Section 270-1-6 - CONTRIBUTIONS AND OTHER RECEIPTS1. The date of a contribution is the date it is received by a candidate, an agent of the candidate, a candidate's committee, a party committee and its agents, or a political action committee and its agents.2. A loan is a contribution at the time it is made unless the loan was made by a financial institution in the State of Maine in the ordinary course of business. Loans continue to be contributions until they are repaid. Loans are subject to the candidate contribution limitations, except for loans made by the candidate, the candidate's spouse, or a financial institution in the State of Maine in the ordinary course of business. The Commission may consider any reported loan to be a cash contribution if it remains unpaid four years after the election in which it was incurred.3. Candidates and political action committees must report the name, address, occupation and employer of each individual contributor who gives, in the aggregate, more than $50 for the reporting period. The reporting is required for private contributions raised by privately financed candidates and for seed money contributions to candidates participating in the Maine Clean Election Act. Candidates, political action committees, ballot question committees, and party committees must make a reasonable effort to obtain the employment information of the contributor when required by statute. The reasonable effort must include requesting the employment information and providing a convenient means for the donor to provide the information, such as a paper form to be submitted with a contribution or text fields to enter the information on an online fundraising screen. If a candidate or committee is unable to obtain the information from the contributor in response to a candidate's or committee's request, the candidate or committee shall indicate "information requested" in the occupation and employer sections of the campaign finance report. If the Commission staff believes that due to the amount of missing information further inquiry is warranted, the Commission staff shall verify whether the candidate or committee has made a reasonable effort to obtain the information.4. Unless specifically exempted under Title 21-A M.R.S.A. §§1012 and 1052 or this section, the provision of any goods or services without charge or at a charge that is less than the usual and customary charge for such goods or services is an in-kind contribution. Examples of such goods and services include, but are not limited to: equipment, facilities, supplies, personnel, advertising, and campaign literature. If goods or services are provided at less than the usual and customary charge, the amount of the in-kind contribution is the difference between the usual and customary charge and the amount charged the candidate or political committee.A. A commercial vendor that has provided a discount to a candidate or political committee because of a defect in performance or other business reason has not made a contribution if the vendor grants substantially similar discounts to other customers in the ordinary course of the vendor's business.B. If a candidate is a public official who is provided a vehicle for transportation by a public entity for the purpose of conducting official duties, the use of such vehicle for campaign purposes is considered to be an in-kind contribution to the candidate from the public entity unless the candidate reimburses the public entity for the use of the vehicle.5. An employer that has authorized an employee to provide services without charge to a candidate or political committee during the employee's paid work-time has made an in- kind contribution to the candidate or political committee. No contribution has been made if the employee is providing services as a volunteer outside of the employee's paid work-time.6. A commercial vendor that has extended credit to a candidate or political committee has not made a contribution if the credit is extended in the ordinary course of the vendor's business and the terms are substantially similar to extensions of credit made to nonpolitical customers that are of similar risk and size of obligation. The Commission shall presume any debt that remains unpaid more than six months after the election in which the debt was incurred to be a contribution to the candidate or political committee unless the candidate or committee provides clear and convincing evidence to the Commission that they intend to raise funds or take other measures to satisfy the debt. The Commission shall determine whether any debt that remains unpaid for more than four years after the election should be deemed a contribution to the candidate or committee. The Commission may take into consideration any evidence it believes is relevant, including evidence that the creditor did not intend to make a contribution to the candidate or committee or that the candidate or committee is unable to pay the debt.7. For the purposes of the limitations imposed by 21-A M.R.S.A. §1015(1), 21-A M.R.S.A. §1015(2), 21-A M.R.S.A. §1015(3), 21-A M.R.S.A. §1018-B and 21-A M.R.S.A. §1056, the following guidelines shall apply: A. All contributions received through the day of the primary election by candidates enrolled in a political party are deemed to be received for the primary election, unless the candidate designates the contribution for the general election on the applicable campaign finance report. If a candidate receives a contribution before the primary election and designates it for the general election, the candidate must deposit the contribution in an account that is separate from all funds received for the primary election and may not use the contribution in any way to promote the candidate's nomination in the primary election.A-1. For an election determined by ranked-choice voting, the day of the primary election is deemed to be the date on which the Secretary of State submits the tabulation of election results to the Governor, pursuant to Title 21-A, section722.B. If a candidate loses in the primary, all contributions made to that candidate for the purpose of liquidating debts and liabilities associated with the candidate's candidacy are deemed to be made in the primary election.C. All contributions made to a general election candidate from the day after the primary election through the date of the general election are deemed to be made for the general election.D. All contributions made after the general election to a general election candidate for the purpose of reducing debts and liabilities associated with the candidate's candidacy are deemed to be made in the general election.E. After the day of a candidate's last election, all contributions made to a candidate who has liquidated all debts and liabilities associated with that election are deemed to be made in support of the candidate's candidacy for a subsequent election.F. Subparagraphs A through E above shall apply to any write-in candidate who has qualified under 21-A M.R.S.A. §723, or who has received contributions or made expenditures with the intent of qualifying as a candidate.8. If a political committee that is required to file reports with the Commission sells an item to raise funds, the entire amount received is a contribution to the committee. If the political committee provides meals or entertainment at a fundraising event, the entire amount paid by the donor is a contribution to the committee. [FOR EXAMPLE: IF A SUPPORTER PAYS A CANDIDATE COMMITTEE $20 FOR A T-SHIRT THAT COST THE CAMPAIGN $5, THE SUPPORTER HAS MADE A $20 CONTRIBUTION. IF A SUPPORTER PAYS $100 FOR A TICKET TO A FUNDRAISING DINNER, THE SUPPORTER HAS MADE A $100 CONTRIBUTION EVEN IF THE COMMITTEE PROVIDES A MEAL WORTH $30.]9. If an expenditure is made to promote or support the nomination or election of a candidate, or to oppose or defeat the candidate's opponent(s), and the expenditure is made in cooperation, consultation or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, the candidate, the expenditure is considered to be a contribution from the spender to the candidate. As used within this subsection, the term "candidate" includes a committee authorized by the candidate to promote or support his or her election, and all agents of the candidate or the authorized committee. A. In cooperation, consultation or in concert with includes, but is not limited to:(1) discussion between the candidate and the creator, producer or distributor of a communication, or the person paying for that communication, regarding the content, timing, location, mode, intended audience, volume of distribution or frequency of placement of that communication, and(2) participation by the candidate in making any decision regarding the content, timing, location, mode, intended audience, volume of distribution, or frequency of placement of the communication.B. An expenditure is presumed to be made in cooperation, consultation or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of a candidate, when (1) the expenditure is made in cooperation, consultation or in concert with any person who, during the twelve months preceding the expenditure, has been the candidate's treasurer or an officer of the candidate's authorized committee, has had a paid or unpaid position managing the candidate's campaign, or has received any campaign-related compensation or reimbursement from the candidate;(2) when the candidate has directly shared the candidate's campaign plans, activities, or needs with the spender for the purpose of facilitating a payment by the spender on a communication to voters to promote or support the candidate; or(3) the communication replicates, reproduces, republishes or disseminates, in whole or in substantial part, a communication designed, produced, paid for or distributed by the candidate. The candidate or spender may rebut the presumption by submitting sufficient contrary evidence.
