys received by the candidate or the campaign
11treasurer on behalf of the committee shall be deposited into
12that depository account, except (1) grants from the fund, (2)
13any additional moneys from the fund as provided in Section 12
14of this Act, and (3) contributions from natural persons under
15$500.
 
16    Section 10. General election campaign grants. A qualified
17candidate committee that received moneys from the Citizens'
18Election Fund for a general primary campaign and whose
19candidate is the party nominee shall receive a grant from the
20fund for a general election campaign. Upon receiving
21verification from the Board of the results of the votes cast at
22the primary, the Board shall notify the State Comptroller of
23the amount payable to such qualified candidate committee
24pursuant to Section 7 of this Act. As soon as is practical, but

 

 

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1in no event longer than 7 business days following notification
2by the Board, the State Comptroller shall draw an order for
3payment of the general election campaign grant to that
4committee from that fund.
 
5    Section 11. Loans; personal funds; debt.
6    (a) The candidate committee for a candidate who intends to
7participate in the Citizens' Election Program may borrow moneys
8on behalf of a campaign for a general primary or a general
9election from one or more financial institutions. The amount
10borrowed shall not constitute a qualifying contribution under
11Section 5 of this Act.
12    (b) All such loans shall be repaid in full prior to the
13date such candidate committee applies for a grant from the
14Citizens' Election Fund pursuant to Section 7 of this Act. A
15candidate who fails to repay such loans or fails to certify
16such repayment to the Board shall not be eligible to receive
17and shall not receive grants from the fund.
18    (c) A candidate who intends to participate in the Citizens'
19Election Program may provide personal funds for such
20candidate's campaign for nomination or election in an amount
21not exceeding the following: (1) for a candidate for the office
22of Governor, $20,000; (2) for a candidate for the office of
23Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller,
24State Treasurer, Secretary of the State, $10,000; (3) for a
25candidate for the office of State Senator, $2,000; or (4) for a

 

 

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1candidate for the office of State Representative, $1,000:
2        (1) Such personal funds shall not constitute a
3    qualifying contribution under Section 5 of this Act.
4        (2) The initial grant that a qualified candidate
5    committee for a candidate is eligible to receive under
6    Section 8 of this Act shall be reduced by the amount of any
7    personal funds that the candidate provides for the
8    candidate's campaign for nomination or election.
9    (d) A candidate shall not incur obligations beyond funds
10raised or received in accordance with this Act.
 
11    Section 12. Matching funds.
12    (a) Clean election candidates shall qualify to receive
13matching funds from the Citizens' Election Fund for
14contributions received from natural persons, following receipt
15of initial Citizens' Election Fund grants during both the
16primary and general election cycles.
17    (b) Clean election candidates shall receive a match from
18the Citizens' Election Fund on the portion of any given
19contribution up to $100 from a natural person, 90% of whom must
20reside in Illinois.
21    (c) Clean election candidates shall disclose to the Board
22individual contributions received following receipt of
23Citizens' Election Fund grants during both the primary and
24general elections, on a schedule to be adopted by rule.
25    (d) The Board shall direct the State Comptroller to

 

 

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1allocate moneys from the Citizens' Election Fund to clean
2election candidates who have continued to receive
3contributions following the receipt of initial Citizens'
4Election Fund grants. The matching funds from the Citizens'
5Election Fund shall be allocated based upon a 3-to-1 match.
6    (e) Candidates may receive up to 2 times the grant received
7from the Citizens' Election Fund during both the general
8primary and general election cycle.
9    (f) Clean election candidates may continue to collect
10contributions of $500 or less from natural persons, 90% of whom
11must reside in Illinois, after receiving the maximum amount of
12matching funds from the Citizens' Election Fund;
13notwithstanding the aforementioned, no natural person may
14contribute more than $500 in any given general primary or
15general election to one clean election candidate.
 
