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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Feldman

DATE TYPED 2/20/05

HB

SHORT TITLE Judicial Campaign Funding Act

SB 642

ANALYST Wilson

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$50.0

Recurring General Fund

REVENUE

Estimated Revenue

Subsequent

Years Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

$50.0

Recurring

Judicial Election

Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)

Attorney General’s Office (AGO)

Corrections Department (CD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 642 appropriates $50 thousand from the general fund to the Judicial Election Fund

for the purpose of financing the election campaigns of certified candidates for supreme court jus-

tice or court of appeals judge.

The fund will receive money from the following sources:

•

Qualifying contributions submitted to the Secretary of State

Senate Bill 642-- Page 2

•

Any recurring balance of unspent fund money distributed to a certified candidate who

does not remain a candidate through the primary or general election period for which the

money was distributed

•

Money that remains unspent or unencumbered by a certified candidate following the date

of the primary election

•

Money that remains unspent or unencumbered by a certified candidate following the date

of the primary election and the general election

•

Unspent seed money that cannot be used for any other purpose

•

Money appropriated by the legislature

A certified candidate means a candidate running for supreme court justice or court of appeals

judge who chooses to obtain financing pursuant to the Act and who is certified as a Judicial

Campaign Funding Act candidate.

This bill also does the following:

o

Sets out the terms for obtaining financing, including filing a declaration of intent, and sets

out conditions that would cause a candidate to be ineligible for funding.

o

Describes the process by which applicants shall obtain qualifying contributions.

o

Provides for the collection, use and forfeiture of seed money by a candidate.

o

Sets out requirements for certification by the Secretary of State.

o

Sets out guidelines and restrictions for contributions to and expenditures of certified can-

didates.

o

Addresses political party expenditures as contributions to certified candidates.

o

Sets out candidate reporting requirements.

o

Provides for the timing and amount of fund distribution for adjustments to fund distribu-

tion.

o

Provides for the distribution of funds to a certified candidate in an amount sufficient to

equal the funds of a uncertified opponent.

o

Sets out the procedure for challenging a certification decision, including appeal to the dis-

trict court.

o

Provides that a willful or knowing violation of the act is a fourth degree felony.

Significant Issues

The AOC suggests extending the deadline for return of unspent or unencumbered funds from two

weeks to one month of a primary or general election. A candidate could have, for example,

phone expenses that relate to the campaign but are in an unknown amount, with a bill to arrive

later than the two-week deadline.

Senate Bill 642-- Page 3

The AOC further suggests in section 16, clarifying which decision may be appealed in district

court.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $50 thousand in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any un-

expended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 shall not revert to

the general fund.

This bill creates a new fund and provides for continuing appropriations. The LFC objects to in-

cluding continuing appropriation language in the statutory provisions for newly created funds.

Earmarking reduces the ability of the legislature to establish spending priorities.

There will be a minimal administrative cost for statewide update, distribution, and documenta-

tion of statutory changes. Any additional fiscal impact on the judiciary would be proportional to

the number of appeals filed in district court. New laws, amendments to existing laws, and new

hearings have the potential to increase caseloads in the courts, thus requiring additional resources

to handle the increase.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The bill requires the Secretary of State to prepare and provide a report regarding the administra-

tion, implementation and enforcement of the act.

DW/yr