04/23/1993 09:10 AM Senate STA

  SENATOR  LEMAN  introduced CSHB  206(STA) am  (ELECTIONS AND                 
  ELECTRIC COOP ELECTIONS) as the next order of business.                      
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE  ELDON  MULDER,  prime  sponsor  of  HB  206,                 
  explained  the legislation  addresses  a problem  which they                 
  have  been experiencing  throughout the  railbelt in  recent                 
  years as it relates to  electrical and telephone cooperative                 
  elections.  In  the past, many  of the these elections  were                 
  "run  out  of the  pocket",  but  now that  whole  focus has                 
  changed.  Because there are vested interests that lie within                 
  these boards, the elections now cost thousands and thousands                 
  of  dollars.  However, with those elections, no changes have                 
  been  brought to bear in  relation to election financing and                 
  restrictions,    Currently  there  are  no  restrictions  or                 
  reporting requirements by people who run for the boards.                     
                                                                               
  HB 206 will  require the  people running for  the boards  of                 
  electrical and telephone cooperatives  to file APOC reports,                 
  and they will  have the  same restrictions that  legislators                 
  face when  they run  for election.   There  is a  limitation                 
  whereby it will  only be placed on those  cooperatives which                 
  serve  over 10,000  customers.   In essence,  that  means it                 
  would  only  apply  to  five  electrical utilities  and  one                 
  telephone cooperative in the state.                                          
                                                                               
  Representative  Mulder also  pointed  out the  bill provides                 
  that if  an individual raises  and spends less  than $1,000,                 
  that individual does not have to file a report.                              
                                                                               
  Number 305                                                                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR  LEMAN  noted  Brooke  Miles   of  the  Division  of                 
  Elections was present to respond to questions.                               
                                                                               
  Number 342                                                                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR LEMAN moved that  CSHB 206(STA) am be passed  out of                 
  committee  with  individual  recommendations.    Hearing  no                 
  objection, it was so ordered.