16    Section 13. Creating rules regarding coordination with
17candidates.
18    (a) A contribution includes anything of value provided in
19coordination with a candidate for the purpose of influencing
20the outcome of an election.
21    (b) A coordinated activity is anything of value provided in
22coordination with a candidate (or party or agent) to influence
23an election, regardless of whether it contains express
24advocacy, including payments: in consultation with, or at
25request or suggestion of, a candidate, party, or agent; using

 

 

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1candidate-prepared materials; based on information provided by
2candidate's campaign for purposes of expenditure; by a spender
3who during that election cycle has raised funds or acted in an
4official position for a candidate; for communications about
5campaign plans, directly or through a party; for in-kind
6professional services, directly or through a party, other than
7for voter guide mailings; and in coordination with a candidate
8to influence election regardless of whether the communication
9contains express advocacy.
 
10    Section 14. Contributions in excess of limit. If a
11contribution is found to be in excess of $500 during the course
12of either the primary or general election cycle, the candidate
13shall notify the Board and turn over the excess contribution
14within 3 business days to the Citizens' Election Fund,
15otherwise: (1) the committee shall not receive any additional
16grants or moneys from the fund for the remainder of the
17election cycle if the Board determines that the candidate or
18campaign treasurer of that committee had knowledge of the
19excess contribution, (2) the campaign treasurer shall be
20subject to penalties under Article 29 of the Election Code, and
21(3) the candidate of that candidate committee shall be deemed
22to be a non participating candidate for the purposes of
23Sections 1 to 17, inclusive, of this Act if the Board
24determines that the candidate or campaign treasurer of that
25committee had knowledge of the excess expenditure. The Board

 

 

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1may waive the provisions of this subsection upon determining
2that an excess contribution is of minor consequence. The Board
3shall adopt rules establishing standards for making such
4determinations.
 
5    Section 15. Exploratory committee. If a candidate has
6established an exploratory committee, the campaign treasurer
7of the committee may distribute to the clean election candidate
8committee only that portion of such surplus that is
9attributable to contributions that meet the criteria for
10permissible contributions defined as $5 to $500 and shall
11distribute the remainder of such surplus to the Citizens'
12Election Fund.
 
13    Section 16. Board duties. The Board has the following
14duties:
15    (a) Annually, to issue a report on the status of the
16Citizens' Election Fund during the previous calendar year. Such
17report shall include the amount of moneys deposited in the
18fund, the sources of moneys received by category, the number of
19contributions, the number of contributors, the amount of moneys
20expended by category, the recipients of moneys distributed from
21the fund, and an accounting of the costs incurred by the Board
22in administering the provisions of Sections 1 to 17, inclusive,
23of this Act.
24    (b) To establish and administer a program of voluntary

 

 

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1trainings on the Citizens' Election Program for candidates and
2campaign treasurers.
3    (c) Not later than July 1 of the year preceding a general
4election, to determine whether the amount of moneys in the fund
5is sufficient to carry out the purposes of Sections 1 to 17,
6inclusive, of this Act. If the Board determines that such
7amount is not sufficient to carry out such purposes, the Board
8shall, not later than 3 days after such later determination,
9(1) determine the percentage of the fund's obligations that can
10be met for such election, (2) recalculate the amount of each
11payment that each qualified candidate committee is entitled to
12receive under Section 8 of this Act by multiplying such
13percentage by the amount that such committee would have been
14entitled to receive under Sections 1 to 17, inclusive, of this
15Act if there were a sufficient amount of moneys in the fund,
16and (3) notify each such committee of such insufficiency,
17percentage, and applicable recalculation. After a qualified
18candidate committee under Section 8 of this Act first receives
19any such recalculated payment, the committee may resume
20accepting contributions. The Board shall also issue a report on
21that determination.
 
22    Section 17. Application of Act. Candidates may begin
23participating under this Act on July 1, 2011 for the 2012
24general primary and general election cycles, unless the Board
25declares that the Citizens' Election Fund has insufficient

 

 

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1funds.
 
2    Section 85. The Election Code is amended by changing
3Sections 9-25.1 and 12A-5 as follows:
 
4    (10 ILCS 5/9-25.1)  (from Ch. 46, par. 9-25.1; formerly Ch.
5      46, pars. 102, 103 and 104)
6    Sec. 9-25.1. Election interference.
7    (a) As used in this Section, "public funds" means any funds
8appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly or by any
9political subdivision of the State of Illinois.
10    (b) Except as otherwise provided by statute, rule, or
11ordinance, no No public funds shall be used to urge any elector
12to vote for or against any candidate or proposition, or be
13appropriated for political or campaign purposes to any
14candidate or political organization. This Section shall not
15prohibit the use of public funds for dissemination of factual
16information relative to any proposition appearing on an
17election ballot, or for dissemination of information and
18arguments published and distributed under law in connection
19with a proposition to amend the Constitution of the State of
20Illinois.
21    (c) The first time any person violates any provision of
22this Section, that person shall be guilty of a Class B
23misdemeanor. Upon the second or any subsequent violation of any
24provision of this Section, the person violating any provision

 

 

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1of this Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
2(Source: P.A. 87-1052.)
 
