Bill Text: MI HB5520 | 2023-2024 | 102nd Legislature | Introduced

Michigan House Bill 5520

Introduced

Bill Title: Campaign finance: contributions and expenditures; contributions to political action committees by utility companies; prohibit. Amends 1976 PA 388 (MCL 169.201 - 169.282) by adding sec. 30a.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-27 - Bill Electronically Reproduced 02/22/2024 [HB5520 Detail]

Download: Michigan-2023-HB5520-Introduced.html

HOUSE BILL NO. 5520

February 22, 2024, Introduced by Reps. Wegela, Tsernoglou, McFall, Arbit, Morgan, Dievendorf, Byrnes, Rheingans, Hood, Martus, Paiz, Edwards, McKinney, Brabec and Aiyash and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

A bill to amend 1976 PA 388, entitled

"Michigan campaign finance act,"

(MCL 169.201 to 169.282) by adding section 30a.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 30a. (1) A committee, 501(c)(4) organization, 527 organization, or separate segregated fund connected to an electric utility or natural gas utility shall not make a donation or contribution to any of the following:

(a) A 501(c)(4) organization or a 527 organization that is controlled or directed by any of the following:

(i) A candidate for state elective office.

(ii) An elected state official.

(iii) A former elected state official.

(iv) An appointed state official.

(v) A state or local party committee.

(vi) A 501(c)(4) organization or 527 organization in which a state or local candidate, appointed official, or elected official controls or sits on the board of that organization.

(b) A 501(c)(4) organization or a 527 organization in which a candidate for state elective office, appointed state official, elected state official, former elected state official, or affiliate is employed by or sits on the board of that organization.

(d) A political party committee.

(e) A political committee.

(f) An independent committee.

(g) A separate segregated fund.

(2) An electric utility or natural gas utility that violates this section is subject to a civil fine of not more than 10 times the amount of the contribution. The attorney general may bring an action to collect the fine.

(3) As used in this section:

(a) "Affiliate" means any family member, employee, contract employee, or staff member of any of the following:

(i) An elected state official.

(ii) A candidate for state elective office.

(iii) A former elected state official.

(iv) An appointed state official.

(b) "Connected to an electric utility or natural gas utility" means the committee, 501(c)(4) organization, 527 organization, or separate segregated fund was organized by any officer, employee, contract employee, or staff member or any family member of an officer, employee, contract employee, or staff member of the electric utility or natural gas utility.

(d) "Family member" means any of the following:

(i) A spouse or ex-spouse.

(ii) A child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, sibling, niece, or nephew.

(iii) The spouse of a child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, sibling, niece, or nephew.

(e) "501(c)(4) organization" means an organization that claims tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(4) of the internal revenue code of 1986, 26 USC 501.

(f) "527 organization" means an organization that claims tax-exempt status under section 527 of the internal revenue code of 1986, 26 USC 527.

(g) "Former elected state official" means an individual who no longer holds state elective office but held state elective office during the previous 2 years.