HB 05021 - Citizens' Election Program Summary

• Establishes supplemental grants under the Citizens' Election Fund for qualified candidates seeking nomination or election to state offices (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, state senator, and state representative).

• Introduces "supplemental qualifying contributions" with limits: Governor candidates capped at $500 per donor, statewide office candidates at $250, and legislative candidates at $100, with aggregate limits tied to one-third of applicable supplemental grant amounts.

• Supplemental grants are calculated at three times the amount of supplemental qualifying contributions received, up to maximum amounts ranging from $3,500 to $2.25 million depending on office and election type.

• Modifies initial grant eligibility and amounts for state candidates, reducing grant amounts and changing contribution requirements for qualifying for primary and general election campaigns effective 2010 and thereafter.

• Eliminates previous matching fund provisions (sections 9-713 and 9-714) and replaces them with the new supplemental grant structure tied to supplemental qualifying contributions.