AB298,22 23Section 22. 10.02 (3) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB298,12,224 10.02 (3) (b) 2. At a special partisan primary, the elector shall select the party
25ballot of his or her choice and shall make a cross () next to or depress the lever or

1button next to the candidate's name for each office for whom the elector intends to
2vote, or shall insert or write in the name of the elector's choice for a candidate.
AB298,23 3Section 23. 10.02 (3) (b) 2m. of the statutes is created to read:
AB298,12,124 10.02 (3) (b) 2m. At the partisan primary, the elector shall select the party
5ballot of his or her choice or the ballot containing the names of the independent
6candidates for state office and make a cross () or depress the lever or button next
7to the selected candidate's name for each office for whom the elector intends to vote
8or shall insert or write in the name of the elector's choice for a party candidate, if any.
9In order to qualify for participation in the Wisconsin election campaign fund, a
10candidate for state office at the partisan primary, other than a candidate for district
11attorney, must receive at least 6 percent of all votes cast on all ballots for the office
12that the candidate seeks, in addition to other requirements.
AB298,24 13Section 24. 10.06 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB298,12,2114 10.06 (1) (e) As soon as possible following the state canvass of the spring
15primary vote, but no later than the first Tuesday in March, the board shall send a
16type B notice certifying to each county clerk the list of candidates for the spring
17election. When no state spring primary is held, this notice shall be sent under par.
18(c). The board shall also in any case send a certified list of candidates under s. 11.50
19to the state treasurer pursuant to s. 7.08 (2) (c).
When there is a referendum, the
20board shall send type A and C notices certifying each question to the county clerks
21as soon as possible, but no later than the first Tuesday in March.
AB298,25 22Section 25. 10.06 (1) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB298,13,223 10.06 (1) (i) As soon as possible after the state canvass, but no later than the
244th Tuesday in August, the board shall send a type B notice certifying the list of
25candidates and, type A and C notices certifying each question for any referendum to

1each county clerk for the general election, and a certified list of candidates under s.
211.50 to the state treasurer pursuant to s. 7.08 (2) (c)
.
AB298,26 3Section 26. 11.06 (1) (jm) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB298,13,124 11.06 (1) (jm) A copy of any separate schedule prepared or received pursuant
5to an escrow agreement under s. 11.16 (5). A candidate or personal campaign
6committee receiving contributions under such an agreement and attaching a
7separate schedule under this paragraph may indicate the percentage of the total
8contributions received, disbursements made and exclusions claimed under s. 11.31
9(6)
without itemization, except that amounts received from any contributor pursuant
10to the agreement who makes any separate contribution to the candidate or personal
11campaign committee during the calendar year of receipt as indicated in the schedule
12shall be aggregated and itemized if required under par. (a) or (b).
AB298,27 13Section 27. 11.16 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB298,14,314 11.16 (5) Escrow agreements. Any personal campaign committee, political
15party committee or legislative campaign committee may, pursuant to a written
16escrow agreement with more than one candidate, solicit contributions for and
17conduct a joint fund raising effort or program on behalf of more than one named
18candidate. The agreement shall specify the percentage of the proceeds to be
19distributed to each candidate by the committee conducting the effort or program.
20The committee shall include this information in all solicitations for the effort or
21program. All contributions received and disbursements made by the committee in
22connection with the effort or program shall be received and disbursed through a
23separate depository account under s. 11.14 (1) that is identified in the agreement.
24For purposes of s. 11.06 (1), the committee conducting the effort or program shall
25prepare a schedule in the form prescribed by the board supplying all required

1information under s. 11.06 (1) and items qualifying for exclusion under s. 11.31 (6)
2for the effort or program, and shall transmit a copy of the schedule to each candidate
3who receives any of the proceeds within the period prescribed in s. 11.06 (4) (c).
AB298,28 4Section 28. 11.21 (15) of the statutes is created to read:
AB298,14,95 11.21 (15) Inform each candidate who files an application to become eligible to
6receive a grant from the Wisconsin election campaign fund of the dollar amount of
7the applicable disbursement limitation under s. 11.31 that applies to the office the
8candidate seeks. Failure to receive the notice required by this subsection does not
9constitute a defense to a violation of s. 11.27 (1) or 11.31.
