BEFORE THE COMMISSIONER OF POLITICAL PRACTICES

OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

 

In the matter of the amendment of ARM 44.11.224, 44.11.226, 44.11.227, 44.11.406, 44.11.409, 44.11.502, and 44.11.603 pertaining to campaign finance laws

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NOTICE OF AMENDMENT

 

TO: All Concerned Persons

 

1. On December 10, 2021, the Commissioner of Political Practices (COPP) published MAR Notice No. 44-2-253 pertaining to the proposed amendment of the above-stated rules at page 1763 of the 2021 Montana Administrative Register, Issue Number 23.  On December 23, 2021, the COPP published a second notice pertaining to the proposed amendment of the above-stated rules at page 1893 of the 2021 Montana Administrative Register, Issue Number 24.

 

2. The COPP has amended the following rules as proposed: ARM 44.11.406, 44.11.502, and 44.11.603.

 

3. The COPP has amended the following rules as proposed, but with the following changes from the original proposal, stricken matter interlined, new matter underlined:

 

44.11.224 DESIGNATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS FOR PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTIONS (1) through (4) remain as proposed.

 

AUTH: 13-37-114, MCA

IMP: 13-37-205, 13-37-216, 13-37-218, MCA

 

44.11.226 LIMITS ON RECEIPTS FROM POLITICAL COMMITTEES

            (1) remains as proposed.

 

AUTH: 13-37-114, 13-37-218, MCA

IMP: 13-37-114, 13-37-216, 13-37-218, MCA

 

44.11.227 LIMITATIONS ON INDIVIDUAL AND POLITICAL PARTY CONTRIBUTIONS TO A CANDIDATE (1) through (4) remain as proposed.

 

AUTH: 13-37-114, MCA

IMP: 13-37-216, 13-37-218, MCA

 

44.11.409 MONETARY DEPOSITS AND EXPENDITURES, ONLY THROUGH DEPOSITORY (1) through (5) remain as proposed. 

 

AUTH: 13-37-114, MCA

IMP: 13-37-111, 13-37-205, 13-37-207, 13-37-208, 13-37-209, 13-37-215, 13-37-226, 13-37-229, 13-37-231, 13-37-232, MCA

 

            4. The COPP has considered the comments and testimony received. A summary of the comments received and the COPP's responses are as follows:

 

COMMENT 1:  Legislative staff for the COPP's interim committee, State Administration and Veterans' Affairs, provided comment regarding the proper implementing statutes for certain proposed rules.

 

RESPONSE 1:  The COPP adopts the comments regarding proper implementing statutes as outlined above. 

 

COMMENT 2: Legislative staff for the COPP's interim committee, State Administration and Veterans' Affairs, provided style comments on referring to legislation as chapter numbers in the MCA instead of legislative bill numbers.

 

RESPONSE 2: The COPP disagrees with these style comments, as the purpose is to provide public notice of the legislation being implemented. The public generally refers to legislative bill numbers rather than to chapter number in the MCA, so use of the bill number provides more comprehensive public notice.

 

 

/s/ Jaime MacNaughton                 /s/ Jeffrey Mangan              

Jaime MacNaughton                      Jeffrey Mangan

Rule Reviewer                                Commissioner                     

                                                       Office of the Commissioner of Political Practices

           

Certified to the Secretary of State January 28, 2022.