16-940. Findings and declarations.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. The people of Arizona declare our intent to create a clean elections system that will improve the integrity of Arizona state government by diminishing the influence of special-interest money, will encourage citizen participation in the political process, and will promote freedom of speech under the U.S. and Arizona Constitutions. Campaigns will become more issue-oriented and less negative because there will be no need to challenge the sources of campaign money.

B. The people of Arizona find that our current election-financing system:

1. Allows Arizona elected officials to accept large campaign contributions from private interests over which they have governmental jurisdiction;

2. Gives incumbents an unhealthy advantage over challengers;

3. Hinders communication to voters by many qualified candidates;

4. Effectively suppresses the voices and influence of the vast majority of Arizona citizens in favor of a small number of wealthy special interests;

5. Undermines public confidence in the integrity of public officials;

6. Costs average taxpayers millions of dollars in the form of subsidies and special privileges for campaign contributors;

7. Drives up the cost of running for state office, discouraging otherwise qualified candidates who lack personal wealth or access to special-interest funding; and

8. Requires that elected officials spend too much of their time raising funds rather than representing the public.

16-941. Limits on spending and contributions for political campaigns.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a participating candidate:

1. Shall not accept any contributions, other than a limited number of five-dollar qualifying contributions as specified in section 16-946 and early contributions as specified in section 16-945, except in the emergency situation specified in section 16-954, subsection F.

2. Shall not make expenditures of more than a total of five hundred dollars of the candidate's personal monies for a candidate for legislature or more than one thousand dollars for a candidate for statewide office.

3. Shall not make expenditures in the primary election period in excess of the adjusted primary election spending limit.

4. Shall not make expenditures in the general election period in excess of the adjusted general election spending limit.

5. Shall comply with section 16-948 regarding campaign accounts and section 16-953 regarding returning unused monies to the citizens clean election fund described in this article.

B. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a nonparticipating candidate:

1. Shall not accept contributions in excess of an amount that is twenty percent less than the limits specified in section 16-905, subsections A through G, as adjusted by the secretary of state pursuant to section 16-905, subsection J. Any violation of this paragraph shall be subject to the civil penalties and procedures set forth in section 16-905, subsections L through P and section 16-924.

2. Shall comply with section 16-958 regarding reporting, including filing reports with the secretary of state indicating whenever (A) expenditures other than independent expenditures on behalf of the candidate, from the beginning of the election cycle to any date up to primary election day, exceed seventy percent of the original primary election spending limit applicable to a participating candidate seeking the same office, or (B) contributions to a candidate, from the beginning of the election cycle to any date during the general election period, less expenditures made from the beginning of the election cycle through primary election day, exceed seventy percent of the original general election spending limit applicable to a participating candidate seeking the same office.

C. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a candidate, whether participating or nonparticipating:

1. If and only if specified in a written agreement signed by the candidate and one or more opposing candidates and filed with the citizens clean elections commission, shall not make any expenditure in the primary or general election period exceeding an agreed-upon amount lower than spending limits otherwise applicable by statute.

2. Shall continue to be bound by all other applicable election and campaign finance statutes and rules, with the exception of those provisions in express or clear conflict with the provisions of this article.

D. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any person who makes independent expenditures related to a particular office cumulatively exceeding five hundred dollars in an election cycle, with the exception of any expenditure listed in section 16-920 and any independent expenditure by an organization arising from a communication directly to the organization's members, shareholders, employees, affiliated persons, and subscribers, shall file reports with the secretary of state in accordance with section 16-958 so indicating, identifying the office and the candidate or group of candidates whose election or defeat is being advocated, and stating whether the person is advocating election or advocating defeat.

16-942. Civil penalties and forfeiture of office.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. The civil penalty for a violation of any contribution or expenditure limit in section 16-941 by or on behalf of a participating candidate shall be ten times the amount by which the expenditures or contributions exceed the applicable limit.

B. In addition to any other penalties imposed by law, the civil penalty for a violation by or on behalf of any candidate of any reporting requirement imposed by this chapter shall be one hundred dollars per day for candidates for the legislature and three hundred dollars per day for candidates for statewide office. The penalty imposed by this subsection shall be doubled if the amount not reported for a particular election cycle exceeds ten percent of the adjusted primary or general election spending limit. No penalty imposed pursuant to this subsection shall exceed twice the amount of expenditures or contributions not reported. The candidate and the candidate's campaign account shall be jointly and severally responsible for any penalty imposed pursuant to this subsection.

C. Any campaign finance report filed indicating a violation of section 16-941, subsections A or B or section 16-941, subsection C, paragraph 1 involving an amount in excess of ten percent of the sum of the adjusted primary election spending limit and the adjusted general election spending limit for a particular candidate shall result in disqualification of a candidate or forfeiture of office.

D. Any participating candidate adjudged to have committed a knowing violation of section 16-941, subsection A or subsection C, paragraph 1 shall repay from the candidate's personal monies to the fund all monies expended from the candidate's campaign account and shall turn over the candidate's campaign account to the fund.

E. All civil penalties collected pursuant to this article shall be deposited into the fund.

16-943. Criminal violations and penalties.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. A candidate, or any other person acting on behalf of a candidate, who knowingly violates section 16-941 is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.

