The bill amends the Michigan Campaign Finance Act to enhance the filing and management processes of campaign finance reports. Key updates include the requirement for the Secretary of State to provide forms and instructions, develop a filing and coding system, and establish clearer timelines for public access to declaratory rulings and complaint responses. It introduces provisions for waiving late filing fees under certain circumstances, such as medical issues or unforeseen events, and mandates that complaints must be signed and include the complainant's contact information. The bill also clarifies the preservation periods for various statements and reports, particularly for committees with contributions exceeding $50,000 during an election cycle.

Additionally, the bill modifies penalties and filing requirements for campaign committees, establishing a tiered late filing fee structure based on previous fundraising amounts. It specifies that committees receiving or spending over $1,000 must comply with filing requirements and introduces penalties for individuals responsible for record-keeping who fail to submit required statements. The bill outlines the process for the seizure and forfeiture of funds from candidate committees that do not file required statements for two consecutive years, detailing penalties that include imprisonment and fines. It also repeals outdated sections of existing law, aiming to streamline the campaign finance process and improve accountability.

Statutes affected:
Substitute (S-1): 169.215
Senate Introduced Bill: 169.215
As Passed by the Senate: 169.215