AB298,29 10Section 29. 11.26 (9) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB298,14,1211 11.26 (9) (c) For purposes of pars. (a) and (b), a "committee" includes the
12Wisconsin election campaign fund.
AB298,30 13Section 30. 11.26 (10) of the statutes is created to read:
AB298,15,414 11.26 (10) No candidate who files a sworn statement and application to receive
15a grant from the Wisconsin election campaign fund may make contributions of more
16than 200 percent of the amounts specified in sub. (1) to the candidate's own campaign
17from the candidate's personal funds or property or the personal funds or property of
18the candidate that are owned jointly or as marital property with the candidate's
19spouse, unless the board determines that the candidate is not eligible to receive a
20grant, the candidate withdraws his or her application under s. 11.50 (2) (h), or s. 11.50
21(2) (i) applies. For purposes of this subsection, any contribution received by a
22candidate or his or her personal campaign committee from a committee that is
23registered with the federal election commission as the authorized committee of the
24candidate under 2 USC 432 (e) shall be treated as a contribution made by the
25candidate to his or her own campaign. The contribution limit of sub. (4) applies to

1amounts contributed by such a candidate personally to the candidate's own
2campaign and to other campaigns, except that a candidate may exceed the limitation
3if authorized under this subsection to make contributions exceeding the amount
4specified to the candidate's own campaign, up to the authorized excess amount.
AB298,31 5Section 31. 11.26 (13) of the statutes is created to read:
AB298,15,76 11.26 (13) Except as provided in sub. (9), grants received from the Wisconsin
7election campaign fund are not subject to limitation by this section.
AB298,32 8Section 32. 11.26 (17) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB298,15,119 11.26 (17) (a) For purposes of application of the limitations imposed in subs.
10(1), (2), and (9), and (10), the "campaign" of a candidate begins and ends at the times
11specified in this subsection.
AB298,33 12Section 33. 11.31 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB298,15,13 1311.31 (title) Disbursement levels and limitations; calculation.
AB298,34 14Section 34. 11.31 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB298,15,1815 11.31 (1) Schedule. (intro.) The following levels of disbursements are
16established with reference to the candidates listed below. The Except as provided in
17sub. (2), the
levels do not operate to restrict the total amount of disbursements which
18are made or authorized to be made by any candidate in any primary or other election.
AB298,35 19Section 35. 11.31 (2) of the statutes is created to read:
AB298,16,720 11.31 (2) Limitation imposed. No candidate for state office at a spring or general
21election who files a sworn statement and application to receive a grant from the
22Wisconsin election campaign fund may make or authorize total disbursements from
23his or her campaign depository account to the extent of more than the amount
24prescribed in sub. (1), unless the board determines that the candidate is not eligible
25to receive a grant, the candidate withdraws his or her application under s. 11.50 (2)

1(h), or s. 11.50 (2) (i) applies. No candidate for state office at a special election who
2files a sworn statement and application to receive a grant from the Wisconsin election
3campaign fund may make or authorize total disbursements from his or her campaign
4depository account in any campaign to the extent of more than the amount prescribed
5in sub. (1) for the preceding spring or general election for the same office, unless the
6board determines that the candidate is not eligible to receive a grant, the candidate
7withdraws his or her application under s. 11.50 (2) (h), or s. 11.50 (2) (i) applies.
AB298,36 8Section 36. 11.31 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB298,16,169 11.31 (2m) Voluntary limitation. Any candidate to whom sub. (2) and s. 11.26
10(10) do not apply may file an affidavit with his or her filing officer affirming that he
11or she has adhered to, and will adhere to, the limitations imposed under sub. (2) and
12s. 11.26 during his or her entire campaign. The limitations then apply to that
13candidate unless the candidate withdraws the affidavit by notifying his or her filing
14officer in writing no later than the 7th day after the primary in which the person
15filing the affidavit is a candidate, or the 7th day after the date that the primary would
16be held, if no primary is required.