B. Any person who knowingly pays any thing of value or any compensation for a qualifying contribution as defined in section 16-946 is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.

C. Any person who knowingly provides false or incomplete information on a report filed under section 16-958 is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.

16-944. Fees imposed on lobbyists.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

Beginning on January 1, 1999 , an annual fee is imposed on all registered lobbyists representing (A) one or more persons in connection with a commercial or for-profit activity except public bodies or (B) a non-profit entity predominately composed of or acting on behalf of a trade association or other grouping of commercial or for-profit entities. The fee shall be in the amount of one hundred dollars annually per lobbyist and shall be collected by the secretary of state and transmitted to the state treasurer for deposit into the fund.

16-945. Limits on early contributions.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. A participating candidate may accept early contributions only from individuals and only during the exploratory period and the qualifying period, subject to the following limitations:

1. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no contributor shall give, and no participating candidate shall accept, contributions from a contributor exceeding one hundred dollars during an election cycle.

2. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, early contributions to a participating candidate from all sources for an election cycle shall not exceed, for a candidate for governor, forty thousand dollars or, for other candidates, ten percent of the sum of the original primary election spending limit and the original general election spending limit.

3. Qualifying contributions specified in section 16-946 shall not be included in determining whether the limits in this subsection have been exceeded.

B. Early contributions specified in subsection A of this section and the candidate's personal monies specified in section 16-941, subsection A, paragraph 2 may be spent only during the exploratory period and the qualifying period. Any early contributions not spent by the end of the qualifying period shall be paid to the fund.

C. If a participating candidate has a debt from an election campaign in this state during a previous election cycle in which the candidate was not a participating candidate, then, during the exploratory period only, the candidate may accept, in addition to early contributions specified in subsection A of this section, contributions subject to the limitations in section 16-941, subsection B, paragraph 1, or may exceed the limit on personal monies in section 16-941, subsection A, paragraph 2, provided that such contributions and monies are used solely to retire such debt.

16-946. Qualifying contributions.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. During the qualifying period, a participating candidate may collect qualifying contributions, which shall be paid to the fund.

B. To qualify as a "qualifying contribution," a contribution must be:

1. Made by a qualified elector as defined in section 16-121, who at the time of the contribution is registered in the electoral district of the office the candidate is seeking and who has not given another qualifying contribution to that candidate during that election cycle;

2. Made by a person who is not given anything of value in exchange for the qualifying contribution;

3. In the sum of five dollars, exactly;

4. Received unsolicited during the qualifying period or solicited during the qualifying period by a person who is not employed or retained by the candidate and who is not compensated to collect contributions by the candidate or on behalf of the candidate;

5. If made by check or money order, made payable to the candidate's campaign committee, or if in cash, deposited in the candidate's campaign committee's account; and

6. Accompanied by a three-part reporting slip that includes the printed name, registration address, and signature of the contributor, the name of the candidate for whom the contribution is made, the date, and the printed name and signature of the solicitor.

C. A copy of the reporting slip shall be given as a receipt to the contributor, and another copy shall be retained by the candidate's campaign committee. Delivery of an original reporting slip to the secretary of state shall excuse the candidate from disclosure of these contributions on campaign finance reports filed under article 1 of this chapter.

16-947. Certification as a participating candidate.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. A candidate who wishes to be certified as a participating candidate shall, before the end of the qualifying period, file an application with the secretary of state, in a form specified by the citizens clean elections commission.

B. The application shall identify the candidate, the office that the candidate plans to seek, and the candidate's party, if any, and shall contain the candidate's signature, under oath, certifying that:

1. The candidate has complied with the restrictions of section 16-941, subsection A during the election cycle to date.

2. The candidate's campaign committee and exploratory committee have filed all campaign finance reports required under article 1 of this chapter during the election cycle to date and that they are complete and accurate.

3. The candidate will comply with the requirements of section 16-941, subsection A during the remainder of the election cycle and, specifically, will not accept private contributions.

C. The commission shall act on the application within one week. Unless, within that time, the commission denies an application and provides written reasons that all or part of a certification in subsection B of this section is incomplete or untrue, the candidate shall be certified as a participating candidate. If the commission denies an application for failure to file all complete and accurate campaign finance reports or failure to make the certification in subsection B, paragraph 3 of this section, the candidate may reapply within two weeks of the commission's decision by filing complete and accurate campaign finance reports and another sworn certification.

16-948. Controls on participating candidates' campaign accounts.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. A participating candidate shall conduct all financial activity through a single campaign account of the candidate's campaign committee. A participating candidate shall not make any deposits into the campaign account other than those permitted under sections 16-945 or 16-946.

B. A candidate may designate other persons with authority to withdraw funds from the candidate's campaign account. The candidate and any person so designated shall sign a joint statement under oath promising to comply with the requirements of this title.

C. The candidate or a person authorized under subsection B of this section shall pay monies from a participating candidate's campaign account directly to the person providing goods or services to the campaign and shall identify, on a report filed pursuant to article 1 of this chapter, the full name and street address of the person and the nature of the goods and services and compensation for which payment has been made. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, a campaign committee may establish one or more petty cash accounts, which in aggregate shall not exceed one thousand dollars at any time. No single expenditure shall be made from a petty cash account exceeding one hundred dollars.

