H.B. 740                                                 VETOES

13-226.

(a)     The limits on contributions in this section do not apply to:

(1)     a contribution to a ballot issue committee; or

(2)     those contributions defined as transfers.

(b)     Subject to subsection [(d)] (C) of this section, a person may not, either
directly or indirectly, in an election cycle make:

(1)     aggregate contributions in excess of:

(i) $4,000 to any one campaign finance entity; or
(ii) $10,000 to all campaign finance entities; or

(2)     a contribution of money in excess of $100 except by check OR CREDIT
CARD.

(c)      [A person may not make a contribution by credit card greater than $100
per transaction.

(d)] (1) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, a central committee of
a political party may make aggregate in-kind contributions during an election cycle
that are not in excess of:

(i) for a State central committee, $1 for every two registered voters
in the State; and

(ii) for a local central committee, $1 for every two registered voters
in the county.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the number of
registered voters is determined, regardless of party affiliation, as of the first day of
the election cycle.

[(e)] (D) The limit on contributions to the campaign finance entity of a
candidate applies regardless of the number of offices sought by the candidate or
campaign finance entities formed to support the candidate.

[(f)] (E) Contributions by a corporation and any wholly-owned subsidiary of
the corporation, or by two or more corporations owned by the same stockholders, shall
be considered as being made by one contributor.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2004.

May 25, 2004

The Honorable Michael E. Busch
Speaker of the House
State House
Annapolis, MD 21401

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