Signed by Governor Joe Manchin III

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill establishing the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Public Campaign Financing Fund.

Highlights:

-Establishes the "West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Public Campaign Financing Pilot Program' to begin with an exploratory period for the 2012 primary, and continuing through the 2012 general election (Article 12, §3-12-1). -Establishes the Supreme Court of Appeals Pubic Campaign Financing Fund with the following purposes (Article 12, §3-12-5):

-Provide public financing for the election campaigns of certified candidates; and -Pay the administrative and enforcement costs of the Secretary of State.

-Requires revenues from, but not limited to, the following be deposited into the fund (Article 12, §3-12-6):

-Fees levied on any attorney licensed to practice law in the state of West Virginia for the "fair administration of justice' between $50 and $75, to be collected by the state bar association; -$100 fee levied on each appeal and petition filed in the Supreme Court of Appeals, excluding domestic relations actions; -$20 fee levied on each civil action filed in a circuit court, excluding class actions and domestic relations actions; -$20 fee levied on each party in a class action lawsuit filed in the circuit court; -$20 fee levied on each plaintiff in a divorce action; and -$10 fee levied on each plaintiff in a civil action filed in magistrate court.

-Prohibits a certified candidate from accepting more than 1 qualified contribution from a single individual, and defines "qualified contribution' as a donation from an individual that is no less than $1 and no more than $100 (Article 12, §3-12-9). -Provides candidates with $200,000 for contested primary elections, and $350,000 for contested general elections. Additional funds provided to a candidate may not exceed $400,000 for a primary election and $700,000 for a general election (Article 12, §3-12-11). -Prohibits any private loans or contributions from any private source, including from the candidate's personal funds or family, to be made to a certified candidate (Article 12, §3-12-12): -Requires all candidates to submit, each month, a financial statement disclosing all exploratory and qualified contributions, and an accounting of all expenditures and obligations received during the preceding month (Article 12, §3-12-13).

Full Bill Text