D. Monies in a participating candidate's campaign account shall not be used to pay fines or civil penalties, for costs or legal fees related to representation before the commission, or for defense of any enforcement action under this chapter. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent a participating candidate from having a legal defense fund.

16-949. Caps on spending from citizens clean elections fund

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. The commission shall not spend, on all costs incurred under this article during a particular calendar year, more than five dollars times the number of Arizona resident personal income tax returns filed during the previous calendar year. Tax reductions and tax credits awarded to taxpayers pursuant to section 16-954, subsections A and B shall not be considered costs incurred under this article for purposes of this section. The commission may exceed this limit during a calendar year, provided that it is offset by an equal reduction of the limit during another calendar year during the same four-year period beginning January 1 immediately after a gubernatorial election.

B. The commission may use up to ten percent of the amount specified in subsection A of this section for reasonable and necessary expenses of administration and enforcement, including the activities specified in section 16-956, subsection A, paragraphs 3 through 7 and subsections B and C. Any portion of the ten percent not used for this purpose shall remain in the fund.

C. The commission shall apply ten percent of the amount specified in subsection A of this section for reasonable and necessary expenses associated with voter education, including the activities specified in section 16-956, subsection A.

D. The state treasurer shall administer a citizens clean election fund from which costs incurred under this article shall be paid. The auditor general shall review the monies in, payments into, and expenditures from the fund no less often than every four years.

16-950. Qualification for clean campaign funding

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. A candidate who has made an application for certification may also apply, in accordance with subsection B of this section, to receive funds from the citizens clean elections fund, instead of receiving private contributions.

B. To receive any clean campaign funding, the candidate must present to the secretary of state no later than one week after the end of the qualifying period a list of names of persons who have made qualifying contributions pursuant to section 16-946 on behalf of the candidate. The list shall be divided by county. At the same time, the candidate must tender to the secretary of state the original reporting slips identified in section 16-946, subsection C for persons on the list and an amount equal to the sum of the qualifying contributions collected. The secretary of state shall deposit the amount into the fund.

C. The secretary of state shall select at random a sample of five percent of the number of non-duplicative names on the list and forward facsimiles of the selected reporting slips to the county recorders for the counties of the addresses specified in the selected slips. Within ten days, the county recorders shall provide a report to the secretary of state identifying as disqualified any slips that are unsigned or undated or that the recorder is unable to verify as matching a person who is registered to vote in the electoral district of the office the candidate is seeking on the date specified on the slip. The secretary of state shall multiply the number of slips not disqualified by twenty, and if the result is greater than one hundred ten per cent of the quantity required, shall approve the candidate for funds, and if the result is less than ninety per cent of the quantity required, shall deny the application for funds. Otherwise, the secretary of state shall forward facsimiles of all of the slips to the county recorders for verification, and the county recorders shall check all slips in accordance with the process above. A county recorder shall report verified totals daily to the secretary of state until a determination is made that a sufficient number of verified slips has been submitted. If a sufficient number of verified slips has been submitted to one or more county recorders, the county recorders may stop the verification process.

D. To qualify for clean campaign funding, a candidate must have been approved as a participating candidate pursuant to section 16-947 and have obtained the following number of qualifying contributions:

1. For a candidate for legislature, two hundred.

2. For candidate for mine inspector, five hundred.

3. For a candidate for treasurer, superintendent of public instruction or corporation commission, one thousand five hundred.

4. For a candidate for secretary of state or attorney general, two thousand five hundred.

5. For a candidate for governor, four thousand.

E. To qualify for clean campaign funding, a candidate must have met the requirements of this section and either be an independent candidate or meet the following standards:

1. To qualify for funding for a party primary election, a candidate must have properly filed nominating papers and nominating petitions with signatures pursuant to chapter 3, articles 2 and 3 of this title in the primary of a political organization entitled to continued representation on the official ballot in accordance with section 16-804.

2. To qualify for clean campaign funding for a general election, a candidate must be a party nominee of such a political organization.

16-951. Clean campaign funding.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. At the beginning of the primary election period, the commission shall pay from the fund to the campaign account of each candidate who qualifies for clean campaign funding:

1. For a candidate who qualifies for clean campaign funding for a party primary election, an amount equal to the original primary election spending limit;

2. For an independent candidate who qualifies for clean campaign funding, an amount equal to seventy percent of the sum of the original primary election spending limit and the original general election spending limit; or

3. For a qualified participating candidate who is unopposed for an office in that candidate's primary, in the primary of any other party, and by any opposing independent candidate, an amount equal to five dollars times the number of qualifying contributions for that candidate certified by the commission.

B. At any time after the first day of January of an election year, any candidate who has met the requirements of section 16-950 may sign and cause to be filed a nomination paper in the form specified by section 16-311, subsection A, with a nominating petition and signatures, instead of filing such papers after the earliest time set for filing specified by that subsection. Upon such filing and verification of the signatures, the commission shall pay the amount specified in subsection A of this section immediately, rather than waiting for the beginning of the primary election period.

C. At the beginning of the general election period, the commission shall pay from the fund to the campaign account of each candidate who qualifies for clean campaign funding for the general election, except those candidates identified in subsection A, paragraphs 2 or 3 or subsection D of this section, an amount equal to the original general election spending limit.

