Update: We added some additional information about the ethics complaints and outcomes.

From Lisa Demer in Anchorage --

There's buzz today about a new legal fund created for Gov. Sarah Palin. But the family spokeswoman says it's not sanctioned by Palin.

"It’s not official. Neither the governor nor her attorney can accept monies from a group like this. There is one that is in the process of being established," said Palin spokeswoman Meg Stapleton.

Clayton Paslay, who splits his time between Texas and California, said in a telephone interview that he's a big supporter of Palin and last year started a political action committee to support her and other conservatives, including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Then he heard Fox News Channel host Bill O'Reilly say Palin needed help with her legal bills. So, about a week ago, he added a legal fund for Palin to his Web site.

"I did this at the suggestion of Fox News," Paslay said.

He said he has never talked to Palin because he can't get through to her. But a few days ago he spoke briefly with Palin's Anchorage attorney, Thomas Van Flein. Paslay said the attorney "was in a rush" but didn't object to the fund. He said they agreed donations could be sent directly to the attorney.

"No different than going down and paying someone else’s parking ticket," Paslay said.

Van Flein didn't immediately return calls.

Palin said last month she owes about $500,000 in legal bills to Van Flein's firm for defending her in the Troopergate controversy as well as in various ethics complaints.

Palin has called the complaints partisan, frivolous and false -- and expensive to deal with. As of March 20, there were 10 ethics complaints, of which six had been dismissed and three were pending, according to a summary provided by Palin last month. One complaint, involving her children's travel, was settled after Palin agreed to reimburse the state for 10 trips. Since March 20, Palin has been hit with at least one additional ethics complaint, involving her wearing of Arctic Cat logo gear at the start of the Tesoro Iron Dog snowmachine race. The company sponsors her husband, Todd, in the race.

"I must defend against these baseless ethics accusations out of my own pocket as the use of public monies to do so could itself violate state law," Palin wrote in March, in response to questions from the Daily News about her legal bills.

Word about the rogue legal fund erupted late Tuesday in the blogosphere. Paslay said he talked again Wednesday to Van Flein, who told him an official "trust fund" was being created for Palin's legal bills.

Paslay said even if Palin has a separate, official legal fund, he plans to keep his going because he's a supporter.

Stapleton said the official fund will have strict rules and that money cannot be accepted from a separate organization like Paslay's. She said Palin gave her permission to start one, but that the governor won't be directly involved.

"It needs to comply with state and federal laws and there will be incredibly strict guidelines to which donors will have to adhere," Stapleton said. "We don't want registered lobbyists contributing. You can't be a foreign national. We also will have a limit so you don't get $10,000 donations."

As soon as the official fund is created, Stapleton said, she'll put the word out.

Paslay said he could craft his site to whatever limits Palin wants.

"I would love for Meg to call and talk to me. I would rather work together as a team," Paslay said.

Paslay has various businesses including a U-Haul dealership, a mini-storage facility and others.

He started his political action committee, Free American Citizens, after the November election. It's for individual rights, including the right to not wear a seatbelt.

"It used to be 'Buckle up for Safety!' Now, confinement is mandatory!" the Web site says. Paslay said if you get caught not wearing a seatbelt and refuse to pay the fine, you can be thrown in jail.

His group also takes issue with penalities against people who hire illegal immigrants -- it's easy to do so unknowingly in Texas and California, he said.

"American Citizens become criminals through NO FAULT of their own just by hiring someone to watch their children, clean their home or mow their lawn," the Free American Citizens Web site says.

Paslay is raising funds through the PAC for Palin and Huckabee. The legal fund is separate legally from the PAC but is using its payments system, he said.

In less than 24 hours, the legal fund has received $1,880 in donations from 48 people around the country. None were bigger than $100, he said.