MI SB0113

Secretary of State must waive late filing fees upon written request if based on good cause, including incapacitating illness, death, loss of records due to fire/flood/theft, or transmission difficulties beyond the filer's control.

Any person may file a complaint alleging campaign finance violations; the Secretary of State must notify the accused within 5 business days and allow 15 business days for a response, with complainants permitted a 10 business day rebuttal period.

Secretary of State must post on its website within 60 business days whether there is reason to believe a violation occurred; if a violation is found, all complaints, responses, and correspondence must be posted within 5 business days.

After 30 business days of unsuccessful informal resolution attempts, the Secretary of State must either refer the matter to the Attorney General for criminal enforcement or commence a civil hearing; civil violations result in fines equal to triple the improper amount plus up to $1,000 per violation.

No private right of action exists under the Act; the remedies provided are the exclusive means of enforcement, and persons filing false complaints may be required to pay the Secretary of State's investigation expenses and the accused's reasonable attorney fees.