D. At the beginning of the general election period, the commission shall pay from the fund to the campaign account of a qualified participating candidate who has not received funds pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 3 of this section and who is unopposed by any other party nominee or any opposing independent candidate an amount equal to five dollars times the number of qualifying contributions for that candidate certified by the commission.

E. The special original general election spending limit, for a candidate who has received funds pursuant to subsection A, paragraphs 2 or 3 or subsection D of this section, shall be equal to the amount that the commission is obligated to pay to that candidate.

16-952. Equal funding of candidates.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. Whenever during a primary election period a report is filed, or other information comes to the attention of the commission, indicating that a nonparticipating candidate who is not unopposed in that primary has made expenditures during the election cycle to date exceeding the original primary election spending limit, including any previous adjustments, the commission shall immediately pay from the fund to the campaign account of any participating candidate in the same party primary as the nonparticipating candidate an amount equal to any excess of the reported amount over the primary election spending limit, as previously adjusted, and the primary election spending limit for all such participating candidates shall be adjusted by increasing it by the amount that the commission is obligated to pay to a participating candidate.

B. Whenever during a general election period a report has been filed, or other information comes to the attention of the commission, indicating that the amount a nonparticipating candidate who is not unopposed has received in contributions during the election cycle to date less the amount of expenditures the nonparticipating candidate made through the end of the primary election period exceeds the original general election spending limit, including any previous adjustments, the commission shall immediately pay from the fund to the campaign account of any participating candidate qualified for the ballot and seeking the same office as the nonparticipating candidate an amount equal to any excess of the reported difference over the general election spending limit, as previously adjusted, and the general election spending limit for all such participating candidates shall be adjusted by increasing it by the amount that the commission is obligated to pay to a participating candidate.

C. For purposes of subsections A and B of this section the following expenditures reported pursuant to this article shall be treated as follows:

1. Independent expenditures against a participating candidate shall be treated as expenditures of each opposing candidate, for purpose of subsection A of this section, or contributions to each opposing candidate, or purpose of subsection B of this section.

2. Independent expenditures in favor of one or more nonparticipating opponents of a participating candidate shall be treated as expenditures of those nonparticipating candidates, for purpose of subsection A of this section, or contributions to those nonparticipating candidates, for purpose of subsection B of this section.

3. Independent expenditures in favor of a participating candidate shall be treated, for every opposing participating candidate, as though the independent expenditures were an expenditure of a nonparticipating opponent, for purpose of subsection A of this section, or a contribution to a nonparticipating opponent, for purpose of subsection B of this section.

4. Expenditures made during the primary election period by or on behalf of an independent candidate or a nonparticipating candidate who is unopposed in a party primary, shall be treated as though made during the general election period, and equalizing funds pursuant to subsection B of this section shall be paid at the start of the general election period.

5. Expenditures made before the general election period that consist of a contract, promise, or agreement to make an expenditure during the general election period resulting in an extension of credit shall be treated as though made during the general election period, and equalizing funds pursuant to subsection B of this section shall be paid at the start of the general election period.

6. Expenditures for or against a participating candidate promoting or opposing more than one candidate who are not running for the same office shall be allocated by the commission among candidates for different offices based on the relative size or length and relative prominence of the reference to candidates for different offices.

D. Upon applying for citizen funding pursuant to section 16-950, a participating candidate for legislature in a one-party-dominant legislative district who is qualified for clean campaign funding for the party primary election of the dominant party may choose to reallocate a portion of funds from the general election period to the primary election period. At the beginning of the primary election period, the commission shall pay from the fund to the campaign account of a participating candidate who makes this choice an extra amount equal to fifty percent of the original primary election spending limit, and the original primary election spending limit for the candidate who makes this choice shall be increased by the extra amount. For a primary election in which one or more participating candidates have made this choice, funds shall be paid under subsections A and B of this section only to the extent of any excess over the original primary election spending limit as so increased. If a participating candidate who makes this choice becomes qualified for clean campaign funding for the general election, the amount the candidate receives at the beginning of the general election period shall be reduced by the extra amount received at the beginning of the primary election period, and the original general election spending limit for that candidate shall be reduced by the extra amount. For a general election in which a participating candidate has made this choice, funds shall be paid under subsections A and B of this section only to the extent of any excess over the original general election spending limit, without such reduction, unless the candidate who has made this choice is the only participating candidate in the general election, in which case such funds shall be paid to the extent of excess over the original general election spending limit with such reduction. For purpose of this subsection, a one-party-dominant legislative district is a district in which the number of registered voters registered in the party with the highest number of registered voters exceeds the number of registered voters registered to each of the other parties by an amount at least as high as ten percent of the total number of voters registered in the district. The status of a district as a one-party-dominant legislative district shall be determined as of the beginning of the qualifying period.

E. If an adjusted spending limit reaches three times the original spending limit for a particular election, then the commission shall not pay any further amounts from the fund to the campaign account of any participating candidate, and the spending limit shall not be adjusted further.

16-953. Return of monies to the citizens clean elections fund.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. At the end of the primary election period, a participating candidate who has received monies pursuant to section 16-951, subsection A, paragraph 1 shall return to the fund all monies in the candidate's campaign account above an amount sufficient to pay any unpaid bills for expenditures made during the primary election period and for goods or services directed to the primary election.