AB298,37 17Section 37. 11.31 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
AB298,16,2318 11.31 (3) Gubernatorial campaigns. For purposes of compliance with the
19limitations imposed under sub. (2), candidates for governor and lieutenant governor
20of the same political party who both accept grants from the Wisconsin election
21campaign fund may agree to combine disbursement levels under sub. (1) (a) and (b)
22and reallocate the total level between them. The candidates shall each inform the
23board of any such agreement.
AB298,38 24Section 38. 11.31 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB298,17,12
111.31 (3m) Unopposed candidates; exception. Notwithstanding subs. (1) and
2(2), if all candidates for state senator or representative to the assembly in a
3legislative district who are certified under s. 7.08 (2) (a) to have their names appear
4on the partisan primary ballot of all parties recognized under s. 5.62 (1) (b) or (2) have
5no opponent whose name is certified to appear on the same primary ballot, or if no
6primary is required for all candidates of parties recognized under s. 5.62 (1) (b) or (2)
7for state senator or representative to the assembly in a legislative district who are
8certified under s. 8.50 (1) (d) to have their names appear on a special partisan election
9ballot, then the separate limitations imposed under sub. (1) for disbursements
10during the primary and election periods do not apply to candidates for that office in
11that election, and the candidates are bound only by the total limitations specified for
12the primary and election combined.
AB298,39 13Section 39. 11.31 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
AB298,17,2214 11.31 (4) Allocation. Except as provided in sub. (3m), whenever a separate
15disbursement level is specified for a primary and election under sub. (1), a candidate
16who disburses less than the authorized level in the primary may not reallocate the
17balance to increase the authorized level in the election. Whenever a separate
18disbursement level is not specified for a primary and election under sub. (1), a
19candidate may allocate disbursements between the primary and election campaign
20within the total level of disbursements specified in sub. (1) in any proportion desired,
21and may carry over unexpended contributions from a primary campaign to an
22election campaign.
AB298,40 23Section 40. 11.31 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
AB298,17,2524 11.31 (6) Exclusions. In computing the limitations under this section, a
25candidate may exclude any of the following:
AB298,18,1
11. Contributions returned to the contributor.
AB298,18,22 2. Loan repayments made.
AB298,18,43 3. Inaugural expenses paid from a campaign depository account under s. 11.25
4(2) (b).
AB298,18,55 4. Expenses incurred as a result of a recount.
AB298,18,66 5. All federal, state, and local taxes paid.
AB298,18,77 6. Any reimbursement paid to a candidate for the candidate's travel expenses.
AB298,18,108 7. The gross receipts from the sale at an auction of any materials contributed
9to a candidate and reported by the candidate as a disbursement at the time the
10contribution is made.
AB298,18,1111 8. All refunds or deposits paid.
AB298,18,1312 9. The cost of services and materials purchased from a service provider for the
13purpose of compliance with the electronic filing requirement under s. 11.21 (16).
AB298,18,1714 10. The cost of facilities rental, entertainment expense, food and beverages,
15including the preparation and service thereof that is contracted to an outside
16provider, if utilized for a meal, sale, rally, or similar fund raising event or program
17that is intended for political purposes.
AB298,41 18Section 41. 11.31 (7) (b) to (d) of the statutes are amended to read:
AB298,18,2119 11.31 (7) (b) Disbursements which are made before a campaign period for goods
20to be delivered or services to be rendered in connection with the campaign are
21allocated to charged against the disbursement level limitation for that campaign.
AB298,18,2422 (c) Disbursements which are made after a campaign to retire a debt incurred
23in relation to a campaign are allocated to charged against the disbursement level
24limitation for that campaign.
AB298,19,3
1(d) Disbursements which are made outside a campaign period and to which par.
2(b) or (c) does not apply are not subject to any disbursement level limitation. Such
3disbursements are subject to s. 11.25 (2).
