11.1001 Reporting; specific express advocacy.

(1) Disbursements.

(a) Any person, other than a committee, spending $2,500 or more in the aggregate on express advocacy shall submit statements to the commission under par. (b) if the express advocacy is made during the period beginning on the day that is 60 days prior to the day of the primary or election involving the candidate identified under par. (b) 5. and ending on the day of the primary or election involving that candidate.

(b) A person required to report under this section shall submit statements to the commission providing all of the following information:

1. The dates on which the person made the disbursements.

2. The name and address of the persons who received the disbursements.

3. The purpose for making the disbursements.

4. The amount spent for each act of express advocacy.

5. The name of any candidate identified in the express advocacy, the office that the candidate seeks, and whether the express advocacy supports or opposes that candidate.

6. An affirmation, made under oath, that the person will comply with the prohibition on coordination under s. 11.1203 with respect to any candidate or agent or candidate committee who is supported or opposed by the express advocacy.

7. The name and mailing and street address of the person's designated agent in this state.

(2) Exception.

(a) A person who is required to report under this section is not required to submit the information described under sub. (1) (b) regarding disbursements made before reaching the $2,500 threshold under sub. (1) (a). For purposes of this section, a disbursement for express advocacy is the amount spent directly on developing, producing, and disseminating the express advocacy.

(b) This section does not apply to any of the following:

1. A communication, other than an advertisement, appearing in a news story, commentary, or editorial distributed through the facilities of any news organization, unless the facilities are controlled by any committee or candidate.

2. A communication made exclusively between an organization and its members. In this subdivision, a member of an organization means a shareholder, employee, or officer of the organization, or an individual who has affirmatively manifested an interest in joining, supporting, or aiding the organization.

(3) Timing. A person who is required to report under this section shall submit the report to the commission no later than 72 hours after making the disbursements.

History: 2015 a. 117 ss. 24, 74 (1m).