3    (10 ILCS 5/12A-5)
4    Sec. 12A-5. Internet Guide. The Board shall publish, no
5later than the 45th day before each a general election in which
6a statewide candidate appears on the ballot, an Internet
7website with the following information:
8        (1) The date and time of the general election.
9        (2) Requirements for a citizen to qualify as an
10    elector.
11        (3) The deadline for registering as an elector in the
12    State of Illinois for the next election.
13        (4) Contact information for local election
14    authorities.
15        (5) A description of the following offices, when they
16    appear on the ballot, including their term of office, basic
17    duties, and base salary: United States President, United
18    States Senator, United States Representative, Governor,
19    Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State,
20    Treasurer, Comptroller, Illinois Supreme Court Judge, and
21    Illinois Appellate Court Judge, State Senator, and State
22    Representative. The Board shall not include information on
23    any office other than the offices listed in this item (5).
24        (6) The names and party affiliations of qualified
25    candidates for the following offices, when these offices

 

 

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1    appear on the ballot: United States President, United
2    States Senator, United States Representative, Governor,
3    Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State,
4    Treasurer, Comptroller, Illinois Supreme Court Judge, and
5    Illinois Appellate Court Judge, State Senator, and State
6    Representative. The Board shall not include information on
7    candidates for any office other than the offices listed in
8    this item (6).
9        (7) Challenged candidates. Where a candidate's right
10    to appear on the general election ballot has been
11    challenged, and any appeal remains pending regarding those
12    challenges, the challenged candidate may appear on the
13    Internet Guide, subject to the other provisions of Section
14    12A-10. In this instance, the Board may note that the
15    candidate's candidacy has been challenged and that he or
16    she may be removed from the ballot prior to election day.
17    If the candidate is removed from the ballot prior to
18    election day, the Board shall remove the candidate's name
19    and other information from the Internet Guide.
20        (8) Any personal statement and photograph submitted by
21    a candidate named in the Internet Guide, subject to
22    Sections 12A-10 and 12A-35.
23        (9) A means by which an elector may determine what type
24    of balloting equipment is used by his or her local election
25    authority, and the instructions for properly using that
26    equipment.

 

 

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1        (10) The text of any public question that may appear on
2    the ballot.
3        (11) A mechanism by which electors may determine in
4    which congressional and judicial districts they reside.
5    The Internet Guide shall allow visitors to search for
6    candidates by office (e.g., Governor or United States
7    Senator) and candidate's name.
8        (12) Information concerning how to become an election
9    judge.
10        (13) A list of the clean election candidates in that
11    general election.
12    The Board shall archive the contents of the Internet Guide
13for a period of at least 5 years.
14    In addition, the Board has the discretion to publish a
15voters' guide before a general primary election in the manner
16provided in this Article.
17(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.)
 
18    Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
19Section 5.786 as follows:
 
20    (30 ILCS 105/5.786 new)
21    Sec. 5.786. The Citizens' Election Fund.
 
22    Section 95. The Illinois Income Tax Act is amended by
23adding Section 507YY as follows:
 

 

 

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1    (35 ILCS 5/507YY new)
2    Sec. 507YY. Citizens' Election Fund. The Department shall
3print on its standard individual income tax form a provision
4indicating that if the taxpayer wishes to contribute to the
5Citizens' Election Fund, he or she may do so by stating the
6amount of the contribution (not less than $1) on the return and
7that the contribution will reduce the taxpayer's refund or
8increase the amount of payment to accompany the return. Failure
9to remit any amount of increased payment shall reduce the
10contribution accordingly. This Section shall not apply to any
11amended return.
 
12    Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are
13severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
 
14    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
15becoming law.