B. At the end of the general election period, a participating candidate shall return to the fund all monies in the candidate's campaign account above an amount sufficient to pay any unpaid bills for expenditures made before the general election and for goods or services directed to the general election.

C. A participating candidate shall pay all uncontested and unpaid bills referenced in this section no later than thirty days after the primary or general election. A participating candidate shall make monthly reports to the commission concerning the status of the dispute over any contested bills. Any monies in a candidate's campaign account after payment of bills shall be returned promptly to the fund.

D. If a participating candidate is replaced pursuant to section 16-343, and the replacement candidate files an oath with the secretary of state certifying to section 16-947, subsection B, paragraph 3, the campaign account of the participating candidate shall be transferred to the replacement candidate and the commission shall certify the replacement candidate as a participating candidate without requiring compliance with section 16-950 or the remainder of section 16-947. If the replacement candidate does not file such an oath, the campaign account shall be liquidated and all remaining monies returned to the fund.

16-954. Clean elections tax reduction; return of excess monies.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 1998 , a taxpayer who files on a state income tax return form may designate a five-dollar voluntary contribution per taxpayer to the fund by marking an optional check-off box on the first page of the form. A taxpayer who checks this box shall receive a five-dollar reduction in the amount of tax, and five dollars from the amount of taxes paid shall be transferred by the department of revenue to the fund. The department of revenue shall provide check-off boxes, identified as the clean elections fund tax reduction, on the first page of income tax return forms, for designations pursuant to this subsection.

B. Any taxpayer may make a voluntary donation to the fund by designating the fund on an income tax return form filed by the individual or business entity or by making a payment directly to the fund. Any taxpayer making a donation pursuant to this subsection shall receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit not to exceed twenty percent of the tax amount on the return or five hundred dollars per taxpayer, whichever is higher. Donations made pursuant to this section are otherwise not tax deductible and cannot be designated as for the benefit of a particular candidate, political party, or election contest. The department of revenue shall transfer to the fund all donations made pursuant to this subsection. The department of revenue shall provide a space, identified as the clean elections fund tax credit, on the first page of income tax return forms, for donations pursuant to this subsection.

C. Beginning January 1, 1999 , an additional surcharge of ten percent shall be imposed on all civil and criminal fines and penalties collected pursuant to section 12-116.01 and shall be deposited into the fund.

D. At least once per year, the commission shall project the amount of monies that the fund will collect over the next four years and the time such monies shall become available. Whenever the commission determines that the fund contains more monies than the commission determines that it requires to meet current debts plus expected expenses, under the assumption that expected expenses will be at the expenditure limit in section 16-949, subsection A, and taking into account the projections of collections, the commission shall designate such monies as excess monies and so notify the state treasurer, who shall thereupon return the excess monies to the general fund.

E. At least once per year, the commission shall project the amount of citizen funding for which all candidates will have qualified pursuant to this article for the following calendar year. By the end of each year, the commission shall announce whether the amount that the commission plans to spend the following year pursuant to section 16-949, subsection A exceeds the projected amount of citizen funding. If the commission determines that the fund contains insufficient monies or the spending cap would be exceeded were all candidate's accounts to be fully funded, then the commission may include in the announcement specifications for decreases in the following parameters, based on the commission's projections of collections and expenses for the fund, made in the following order:

1. First, the commission may announce a decrease in the matching cap under section 16-952, subsection E from three times to an amount between three and one times.

2. Next, the commission may announce that the fund will provide equalization monies under section 16-952, subsections A and B as a fraction of the amounts there specified.

3. Finally, the commission may announce that the fund will provide monies under section 16-951 as a fraction of the amounts there specified.

F. If the commission cannot provide participating candidates with all monies specified under sections 16-951 and 16-952, as decreased by any announcement pursuant to subsection E of this section, then the commission shall allocate any reductions in payments proportionately among candidates entitled to monies and shall declare an emergency. Upon declaration of an emergency, a participating candidate may accept private contributions to bring the total monies received by the candidate from the fund and from such private contributions up to the adjusted spending limits, as decreased by any announcement made pursuant to subsection E of this section.

16-955. Citizens clean election commission; structure.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. The citizens clean elections commission is established consisting of five members. No more than two members of the commission shall be members of the same political party. No more than two members of the commission shall be residents of the same county. No one shall be appointed as a member who does not have a registration pursuant to chapter 1 of this title that has been continuously recorded for at least five years immediately preceding appointment with the same political party or as an independent.

B. The commission on appellate court appointments shall nominate candidates for vacant commissioner positions who are committed to enforcing this article in an honest, independent, and impartial fashion and to seeking to uphold public confidence in the integrity of the electoral system. Each candidate shall be a qualified elector who has not, in the previous five years in this state, been appointed to, been elected to, or run for any public office, including precinct committeeman, or served as an officer of a political party.

