PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
An Act To Limit the Influence of Lobbyists by Expanding the Prohibition on Accepting Political Contributions
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 1 MRSA §1015, sub-§3, ¶B, as amended by PL 2009, c. 286, §1, is further amended to read:
 
B. The Governor, a member of the Legislature or any constitutional officer or the staff or agent of the Governor, a member of the Legislature or any constitutional officer may not intentionally solicit or accept a contribution from a lobbyist, lobbyist associate or employer during any period of time in which the Legislature is convened before final adjournment, except for a qualifying contribution as defined under Title 21-A, section 1122, subsection 7. A lobbyist, lobbyist associate or employer may not intentionally give, offer or promise a contribution, other than a qualifying contribution, to the Governor, a member of the Legislature or any constitutional officer or the staff or agent of the Governor, a member of the Legislature or any constitutional officer during any time in which the Legislature is convened before final adjournment. These prohibitions apply to contributions directly and indirectly solicited or accepted by, or given, offered and promised to a political action committee, ballot question committee or party committee of which the Governor, a member of the Legislature, a constitutional officer or the staff or agent of these officials is a treasurer, officer or primary fund-raiser or decision maker.
 
SUMMARY
Current law prohibits the Governor, members of the Legislature, constitutional officers and the staff or agents of the Governor, members of the Legislature and constitutional officers from soliciting or accepting contributions from a lobbyist, lobbyist associate or employer while the Legislature is convened in session. This bill extends application of that prohibition year-round, regardless of whether the Legislature is in session.