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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR SPAC
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
2/10/07
3/2/07 HB
SHORT TITLE Change Candidate Reporting Requirements
SB CS/444/aSPAC
ANALYST Ortiz
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY07
FY08
NFI
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
SUMMARY
Synopsis of SPAC Amendment
Senate Public Affairs Committee inserts a new section that requires reports to be subscribed and
sworn to by the candidate or treasurer of the political committee. It also allows reports to be
received electronically so long as an electronic signature in conformance with the Electronic
Authentication of Documents Act and the Uniform Reporting Act.
SPAC also adds that each required report shall include, unless anonymous or an event,
The full legal name of the entity or individual and address to whom an expenditure was made
or contribution was received;
The occupation or type of business of any person or entity making contributions of $250 or
greater;
The date and amount or value of a contribution; and
The amount, purpose and date of the expenditure.
It adds that a report shall contain an opening and closing cash balance for the bank account
maintained by the reporting individual during the reporting period and the name of the financial
institution.
Finally, each report must specify the amount of each unpaid debt and identity of the person to
whom the debt is owed.
pg_0002
CS/Senate Bill 444/aSPAC – Page
2
Synopsis of Original Bill
Senate Public Affairs Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 444 amends Section 1-19-29 NMSA
1978 to change reporting requirements of the campaign reporting act.
Senate Public Affairs Committee substitute would enact a new provision in the Campaign
Reporting Act (NMSA Sections 1-19-25 to 1-19-36) that would exempt a candidate from the
requirement of filing a “full report" if that candidate has not received any contributions and has
not made any expenditures, “notwithstanding the requirements of Section 1-19-29 NMSA 1978".
The bill would allow those candidates to file a “statement to that effect". They would not be
required to file a “full report" until the next required filing date after a contribution is received or
an expenditure is made.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
The bill exempts candidates who file a statement of no activity from filing reports of
expenditures made and contributions received.
The bill maintains that a candidate who neither files a declaration of candidacy, a nominating
petition or a statement of no activity shall still file a report.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
How will this benefit the public.
EO/nt