C. Initially, the commission on appellate court appointments shall nominate five slates, each having three candidates, before January 1, 1999 . No later than February 1, 1999 , the governor shall select one candidate from one of the slates to serve on the commission for a term ending January 31, 2004 . Next, the highest-ranking official holding a statewide office who is not a member of the same political party as the governor shall select one candidate from another one of the slates to serve on the commission for a term ending January 31, 2003 . Next, the second-highest-ranking official holding a statewide office who is a member of the same political party as the governor shall select one candidate from one of the three remaining slates to serve on the commission for a term ending January 31, 2002 . Next, the second-highest-ranking official holding a statewide office who is not a member of the same political party as the governor shall select one candidate from one of the two remaining slates to serve on the commission for a term ending January 31, 2001 . Finally, the third-highest-ranking official holding a statewide office who is a member of the same political party as the governor shall elect one candidate from the last slate to serve on the commission for a term ending January 31, 2000 . For purpose of this section, the ranking of officials holding statewide office shall be governor, secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, corporation commissioners in order of seniority, mine inspector, the members of the supreme court in order of seniority, senate majority and minority leaders, and house majority and minority leaders.

D. One commissioner shall be appointed for a five-year term beginning February 1 of every year beginning with the year 2000. The commission on appellate court appointments shall nominate one slate of three candidates before January 1 of each year beginning in the year 2000, and the governor and the highest-ranking official holding a statewide office who is not a member of the same political party as the governor shall alternate filling such vacancies. The vacancy in the year 2000 shall be filled by the governor.

E. Members of the commission may be removed by the governor, with concurrence of the senate, for substantial neglect of duty, gross misconduct in office, inability to discharge the powers and duties of office, or violation of this section, after written notice and opportunity for a response.

F. If a commissioner does not complete his or her term of office for any reason, the commission on appellate court appointments shall nominate one slate of three candidates as soon as possible in the first thirty days after the commissioner vacates his or her office and a replacement shall be selected from the slate within thirty days of nomination of the slate. The highest-ranking official holding a statewide office who is a member of the political party of the official who nominated the commissioner who vacated office shall nominate the replacement, who shall serve as commissioner for the unexpired portion of the term. A vacancy or vacancies shall not impair the right of the remaining members to exercise all of the powers of the board.

G. Commissioners are eligible to receive compensation in an amount of two hundred dollars for each day on which the commission meets and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to title 38, chapter 4, article 2.

H. The commissioners shall elect a chair to serve for each calendar-year period from among their members whose terms expire after the conclusion of that year. Three commissioners shall constitute a quorum.

I. A member of the commission shall serve no more than one term and is not eligible for reappointment. No commissioner, during his or her tenure or for three years thereafter, shall seek or hold any other public office, serve as an officer of any political committee, or employ or be employed as a lobbyist.

J. The commission shall appoint an executive director who shall not be a member of the commission and who shall serve at the pleasure of the commission. The executive director is eligible to receive compensation set by the board within the range determined under section 38-611. The executive director, subject to title 41, chapter 4, articles 5 and 6, shall employ, determine the conditions of employment, and specify the duties of administrative, secretarial, and clerical employees as the director deems necessary.

16-956. Voter education and enforcement duties

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. The commission shall:

1. Develop a procedure for publishing a document or section of a document having a space of predefined size for a message chosen by each candidate. For the document that is mailed before the primary election, the document shall contain the names of every candidate for every statewide and legislative district office in that primary election without regard to whether the candidate is a participating candidate or a nonparticipating candidate. For the document that is mailed before the general election, the document shall contain the names of every candidate for every statewide and legislative district office in that general election without regard to whether the candidate is a participating candidate or a nonparticipating candidate. The commission shall mail one copy of each document to every household that contains a registered voter. For the document that is mailed before the primary election, the mailing may be made over a period of days but shall be mailed in order to be delivered to households before the earliest date for receipt by registered voters of any requested early ballots for the primary election. The commission may mail the second document over a period of days but shall mail the second document in order to be delivered to households before the earliest date for receipt by registered voters of any requested early ballots for the general election. The primary election and general election documents published by the commission shall comply with all of the following:

(a) For any candidate who does not submit a message pursuant to this paragraph, the document shall include with the candidate's listing the words "no statement submitted".

(b) The document shall have printed on its cover the words "citizens clean elections commission voter education guide" and the words "primary election" or "general election" and the applicable year. The document shall also contain at or near the bottom of the document cover in type that is no larger than one-half the size of the type used for "citizens clean elections commission voter education guide" the words "paid for by the citizens clean elections fund".

(c) In order to prevent voter confusion, the document shall be easily distinguishable from the publicity pamphlet that is required to be produced by the secretary of state pursuant to section 19-123.

2. Sponsor debates among candidates, in such manner as determined by the commission. The commission shall require participating candidates to attend and participate in debates and may specify by rule penalties for nonparticipation. The commission shall invite and permit nonparticipating candidates to participate in debates.

3. Prescribe forms for reports, statements, notices and other documents required by this article.

4. Prepare and publish instructions setting forth methods of bookkeeping and preservation of records to facilitate compliance with this article and explaining the duties of persons and committees under this article.

5. Produce a yearly report describing the commission's activities and any recommendations for changes of law, administration or funding amounts and accounting for monies in the fund.

