Brief ⁽¹⁾

SB 464 amends the Campaign Finance Act to require treasurers for statewide candidates, beginning January 1, 2001, to facsimile or electronically file campaign contribution reports on contributions in an aggregate amount of $500 or more every 24 hours beginning 11 days before and up to the day of the primary or general election. The failure to file these campaign finance reports would be a class A misdemeanor.

The bill is effective upon publication in the Kansas Register.

Background

SB 464 was requested by the Governor's Office. A representative of the Governor testified that the bill would allow voters the opportunity to see who was supporting statewide candidates in the last days prior to the election. A representative of the Secretary of State's Office testified that the Office supports the concepts of the bill as introduced. A representative of the Governmental Ethics Commission testified that, currently, citizens do not have an opportunity to view the contributions in a timely fashion.

The Senate Committee on Elections and Local Government amended the bill to increase the amount for aggregate contributions to $250.

The House Committee of the Whole increased the amount to $500.

1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/bill_search.html