Contributions and Solicitations During Legislative Session

Subdivision 1. Contributions during legislative session. (a) A candidate for the legislature or for constitutional office, the candidate's principal campaign committee, or a political committee or party unit established by all or a part of the party organization within a house of the legislature, must not solicit or accept a contribution from a registered lobbyist, political committee, political fund, or an association not registered with the board during a regular session of the legislature. (b) A registered lobbyist, political committee, political fund, or an association not registered with the board must not make a contribution to a candidate for the legislature or for constitutional office, the candidate's principal campaign committee, or a political committee or party unit established by all or a part of the party organization within a house of the legislature during a regular session of the legislature. (c) Regardless of when made, a contribution made by a lobbyist, political committee, or political fund in order to attend an event that occurs during a regular session of the legislature and that is held by the principal campaign committee of a candidate for the legislature or constitutional office, or by a political party organization within a body of the legislature, is a violation of this section. (d) Regardless of when made, a contribution from a lobbyist, political committee, or political fund for membership or access to a facility operated during the regular session of the legislature by the principal campaign committee of a candidate for the legislature or constitutional office, or by a political party organization within a body of the legislature, is a violation of this section. Subd. 2. Party unit solicitations. A political party unit must not solicit or receive at an event hosted by a candidate for the legislature or by a candidate for constitutional office a contribution from a lobbyist, political committee, political fund, or party unit during a regular session of the legislature. Subd. 3. Definition. For purposes of this section, a "regular session" starts at 12:00 a.m., on the first day of each annual session and ends at 11:59 p.m. on the last day of each annual session. For purposes of this section, regular session does not include a special session or the interim between the two annual sessions of a biennium. Subd. 4. Civil penalty. A candidate, political committee, party unit, political fund, an association not registered with the board, or a registered lobbyist that violates this section is subject to a civil penalty imposed by the board of up to $1,000. If the board makes a public finding that there is probable cause to believe a violation of this section has occurred, the board may bring an action, or transmit the finding to a county attorney who must bring an action, in the District Court of Ramsey County, to collect a civil penalty as imposed by the board. Penalties paid under this section must be deposited in the general fund in the state treasury. Subd. 5. Special election. This section does not apply in a legislative special election during the period beginning when the person becomes a candidate in the special election and ending on the day of the special election.