6. Adopt rules to implement the reporting requirements of section 16-958, subsections D and E.

7. Enforce the provisions of this article, ensure that money from the fund is placed in candidate campaign accounts or otherwise spent as specified in this article and not otherwise, monitor reports filed pursuant to this chapter and financial records of candidates as needed to ensure that equalization monies are paid promptly to opposing qualified candidates under section 16-952 and ensure that money required by this article to be paid to the fund is deposited in the fund.

B. The commission may subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance and testimony, administer oaths and affirmations, take evidence and require by subpoena the production of any books, papers, records or other items material to the performance of the commission's duties or the exercise of its powers.

C. The commission may adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this article and to govern procedures of the commission. Commission rule making is exempt from title 41, chapter 6, article 3, except that the commission shall submit the rules for publication and the secretary of state shall publish the rules in the Arizona administrative register. The commission shall propose and adopt rules in public meetings, with at least sixty days allowed for interested parties to comment after the rules are proposed.

D. Based on the results of the elections in the year 2002 or any quadrennial election thereafter, and within six months after such election, the commission may adopt rules changing the number of qualifying contributions required for any office from those listed in section 16-950, subsection D, by no more than twenty per cent of the number applicable for the preceding election.

16-957. Enforcement procedure.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. If the commission finds that there is reason to believe that a person has violated any provision of this article, the commission shall serve on that person an order stating with reasonable particularity the nature of the violation and requiring compliance within fourteen days. During that period, the alleged violator may provide any explanation to the commission, comply with the order, or enter into a public administrative settlement with the commission.

B. Upon expiration of the fourteen days, if the commission finds that the alleged violator remains out of compliance, the commission shall make a public finding to that effect and issue an order assessing a civil penalty in accordance with section 16-942, unless the commission publishes findings of fact and conclusions of law expressing good cause for reducing or excusing the penalty. The violator has fourteen days from the date of issuance of the order assessing the penalty to appeal to the superior court as provided in title 12, chapter 7, article 6.

C. Any candidate in a particular election contest who believes that any opposing candidate has violated this article for that election may file a complaint with the commission requesting that action be taken pursuant to this section. If the commission fails to make a finding under subsection A of this section within thirty days after the filing of such a complaint, the candidate may bring a civil action in the superior court to impose the civil penalties prescribed in this section.

16-958. Manner of filing reports.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. Any person who has previously reached the dollar amount specified in section 16-941, subsection D for filing an original report shall file a supplemental report each time previously unreported independent expenditures specified by that subsection exceeds one thousand dollars. Any person who has previously reached the dollar amounts specified in section 16-941, subsection B, paragraph 2 for filing an original report shall file a supplemental report to declare that previously unreported expenditures or contributions specified by that paragraph exceed (1) ten percent of the original primary election spending limit or twenty-five thousand dollars, whichever is lower, before the general election period, or (2) ten percent of the original general election spending limit or twenty-five thousand dollars, whichever is lower, during the general election period. Such reports shall be filed at the times specified in subsection B of this section and shall identify the dollar amount being reported, the candidate, and the date.

B. Any person who must file an original report pursuant to section 16-941, subsection B, paragraph 2 or subsection D, or who must file a supplemental report for previously unreported amounts pursuant to subsection A of this section, shall file as follows:

1. Before the beginning of the primary election period, the person shall file a report on the first of each month, unless the person has not reached the dollar amount for filing an original or supplemental report on that date.

2. Thereafter, except as stated in paragraph 3 of this subsection, the person shall file a report on any Tuesday by which the person has reached the dollar amount for filing an original or supplemental report.

3. During the last two weeks before the primary election and the last two weeks before the general election, the person shall file a report within one business day of reaching the dollar amount for filing an original or supplemental report.

C. Any filing under this article on behalf of a candidate may be made by the candidate's campaign committee. All candidates shall deposit any check received by and intended for the campaign and made payable to the candidate or the candidate's campaign committee, and all cash received by and intended for the campaign, in the candidate's campaign account before the due date of the next report specified in subsection B of this section. No candidate or person acting on behalf of a candidate shall conspire with a donor to postpone delivery of a donation to the campaign for the purpose of postponing the reporting of the donation in any subsequent report.

D. The secretary of state shall immediately notify the commission of the filing of each report under this section and deliver a copy of the report to the commission, and the commission shall promptly mail or otherwise deliver a copy of each report filed pursuant to this section to all participating candidates opposing the candidate identified in section 16-941, subsection B, paragraph 2 or subsection D.

E. Any report filed pursuant to this section or section 16-916, subsection A, paragraph 1 or subsection B shall be filed in electronic format. The secretary of state shall distribute computer software to political committees to accommodate such electronic filing.

F. During the primary election period and the general election period, all candidates shall make available for public inspection all bank accounts, campaign finance reports, and financial records relating to the candidate's campaign, either by immediate disclosure through electronic means or at the candidate's campaign headquarters, in accordance with rules adopted by the commission.

16-959. Inflationary and other adjustments of dollar values.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. Every two years, the secretary of state shall modify the dollar values specified in the following parts of this article, in the manner specified by section 16-905, subsection J, to account for inflation: section 16-941, subsection A, paragraph 2 or subsection D; section 16-942, subsection B; section 16-944; section 16-945, subsection A, paragraphs 1 and 2; section 16-948, paragraph C; section 16-954, subsection B; section 16-955, subsection G; and section 16-961, subsections G and H. In addition, the secretary of state shall make a similar inflation adjustment by modifying the dollar values in section 16-949, subsection A and section 16-954, subsection A to the nearest dollar. In addition, every two years, the secretary of state shall change the dollar values in section 16-961, subsections G and H in proportion to the change in the number of Arizona resident personal income tax returns filed during the previous calendar year.

