Section 10A.12 Political Funds - Minnesota Statutes

10A.12 POLITICAL FUNDS.

Subdivision 1.When required.

An association other than a political committee or party unit may not contribute more than $100 in aggregate in any one year to candidates, political committees, or party units or make any approved or independent expenditure or expenditure to promote or defeat a ballot question unless the contribution or expenditure is made from a political fund.

Subd. 1a.When required for independent expenditures.

An association other than a political committee that makes only independent expenditures and disbursements permitted under section 10A.121, subdivision 1, must do so by forming and registering an independent expenditure political fund if the expenditure is in excess of $100 or by contributing to an existing independent expenditure political committee or political fund.

Subd. 1b.Penalty for noncompliant independent expenditure.

An association that makes an independent expenditure without complying with subdivision 1a is subject to a civil penalty of up to four times the amount of the independent expenditure, but not to exceed $25,000, except when the violation was intentional.

Subd. 2.Commingling prohibited.

The contents of a political fund may not be commingled with other funds or with the personal funds of an officer or member of the fund.

Subd. 3.Treasurer.

An association that has a political fund must elect or appoint a treasurer of the political fund.

Subd. 4.Treasurer vacancy.

A political fund may not accept a contribution or make an expenditure or contribution from the political fund while the office of treasurer of the political fund is vacant.

Subd. 5.Dues or membership fees.

An association may, if not prohibited by other law, deposit in its political fund money derived from dues or membership fees. Under section 10A.20, the treasurer of the fund must disclose the name of any member whose dues, membership fees, and contributions deposited in the political fund together exceed $100 in a year.

Subd. 6.Penalty.

A person who knowingly violates this section is subject to a civil penalty imposed by the board of up to $1,000.

History:

1974 c 470 s 12; 1978 c 463 s 40-42; 1980 c 587 art 2 s 8; 1980 c 607 art 17 s 9; 1987 c 214 s 2; 1999 c 220 s 15,50; 2002 c 363 s 12; 2010 c 397 s 4,5