AB298,42 4Section 42. 11.31 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB298,19,95 11.31 (8) Certain contributions excluded. The levels specified in limitations
6imposed under
this section do not apply to a gift of anything of value constituting a
7contribution made directly to a registrant by another, but the levels limitations do
8apply to such a gift when it is received and accepted by the recipient or if received
9in the form of money, when disbursed.
AB298,43 10Section 43. 11.31 (10) of the statutes is created to read:
AB298,19,1411 11.31 (10) Surplus materials excluded. Disbursements constituting surplus
12materials acquired in connection with a previous campaign of a candidate are not
13subject to limitation by this section if the materials were previously reported as a
14disbursement by that candidate for the previous campaign.
AB298,44 15Section 44. 11.50 of the statutes is created to read:
AB298,19,17 1611.50 Wisconsin election campaign fund. (1) Definitions. For purposes
17of this section:
AB298,19,1818 (a) "Eligible candidate" means:
AB298,20,219 1. With respect to a spring or general election, any individual who is certified
20under s. 7.08 (2) (a) as a candidate in the spring election for justice or state
21superintendent, or an individual who receives at least 6 percent of the vote cast for
22all candidates on all ballots for any state office, except district attorney, for which the
23individual is a candidate at the partisan primary and who is certified under s. 7.08
24(2) (a) as a candidate for that office in the general election, or an individual who has

1been lawfully appointed and certified to replace either such individual on the ballot
2at the spring or general election; and who has qualified for a grant under sub. (2).
AB298,20,223 2. With respect to a special election, an individual who is certified under s. 8.50
4(1) (d) as a candidate in a special election for state superintendent, or an individual
5who is certified under s. 8.50 (1) (d) as a candidate in a special election for any state
6office, except district attorney, on the ballot or column of a party whose candidate for
7the same office at the preceding general election received at least 6 percent of the vote
8cast for all candidates on all ballots for the office, or an individual who has been
9lawfully appointed and certified to replace either such individual on the ballot at a
10special election, or an individual who receives at least 6 percent of the vote cast for
11all candidates on all ballots for any state office, except district attorney, at a partisan
12special election; and who qualifies for a grant under sub. (2). Where the boundaries
13of a district in which an individual seeks office have been changed since the preceding
14general election such that it is not possible to calculate the exact number of votes that
15are needed by that individual to qualify as an eligible candidate prior to an election
16under this subdivision, the number of votes cast for all candidates for the office at the
17preceding general election in each ward, combination of wards or municipality which
18is wholly contained within the boundaries of the newly formed district shall be
19calculated. If the candidate of the political party on whose ballot or column the
20individual appears in the newly formed district obtained at least 6 percent of the
21number of votes calculated, the individual is as an eligible candidate prior to the
22election under this subdivision.
AB298,20,2323 (b) "Fund" means the Wisconsin election campaign fund.
AB298,20,2424 (c) "Grant" means a contribution received from the fund.
AB298,21,10
1(d) "Printing services" means printing, imprinting, lithographing,
2photolithographing, rotogravure, gravure, letterpress, mimeographing, stenciling,
3photostating, multilithing, multigraphing, steel die engraving, silkscreening, or by
4any other means reproducing or manufacturing political advertisements or
5campaign devices of any kind, including campaign literature, billboard advertising,
6special clothing, buttons, pens, stickers, banners and streamers, in support of or in
7opposition to any candidate, political party, or referendum, whether or not a charge
8is assessed for the materials or services, except materials or services provided by a
9candidate or individual, committee, or group subject to a filing requirement under
10this chapter.