C. If a candidate requests that a party committee, political action committee, or other potential spender not make any expenditure to promote or support the candidate, or oppose or defeat the candidate's opponent(s), the request does not constitute cooperation or coordination.D. An expenditure will not be presumed to have been made in cooperation, consultation or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of a candidate, solely because: (1) the spender has obtained a photograph, biography, position paper, press release, logo, or similar material about the candidate from a publicly available source;(2) the person making the expenditure has previously provided advice to the candidate on suggested communication strategies, budgets, issues of public policy, or other campaign plans or activities;(3) the person makes an expenditure in response to a general, non-specific request for support by a candidate, provided that there is no discussion, cooperation or consultation with the candidate prior to the expenditure relating to the details of the expenditure;(4) the spender has also made a contribution to the candidate, or has discussed with the candidate his or her campaign plans or activities as part of the candidate's solicitation for a donation;(5) the expenditure is made by a for-profit or non-profit organization for invitations, announcements, food and beverages and similar costs associated with an event to which the candidate has been invited by the organization to make an appearance before the organization's members, employees, shareholders and the families thereof; or(6) the expenditure is made by an individual who spends $100 or less for costs associated with a sign that is lettered or printed individually by hand and that reproduces or replicates a candidate's campaign-related design or graphic.10. Funds or services received solely for the purpose of conducting activities to determine whether an individual should become a candidate are not contributions if the individual does not become a candidate. Examples of such activities include, but are not limited to, conducting a poll, telephone calls, and travel. The individual shall keep records of all such funds or services received. If the individual becomes a candidate, the funds or services received are contributions and are subject to the reporting requirements of 21-A M.R.S.A. §1017. The amount and source of such funds or the value of services received must be disclosed in the first report filed by the candidate or the candidate's authorized campaign committee, regardless of the date when the funds or services were received, in accordance with the Commission's procedures for reporting contributions. Funds or services used by an individual for activities indicating that he or she has decided to become a candidate for a particular office are contributions. Examples of such activities include, but are not limited to: using general public political advertising to publicize his or her intention to campaign for office; hiring staff or consultants for campaign activities; raising funds in excess of what could reasonably be expected to be used for exploratory activities; making or authorizing statements that refer to him or her as a candidate; or taking action to qualify for the ballot.
11. The statutory exception to the definition of "contribution" in 21-A M.R.S.A. §1012 (2)(B)(2) applies when an individual provides real or personal property or pays for invitations, food or beverages as an incidental cost of providing voluntary personal services for a candidate-related activity. The costs of food and beverages are exempt only if they relate to the personal services provided by the volunteer (for example, assisting at a house party, or hosting an evening of envelope-stuffing by volunteers). The costs of invitations for a campaign event may not be shared and are exempt only if paid by a single volunteer providing the real property for the event.12. A political action committee, ballot question committee or party committee registered with the Department of Public Safety pursuant to Title 17, section1832 may hold one game night per calendar year to raise revenue through games of chance provided that they disclose the financial activity consistent with this rule. A. The committee shall keep a written account of all participants in the game night who have paid, in the aggregate, an amount greater than the applicable contribution reporting threshold as an entry fee or to pay for chips, tokens, food, or other costs. The record shall contain the participant's name and address, and the total amount paid. If the participant has purchased food, memorabilia, or other goods at the game night, the committee may deduct the value of the item(s) from the amount of the payment. The committee is not required to keep a record of participants whose payments are less than or equal to the contribution reporting threshold or payments made to a third-party vendor at the event, such as a food truck.B. The contribution reporting threshold is $50 for political action committees and ballot question committees and $200 for the committees of political parties.C. In the next regularly scheduled campaign finance report, the committee shall report the proceeds of the game night as contributions. The committee shall itemize contributions that exceed the contribution reporting threshold. Contributions that do not exceed the threshold may be reported as an unitemized lump sum. The committee shall report as in-kind contributions any goods or services received in support of the game night, such as items to be awarded as prizes, or the donation of food or an event space. Costs incurred by the committee in connection with the game night shall be reported as expenditures.