WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 699

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 33 - Election Code

31-3.

(a)  A candidate who applies for and accepts a public
contribution from the Fair Campaign Financing Fund may not
expend, in the applicable election, an amount in excess of the
product of 20 cents multiplied by the population of the State.

(b)  For purposes of this section, the population of the
State shall be determined on January 1 of the year in which the
election is to be held in accordance with the most recent
decennial United States census, or a more recent population
estimate prepared for the State by the State Department of Health
and Mental Hygiene if this is available.

(c)  The candidate, and any chairman or treasurer associated
with the expenditure, are jointly and severally liable civilly
and criminally for any expenditure made in violation of this
section.

(d)  Provisions in this section shall not be applicable to
any election held prior to January 1, [1990] 1991.

31-4.

(a) (1) There is established the "Fair Campaign Financing
Fund" which shall be administered by the Comptroller in
accordance with the provisions of §§ 31-11 and 31-12 of this
article.

(2)  The Comptroller shall credit to the Fund all
money collected pursuant to these provisions.

(3)  No disbursements may be made from the Fund prior
to January 1, [1990] 1991.

31-10.

(a)  The provisions of §§ 31-1 through 31-9 of this article
known as the Fair Campaign Financing Act and providing for a
system of fair campaign financing are of no effect and may not be
implemented or enforced after July 1, [1991] 1995.

(b)  Any money remaining in the Fund after disbursements to
candidates, as provided by law and regulations, shall be used to
offset the expenses of the disbursement and any remaining after
that shall be transferred to the State Administrative Board of
Election Laws to be used for voter education purposes.

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