Ch. 392

1995 LAWS OF MARYLAND

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] § 31-9 of this [article] SUBTITLE.

(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,
1991.]

(b)     Subject to the other requirements of this subtitle, the State Board shall BEGIN
TO distribute one-half of the money in the Fund NOT LATER THAN FEBRUARY 1 OF
THE YEAR OF THE ELECTION to eligible candidates in the primary election ON A
CONTINUING BASIS and the remaining money in the Fund PROMPTLY AFTER THE
PRIMARY ELECTION to eligible candidates in the general election.

(c)     No later than January 1, [1988] 1996, the State Administrator shall
promulgate comprehensive regulations to carry out the purposes and requirements of this
subtitle. The regulations shall include provisions regarding:

(1)     The manner and date by which candidates shall notify the State Board
that they intend to qualify for public contributions;

(2)     The deadline for candidates to submit requests for public contributions;

(3)     The dates upon which the State Board is to order, and the Comptroller
is to make, disbursements of public contributions to candidates IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THIS SUBTITLE;

(4)     Pro rata distributions if there is not, or may not be, sufficient money in
the Fund;

(5)     A formula for distributing supplementary public contributions, to the
other eligible candidates if, because an eligible candidate fails to request a public
contribution, withdraws as a candidate, becomes disqualified, or dies, additional funds
become available;

(6)     The standards by which expenditures by political committees and slates
with which an eligible candidate is affiliated are applied to the expenditure limit of the
candidate as specified in § 31-3 of this subtitle;

(7)     The specification of thresholds for in-kind contributions that will not be
deemed contributions or expenditures for the purposes of this subtitle;

(8)     Distributions to:

(i) Unopposed candidates;

(ii) Candidates who are not members of the 2 principal political
parties; and

(iii) Write-in candidates; and
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