Substitute Senate Bill No. 263, Public Act No. 24-61, amends the Citizens' Election Program grants, particularly for court-ordered primaries and elections. It revises the grant amounts for major party candidates for various state offices, including Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State, and State Treasurer, with provisions for future adjustments. The bill introduces new grants for candidates in court-ordered primaries or elections, with specific amounts for the office of Governor ($250,000) and other state offices ($75,000), also subject to future adjustments. It further details the grant amounts for state senator and state representative candidates in different election scenarios, with provisions for adjustments based on party enrollment percentages and timing of the application.
The bill also modifies the allocation of funds to the Citizens' Election Fund, specifying annual credits based on the consumer price index and additional credits in fiscal years preceding gubernatorial elections. It repeals previous language that allowed for the funds to be used notwithstanding other provisions and adds language to ensure that costs and claims are paid from the General Fund. The bill includes minor language adjustments, such as changing "an" to "the" and adding "or new primary" to clarify grant eligibility conditions. The bill was approved on May 28, 2024, and is effective from July 1, 2024.