AB298,22,2 11(2) Participation; application. (a) Any individual who desires to qualify as an
12eligible candidate may file an application with the board requesting approval to
13receive a grant from the fund. Except as provided in par. (e), the application shall be
14filed no later than the applicable deadline for filing nomination papers under s. 8.10
15(2) (a), 8.15 (1), 8.20 (8) (a), or 8.50 (3) (a), no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 7th day after
16the primary or date on which the primary would be held if required in the case of
17write-in candidates, or no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 7th day after appointment in
18the case of candidates appointed to fill vacancies. The application shall contain a
19sworn statement that the candidate and his or her authorized agents have complied
20with the contribution limitations prescribed in s. 11.26 and the disbursement
21limitations prescribed under s. 11.31 at all times to which those limitations have
22applied to his or her candidacy and will continue to comply with the limitations at
23all times to which the limitations apply to his or her candidacy for the office in
24contest, unless the board determines that the candidate is not eligible to receive a

1grant, the candidate withdraws his or her application under par. (h), or par. (i)
2applies.
AB298,22,43 (b) The board shall approve the application of an eligible candidate for
4participation if all of the following apply:
AB298,22,55 1. The application is timely.
AB298,22,76 2. The candidate is certified under s. 7.08 (2) (a) or 8.50 (1) (d) to appear upon
7the spring, general, or special election ballot.
AB298,22,98 3. The candidate has an opponent who is certified for placement on the election
9ballot as a candidate for the same office.
AB298,22,1310 4. The financial reports filed by or on behalf of the candidate as of the date of
11the spring or partisan primary, or the date that the special primary is or would be
12held, if required, indicate that his or her statement filed with the application under
13par. (a) is true.
AB298,23,914 5. The financial reports filed by or on behalf of the candidate as of the date of
15the spring or partisan primary, or the date that the special primary is or would be
16held, if required, indicate that the candidate has received at least the amount
17provided in this subdivision, from contributions of money, other than loans, made by
18individuals, which have been received during the period ending on the date of the
19spring primary and beginning on July 1 preceding that date in the case of candidates
20at the spring election, or ending on the date of the partisan primary and beginning
21on January 1 preceding that date in the case of candidates at the general election,
22or ending on the date that a special primary will or would be held, if required, and
23beginning 90 days preceding such date or on the date a special election is ordered,
24whichever is earlier, in the case of special election candidates, which contributions
25are in the aggregate amount of $100 or less, and which are fully identified and

1itemized as to the exact source thereof. A contribution received from a conduit which
2is identified by the conduit as originating from an individual shall be considered a
3contribution made by the individual. Only the first $100 of an aggregate contribution
4of more than $100 may be counted toward the required percentage. For a candidate
5at the spring or general election for an office identified in s. 11.26 (1) (a) or a candidate
6at a special election, the required amount to qualify for a grant is 5 percent of the
7candidate's authorized disbursement limitation under s. 11.31. For any other
8candidate at the general election, the required amount to qualify for a grant is 10
9percent of the candidate's authorized disbursement limitation under s. 11.31.
AB298,23,2210 (c) If a candidate has not filed financial reports as of the date of the spring
11primary, partisan primary, special primary, or date that the special primary would
12be held, if required, which indicate that he or she has met the qualification under par.
13(b) 5., the candidate may file a special report with the board. The report shall be filed
14not later than the 7th day after the primary, or 7th day after the date the primary
15would be held, if required, and shall include such supplementary information as to
16sources of contributions which may be necessary to complete the candidate's
17qualification. The special report shall cover the period from the day after the last date
18covered on the candidate's most recent report, or from the date on which the first
19contribution was received or the first disbursement was made, whichever is earlier,
20if the candidate has not previously filed a report, to the date of the report. All
21information included on the special report shall also be included in the candidate's
22next report under s. 11.20.
AB298,24,223 (d) For purposes of qualification under par. (b) 4. and 5., the financial reports
24of a former candidate are considered to be the same as if filed by the candidate who

1is lawfully appointed to replace that candidate whenever a vacancy after nomination
2occurs.
AB298,24,63 (e) Whenever a candidate who files nomination papers is unopposed on the
4deadline for filing the papers but is later opposed by a write-in candidate who
5qualifies for ballot placement, the application deadline under par. (a) is the same for
6the candidate who files nomination papers as for his or her opponent.
AB298,24,137 (f) The board shall inform each candidate in writing of the approval or
8disapproval of the candidate's application, as promptly as possible after the date of
9the spring primary, partisan primary, special primary, or date that the primary
10would be held, if required. With respect to a candidate at a special election who
11applies for a postelection grant under sub. (1) (a) 2., the board shall inform the
12candidate in writing of the conditional approval or disapproval of the candidate's
13application at the same time.
AB298,24,2014 (g) A candidate who voluntarily files an application to receive a grant in
15accordance with this subsection accepts and agrees to comply with the contribution
16limitations prescribed in s. 11.26 and the disbursement limitations imposed under
17s. 11.31 as binding upon himself or herself and his or her agents during the campaign
18as defined in s. 11.31 (7), as a precondition to receipt of a grant under this section,
19unless the board determines that the candidate is not eligible to receive a grant, the
20candidate withdraws the application under par. (h), or par. (i) applies.
AB298,25,221 (h) An eligible candidate who files an application under par. (a) may file a
22written withdrawal of the application. A withdrawal of an application may be filed
23with the board no later than the 7th day after the day of the primary in which the
24person withdrawing the application is a candidate or the 7th day after the date that
25the primary would be held, if required. If an application is withdrawn in accordance

1with this paragraph, the person withdrawing the application is no longer bound by
2the statement filed under par. (a) after the date of the withdrawal.
AB298,25,143 (i) Notwithstanding par. (g), if an eligible candidate at the spring election or a
4special nonpartisan election who accepts a grant is opposed by one or more
5candidates in the election, or if an eligible candidate at the general election or a
6special partisan election who accepts a grant is opposed by one or more candidates
7in the election who receive at least 6 percent of the vote cast for all candidates for the
8same office on all ballots at the partisan primary or a special primary if a primary
9was held, and in either case if any such opponent of the eligible candidate does not
10accept a grant under this section in whole or in part, the eligible candidate is not
11bound by the pledge made in his or her application to adhere to the contribution
12limitations prescribed in s. 11.26 and the disbursement limitation prescribed under
13s. 11.31, unless each such opponent files an affidavit of voluntary compliance under
14s. 11.31 (2m).
AB298,25,16 15(3) Nonpartisan candidates. (a) Annually on August 15, all moneys
16appropriated to the fund shall be apportioned as follows by the state treasurer:
AB298,25,2017 1. If an election for state superintendent is scheduled in the following year, 8
18percent of the fund shall be placed in a superintendency account. From this account,
19an equal amount shall be disbursed to the campaign depository account of each
20eligible candidate by the state treasurer.
AB298,25,2321 2. If an election for justice is scheduled in the following year, 8 percent of the
22fund shall be placed in a justice account. From this account, an equal amount shall
23be disbursed to each eligible candidate by the state treasurer.
AB298,25,2424 3. The balance shall be apportioned under sub. (4).
AB298,26,7
1(b) If a vacancy occurs in the office of state superintendent after August 15 in
2any year and an election is scheduled to fill the vacancy at the spring election in the
3following year, the state treasurer shall transfer an amount not exceeding 8 percent
4of the moneys transferred to the fund on the preceding August 15 to the account for
5the office in which the vacancy occurs, those moneys to be drawn from any account
6within the accounts created under sub. (4) in the amount or amounts specified by the
7board.
AB298,26,9 8(4) Partisan and special election candidates. (a) After apportionment under
9sub. (3), the remaining moneys shall constitute the partisan campaign account.
AB298,26,1210 (b) In the partisan campaign account, 25 percent of the moneys shall be
11apportioned into an executive campaign account and 75 percent of the moneys shall
12be apportioned into a legislative and special election campaign account.
AB298,26,1513 (c) The executive campaign account shall be divided into accounts for each
14executive office as provided in this paragraph. The apportionment of moneys in the
15executive campaign account shall be made as follows:
AB298,26,1716 1. Sixty-seven percent to be apportioned between all eligible candidates for
17governor.
AB298,26,1918 2. Eight percent to be apportioned between all eligible candidates for
19lieutenant governor.
AB298,26,2120 3. Seventeen percent to be apportioned between all eligible candidates for
21attorney general.
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