AN ACT relating to public financing for judicial campaigns and making an appropriation therefor.
     Create new sections of KRS Chapter 118A to establish the clean judicial elections fund; define terms; establish fund to distribute transfers to certified judicial candidates; provide that the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance administer the fund and promulgate necessary administrative regulations; designate that moneys in the fund be invested in accordance with regulations developed by the State Investment Commission; require the registry to publish information about campaign expenditures in the judicial campaigns of the previous year; establish requirements to be designated a certified judicial candidate and gain access to the fund; provide guidelines for distribution of funds to certified judicial candidates; direct that judicial review of any final action of the registry be expedited by the court; provide for a civil penalty up to $10,000 for an actual violation of these provisions, and a Class D felony for any knowing violation of these provisions; create a new section of KRS Chapter 141 to provide that a person entitled to a state tax refund may designate on their income tax return an amount to be credited to the fund; amend KRS 21A.140 to permit the Supreme Court to allow members of the Kentucky Bar Association to contribute to the clean judicial elections fund with their bar dues; EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2013.

     Jan 9-introduced in House
     Jan 11-to Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs (H)
     Jan 25-reassigned to Judiciary (H)
     Mar 8-posted in committee
     Mar 14-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
     Mar 15-2nd reading, to Rules
     Mar 21-posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 22, 2012
     Mar 23-taken from the Regular Orders of the Day; recommitted to Appropriations & Revenue (H)