B. Based on the results of the elections in the year 2002 or any quadrennial election thereafter, and within six months after such election, the commission may adopt rules in a public meeting reallocating funds available to all candidates between the primary and general elections by selecting a fraction for primary election spending limits that is between one third and one half of the spending limits for the election as a whole. For each office, the primary election spending limit shall be modified to be the sum of the primary and general spending limits times the selected fraction, and the general election spending limit shall be modified to be the same sum times one less the selected fraction.

16-960. Severability.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

If a provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are severable. In any court challenge to the validity of this article, the commission and Arizonans for clean elections shall have standing to intervene.

16-961. Definitions.

(Caution: 1998 Prop. 105 applies)

A. The terms "candidate's campaign committee," "contribution," "expenditures," "exploratory committee," "independent expenditure," "personal monies," "political committee," and "statewide office" are defined in section 16-901.

B. 1. "Election cycle" means the period between successive general elections for a particular office.

2. "Exploratory period" means the period beginning on the day after a general election and ending the day before the start of the qualifying period.

3. "Qualifying period" means the period beginning on the first day of August in a year preceding an election, for an election for a statewide office, or on the first day of January of an election year, for an election for legislator, and ending seventy-five days before the day of the general election.

4. "Primary election period" means the nine-week period ending on the day of the primary election.

5. "General election period" means the period beginning on the day after the primary election and ending on the day of the general election.

6. For any recall election, the qualifying period shall begin when the election is called and last for thirty days, there shall be no primary election period, and the general election period shall extend from the day after the end of the qualifying period to the day of the recall election. For recall elections, any reference to "general election" in this article shall be treated as if referring to the recall election.

C. 1. "Participating candidate" means a candidate who becomes certified as a participating candidate pursuant to section 16-947.

2. "Nonparticipating candidate" means a candidate who does not become certified as a participating candidate pursuant to section 16-947.

3. Any limitation of this article that is applicable to a participating candidate or a nonparticipating candidate shall also apply to that candidate's campaign committee or exploratory committee.

D. "Commission" means the citizens clean elections commission established pursuant to section 16-955.

E. "Fund" means the citizens clean election fund defined by this article.

F. 1. "Party nominee" means a person who has been nominated by a political party pursuant to sections 16-301 or 16-343.

2. "Independent candidate" means a candidate who has properly filed nominating papers and nominating petitions with signatures pursuant to section 16-341.

3. "Unopposed," with reference to an election for a member of the house of representatives, means opposed by no more than one other candidate.

G. "Primary election spending limits" means:

1. For a candidate for legislature, ten thousand dollars.

2. For candidate for mine inspector, twenty thousand dollars.

3. For a candidate for treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, or corporation commission, forty thousand dollars.

4. For a candidate for secretary of state or attorney general, eighty thousand dollars.

5. For a candidate for governor, three hundred eighty thousand dollars.

H. "General election spending limits" means amounts fifty percent greater than the amounts specified in subsection G of this section.

I. 1. "Original" spending limit means a limit specified in subsections G and H of this section, as adjusted pursuant to section 16-959, or a special amount expressly set for a particular candidate by a provision of this title.

2. "Adjusted" spending limit means an original spending limit as further adjusted to account for reported overages pursuant to section 16-952.

16-1001. Applicability of penal provisions

The provisions of this title defining crimes involving elections and crimes against the elective franchise, and prescribing penalties therefore, apply to any general, primary or special election or to any election called by a board of supervisors for any purpose for which the board is authorized by law to call an election.

16-1002. Counterfeiting or distributing unlawful ballots; classification

A person who counterfeits a ballot, or who circulates or gives to another a counterfeit ballot, knowing at the time that the ballot has not been issued pursuant to the election laws of the state, is guilty of a class 5 felony.

16-1003. False endorsement, knowing destruction or delay in delivery of ballot; classification

A person who knowingly forges or falsely makes the official endorsement of a ballot, knowingly destroys or defaces a ballot, or knowingly delays the delivery of a ballot, is guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor.

16-1004. Interference with or corruption of election officer; interference with voting equipment; classification

A. A person who at any election knowingly interferes in any manner with an officer of such election in the discharge of the officer's duty, or who induces an officer of an election or officer whose duty it is to ascertain, announce or declare the result of such election, to violate or refuse to comply with the officer's duty or any law regulating the election, is guilty of a class 5 felony.

B. A person who knowingly modifies the software, hardware or source code for voting equipment without receiving approval or certification pursuant to section 16-442 is guilty of a class 5 felony.

16-1005. Early ballot abuse; classification

Any person who knowingly marks or punches an early ballot with the intent to fix an election for his own benefit or for that of another person is guilty of a class 5 felony.

16-1006. Changing vote of elector by corrupt means or inducement; classification

A. It is unlawful for a person knowingly by force, threats, menaces, bribery or any corrupt means, either directly or indirectly: