1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act relating to elections; creating s. 97.0115, F.S.; |
3 | providing that chapters 97 through 105 shall govern all |
4 | procedures and processes relating to national, state, |
5 | county, and district elections within the state; |
6 | specifying a governing statute for the conduct of |
7 | municipal elections; prohibiting a county or district |
8 | charter, ordinance, or regulation from conflicting with |
9 | state election laws; amending s. 97.021, F.S.; defining |
10 | the term "absent uniformed services voter"; revising the |
11 | definition of the term "overseas voter"; amending s. |
12 | 98.0981, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; amending s. |
13 | 101.111, F.S.; revising voter challenge oath requirements; |
14 | providing circumstances under which a challenged voter may |
15 | execute a change of legal residence, be directed to the |
16 | proper precinct, or vote a provisional ballot; providing |
17 | increased penalties for filing a frivolous voter |
18 | challenge; amending s. 101.5612, F.S.; requiring the |
19 | supervisor of elections to publish on his or her website a |
20 | notice of testing of tabulating equipment; requiring the |
21 | use of certain ballots and technology for preelection |
22 | testing of tabulating equipment; amending s. 101.62, F.S.; |
23 | revising the supervisor of elections' responsibilities for |
24 | the request and transmittal of absentee ballots; revising |
25 | the time an absentee ballot request is valid; authorizing |
26 | the Department of State to prescribe rules for a ballot to |
27 | be sent to uniformed services voters and overseas voters; |
28 | amending s. 101.694, F.S.; requiring the supervisor of |
29 | elections to send an absentee ballot to certain electors |
30 | within a specified time; deleting a requirement that an |
31 | absentee ballot be mailed; deleting a provision |
32 | establishing that a federal postcard application request |
33 | is valid through two general election cycles; amending s. |
34 | 101.71, F.S.; requiring the supervisor of elections to |
35 | ensure the provision of adequate supplies, equipment, and |
36 | personnel when precincts are collocated; requiring the |
37 | supervisor of elections to publish the relocation of a |
38 | polling place on his or her website; amending s. 102.012, |
39 | F.S.; allowing the supervisor of elections to appoint one |
40 | election board for collocated precincts and requiring the |
41 | appointment of adequate personnel for the collocated |
42 | precincts; amending s. 102.111, F.S.; clarifying that the |
43 | Governor and Cabinet members shall serve ex officio on the |
44 | Elections Canvassing Commission; establishing meeting |
45 | times for the commission; amending s. 102.112, F.S.; |
46 | conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 102.141, F.S.; |
47 | requiring the supervisor of elections to publish on his or |
48 | her website notice of the time for canvassing absentee and |
49 | provisional ballots; providing circumstances under which |
50 | the Secretary of State, county canvassing board, or local |
51 | board is responsible for ordering recounts in elections; |
52 | specifying the time for filing returns for elections in |
53 | which a recount was ordered; amending s. 102.166, F.S.; |
54 | providing circumstances under which the Secretary of |
55 | State, county canvassing board, or local board is |
56 | responsible for ordering a manual recount of overvotes and |
57 | undervotes; amending s. 106.03, F.S.; revising provisions |
58 | for the reporting of information changes by political |
59 | committees; requiring the Division of Elections to adopt |
60 | rules for the dissolution of certain political committees; |
61 | amending s. 106.04, F.S.; revising reporting requirements |
62 | for committees of continuous existence; revising |
63 | provisions relating to the assessment and deposition of |
64 | fines for committees of continuous existence; establishing |
65 | when notice is deemed sufficient; amending s. 106.07, |
66 | F.S.; revising reporting requirements for candidates and |
67 | political committees; providing additional methods for |
68 | establishing proof of delivery; increasing the time a |
69 | campaign treasurer is allowed to respond to inquiries |
70 | about reports; establishing when notice is deemed |
71 | sufficient; revising when political committees that make |
72 | contributions or expenditures in county or municipal races |
73 | must file campaign finance reports; requiring transaction |
74 | information for each credit card purchase; authorizing a |
75 | filing officer to notify the registered agent of a |
76 | political committee that fines are due; amending s. |
77 | 106.0705, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; amending s. |
78 | 106.11, F.S.; establishing when a candidate may be |
79 | reimbursed for a loan to his or her campaign account; |
80 | amending s. 106.143, F.S.; authorizing specified |
81 | abbreviations in political advertisements; requiring the |
82 | exclusion of a candidate's political party affiliation in |
83 | political advertisements for a nonpartisan race; amending |
84 | s. 106.29, F.S.; establishing when notice is deemed |
85 | sufficient for late filed reports of contributions and |
86 | expenditures by political parties; amending s. 379.352, |
87 | F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; providing effective |
88 | dates. |
89 |
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90 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
91 |
|
92 | Section 1. Section 97.0115, Florida Statutes, is created |
93 | to read: |
94 | 97.0115 Elections procedures and processes; governing |
95 | law.- |
96 | (1) Chapters 97-105 shall govern all procedures and |
97 | processes relating to national, state, county, and district |
98 | elections within the state, except as otherwise specifically |
99 | authorized by federal or state law. The conduct of municipal |
100 | elections shall be governed by s. 100.3605. |
101 | (2) A county or district charter, ordinance, or regulation |
102 | may not conflict with the matters set forth in chapters 97-105. |
103 | Section 2. Effective upon this act becoming a law, |
104 | subsections (2) through (43) of section 97.021, Florida |
105 | Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (3) through (44), |
106 | respectively, present subsection (22) of that section is |
107 | amended, and a new subsection (2) is added to that section to |
108 | read: |
109 | 97.021 Definitions.-For the purposes of this code, except |
110 | where the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term: |
111 | (2) "Absent uniformed services voter" means: |
112 | (a) A member of a uniformed service on active duty who, by |
113 | reason of such active duty, is absent from the place of |
114 | residence where the member is otherwise qualified to vote; |
115 | (b) A member of the merchant marine who, by reason of |
116 | service in the merchant marine, is absent from the place of |
117 | residence where the member is otherwise qualified to vote; or |
118 | (c) A spouse or dependent of a member referred to in |
119 | paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) who, by reason of the active duty |
120 | or service of the member, is absent from the place of residence |
121 | where the spouse or dependent is otherwise qualified to vote. |
122 | (23)(22) "Overseas voter" means: |
123 | (a) An absent uniformed services voter who, by reason of |
124 | active duty or service, is absent from the United States on the |
125 | date of the election involved Members of the uniformed services |
126 | while in the active service who are permanent residents of the |
127 | state and are temporarily residing outside the territorial |
128 | limits of the United States and the District of Columbia; |
129 | (b) A person who resides outside the United States and is |
130 | qualified to vote in the last place in which the person was |
131 | domiciled before leaving the United States Members of the |
132 | Merchant Marine of the United States who are permanent residents |
133 | of the state and are temporarily residing outside the |
134 | territorial limits of the United States and the District of |
135 | Columbia; or and |
136 | (c) A person who resides outside the United States and, |
137 | but for such residence, would be qualified to vote in the last |
138 | place in which the person was domiciled before leaving the |
139 | United States Other citizens of the United States who are |
140 | permanent residents of the state and are temporarily residing |
141 | outside the territorial limits of the United States and the |
142 | District of Columbia, who are qualified and registered to vote |
143 | as provided by law. |
144 | Section 3. Subsection (3) of section 98.0981, Florida |
145 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
146 | 98.0981 Reports; voting history; statewide voter |
147 | registration system information; precinct-level election |
148 | results; book closing statistics.- |
149 | (3) PRECINCT-LEVEL BOOK CLOSING STATISTICS.-After the date |
150 | of book closing but before the date of an election as defined in |
151 | s. 97.021(11) s. 97.021(10) to fill a national, state, county, |
152 | or district office, or to vote on a proposed constitutional |
153 | amendment, the department shall compile the following precinct- |
154 | level statistical data for each county: |
155 | (a) Precinct numbers. |
156 | (b) Total number of active registered voters by party for |
157 | each precinct. |
158 | Section 4. Section 101.111, Florida Statutes, is amended |
159 | to read: |
160 | 101.111 Voter challenges Person desiring to vote may be |
161 | challenged; challenger to execute oath; oath of person |
162 | challenged; determination of challenge.- |
163 | (1)(a) Any registered elector or poll watcher of a county |
164 | may challenge the right of a person to vote in that county. The |
165 | challenge must be in writing and contain the following oath, |
166 | which shall be delivered to the clerk or inspector: |
167 | OATH OF PERSON ENTERING CHALLENGE |
168 | State of Florida |
169 | County of _____ |
170 | I do solemnly swear or affirm that my name is _____; that I am a |
171 | member of the _____ Party; that I am a registered voter or |
172 | pollwatcher; that my residence address is _____, in the |
173 | municipality of _____; and that I have reason to believe that |
174 | _____ is attempting to vote illegally and the reasons for my |
175 | belief are set forth herein to wit: |
176 | ________________________________________________________________ |
177 | ________________________________________________________________ |
178 | ___________________________ |
179 | ...(Signature of person challenging voter)... |
180 | Sworn and subscribed to before me this _____ day of _____, |
181 | ...(year).... |
182 | ...(Clerk of election)... |
183 | (b)1. The clerk or inspector shall immediately deliver to |
184 | the challenged person a copy of the oath of the person entering |
185 | the challenge, and the challenged voter shall be allowed to cast |
186 | a provisional ballot in accordance with s. 101.048, except as |
187 | provided in subparagraph 2. |
188 | 2. If the basis for the challenge is that the person's |
189 | legal residence is not in that precinct, the person shall first |
190 | be given the opportunity to execute a change of legal residence |
191 | in order to be able to vote a regular ballot in accordance with |
192 | s. 101.045(2). If the change of legal residence is such that the |
193 | person is then properly registered for that precinct, the person |
194 | shall be allowed to vote a regular ballot. If the change of |
195 | legal residence places the person in another precinct, the |
196 | person shall be directed to the proper precinct to vote. If such |
197 | person insists that he or she is currently in the proper |
198 | precinct, the person shall be allowed to vote a provisional |
199 | ballot in accordance with s. 101.048. |
200 | (c) Alternatively, a challenge in accordance with this |
201 | section may be filed in advance with the supervisor of elections |
202 | no sooner than 30 days before an election. The supervisor shall |
203 | promptly provide the election board in the challenged voter's |
204 | precinct with a copy of the oath of the person entering the |
205 | challenge. The challenged voter shall be allowed to cast a |
206 | provisional ballot in accordance with s. 101.048, subject to the |
207 | provisions of subparagraph (b)2. |
208 | (2) Any elector or poll watcher filing a frivolous |
209 | challenge of any person's right to vote commits a felony |
210 | misdemeanor of the third first degree, punishable as provided in |
211 | s. 775.082, or s. 775.083, or s. 775.084; however, electors or |
212 | poll watchers shall not be subject to liability for any action |
213 | taken in good faith and in furtherance of any activity or duty |
214 | permitted of such electors or poll watchers by law. Each |
215 | instance where any elector or poll watcher files a frivolous |
216 | challenge of any person's right to vote constitutes a separate |
217 | offense. |
218 | Section 5. Effective upon this act becoming a law, |
219 | subsections (2) and (5) of section 101.5612, Florida Statutes, |
220 | are amended to read: |
221 | 101.5612 Testing of tabulating equipment.- |
222 | (2) On any day not more than 10 days prior to the |
223 | commencement of early voting as provided in s. 101.657, the |
224 | supervisor of elections shall have the automatic tabulating |
225 | equipment publicly tested to ascertain that the equipment will |
226 | correctly count the votes cast for all offices and on all |
227 | measures. If the ballots to be used at the polling place on |
228 | election day are not available at the time of the testing, the |
229 | supervisor may conduct an additional test not more than 10 days |
230 | before election day. Public notice of the time and place of the |
231 | test shall be given at least 48 hours prior thereto by |
232 | publication on the supervisor of elections' website and once in |
233 | one or more newspapers of general circulation in the county or, |
234 | if there is no newspaper of general circulation in the county, |
235 | by posting the notice in at least four conspicuous places in the |
236 | county. The supervisor or the municipal elections official may, |
237 | at the time of qualifying, give written notice of the time and |
238 | location of the public preelection test to each candidate |
239 | qualifying with that office and obtain a signed receipt that the |
240 | notice has been given. The Department of State shall give |
241 | written notice to each statewide candidate at the time of |
242 | qualifying, or immediately at the end of qualifying, that the |
243 | voting equipment will be tested and advise each candidate to |
244 | contact the county supervisor of elections as to the time and |
245 | location of the public preelection test. The supervisor or the |
246 | municipal elections official shall, at least 15 days prior to |
247 | the commencement of early voting as provided in s. 101.657, send |
248 | written notice by certified mail to the county party chair of |
249 | each political party and to all candidates for other than |
250 | statewide office whose names appear on the ballot in the county |
251 | and who did not receive written notification from the supervisor |
252 | or municipal elections official at the time of qualifying, |
253 | stating the time and location of the public preelection test of |
254 | the automatic tabulating equipment. The canvassing board shall |
255 | convene, and each member of the canvassing board shall certify |
256 | to the accuracy of the test. For the test, the canvassing board |
257 | may designate one member to represent it. The test shall be open |
258 | to representatives of the political parties, the press, and the |
259 | public. Each political party may designate one person with |
260 | expertise in the computer field who shall be allowed in the |
261 | central counting room when all tests are being conducted and |
262 | when the official votes are being counted. The designee shall |
263 | not interfere with the normal operation of the canvassing board. |
264 | (5) Any tests involving marksense ballots pursuant to this |
265 | section shall employ test preprinted ballots created by the |
266 | supervisor of elections using actual ballots that have been |
267 | printed for the election., If preprinted ballots will be used in |
268 | the election, and ballot-on-demand ballots will be used in the |
269 | election, the supervisor shall also create test ballots using |
270 | the, if ballot-on-demand technology that will be used to produce |
271 | ballots in the election, using the same paper stock as will be |
272 |
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273 | Section 6. Effective upon this act becoming a law, |
274 | subsections (1), (3), (4), and (5) of section 101.62, Florida |
275 | Statutes, are amended to read: |
276 | 101.62 Request for absentee ballots.- |
277 | (1)(a) The supervisor shall may accept a request for an |
278 | absentee ballot from an elector in person or in writing. Except |
279 | as provided in s. 101.694, One request shall be deemed |
280 | sufficient to receive an absentee ballot for all elections |
281 | through the next two regularly scheduled general election |
282 | elections, unless the elector or the elector's designee |
283 | indicates at the time the request is made the elections for |
284 | which the elector desires to receive an absentee ballot. Such |
285 | request may be considered canceled when any first-class mail |
286 | sent by the supervisor to the elector is returned as |
287 | undeliverable. |
288 | (b) The supervisor shall may accept a written or |
289 | telephonic request for an absentee ballot from the elector, or, |
290 | if directly instructed by the elector, a member of the elector's |
291 | immediate family, or the elector's legal guardian. For purposes |
292 | of this section, the term "immediate family" has the same |
293 | meaning as specified in paragraph (4)(b). The person making the |
294 | request must disclose: |
295 | 1. The name of the elector for whom the ballot is |
296 | requested.; |
297 | 2. The elector's address.; |
298 | 3. The elector's date of birth.; |
299 | 4. The requester's name.; |
300 | 5. The requester's address.; |
301 | 6. The requester's driver's license number, if available; |
302 | 6.7. The requester's relationship to the elector.; and |
303 | 8. The requester's signature (written requests only). |
304 | (c) Upon receiving a request for an absentee ballot, the |
305 | supervisor of elections shall notify the voter of the free |
306 | access system that has been designated by the department for |
307 | determining the status of his or her absentee ballot. |
308 | (3) For each request for an absentee ballot received, the |
309 | supervisor shall record the date the request was made, the date |
310 | the absentee ballot was delivered to the voter or the voter's |
311 | designee or the date the absentee ballot was delivered to the |
312 | post office or other carrier, the date the ballot was received |
313 | by the supervisor, and such other information he or she may deem |
314 | necessary. This information shall be provided in electronic |
315 | format as provided by rule adopted by the division. The |
316 | information shall be updated and made available no later than |
317 | noon of each day beginning the date the first absentee ballots |
318 | are mailed for the election and shall be contemporaneously |
319 | provided to the division. This information shall be confidential |
320 | and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and shall be made |
321 | available to or reproduced only for the voter requesting the |
322 | ballot, a canvassing board, an election official, a political |
323 | party or official thereof, a candidate who has filed |
324 | qualification papers and is opposed in an upcoming election, and |
325 | registered political committees or registered committees of |
326 | continuous existence, for political purposes only. |
327 | (4)(a) No later than 45 days before each election, the |
328 | supervisor of elections shall send an absentee ballot to each |
329 | absent uniformed services voter and to each overseas voter as |
330 | provided in subparagraph (b)3. To each absent qualified elector |
331 | overseas who has requested an absentee ballot, the supervisor of |
332 | elections shall mail an absentee ballot not less than 35 days |
333 | before the primary election and not less than 45 days before the |
334 | general election. |
335 | (b) The supervisor shall provide an absentee ballot to |
336 | each elector by whom a request for that ballot has been made by |
337 | one of the following means: |
338 | 1. By nonforwardable, return-if-undeliverable mail to the |
339 | elector's current mailing address on file with the supervisor., |
340 | unless the elector specifies in the request that: |
341 | 2. By nonforwardable, return-if-undeliverable mail to any |
342 | address requested by an elector if the request specifies that: |
343 | a. The elector is absent from the county and does not plan |
344 | to return before the day of the election; |
345 | b. The elector is temporarily unable to occupy the |
346 | residence because of hurricane, tornado, flood, fire, or other |
347 | emergency or natural disaster; or |
348 | c. The elector is in a hospital, assisted living facility, |
349 | nursing home, short-term medical or rehabilitation facility, or |
350 | correctional facility, |
351 | |
352 | in which case the supervisor shall mail the ballot by |
353 | nonforwardable, return-if-undeliverable mail to any other |
354 | address the elector specifies in the request. |
355 | 3.2. By forwardable mail, e-mail, or facsimile machine |
356 | transmission to absent uniformed services voters and overseas |
357 | voters who are entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the |
358 | Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. The absent |
359 | uniformed services voter or overseas voter may designate in the |
360 | request the preferred method of transmission. If the voter does |
361 | not designate the method of transmission, the ballot shall be |
362 | mailed. |
363 | 4.3. By personal delivery before 7 p.m. on election day to |
364 | the elector, upon presentation of the identification required in |
365 | s. 101.043. |
366 | 5.4. By delivery to a designee on election day or up to 5 |
367 | days prior to the day of an election. Any elector may designate |
368 | in writing a person to pick up the ballot for the elector; |
369 | however, the person designated may not pick up more than two |
370 | absentee ballots per election, other than the designee's own |
371 | ballot, except that additional ballots may be picked up for |
372 | members of the designee's immediate family. For purposes of this |
373 | section, "immediate family" means the designee's spouse or the |
374 | parent, child, grandparent, or sibling of the designee or of the |
375 | designee's spouse. The designee shall provide to the supervisor |
376 | the written authorization by the elector and a picture |
377 | identification of the designee and must complete an affidavit. |
378 | The designee shall state in the affidavit that the designee is |
379 | authorized by the elector to pick up that ballot and shall |
380 | indicate if the elector is a member of the designee's immediate |
381 | family and, if so, the relationship. The department shall |
382 | prescribe the form of the affidavit. If the supervisor is |
383 | satisfied that the designee is authorized to pick up the ballot |
384 | and that the signature of the elector on the written |
385 | authorization matches the signature of the elector on file, the |
386 | supervisor shall give the ballot to that designee for delivery |
387 | to the elector. |
388 | (5) In the event that the department Elections Canvassing |
389 | Commission is unable to certify candidates for the results of an |
390 | election for a state office in time for the supervisors to |
391 | comply with paragraph (4)(a) subsection (4), the Department of |
392 | State is authorized to prescribe rules for a ballot to be sent |
393 | to absent uniformed services voters and electors overseas |
394 | voters. |
395 | Section 7. Effective upon this act becoming a law, |
396 | subsection (1) of section 101.694, Florida Statutes, is amended |
397 | to read: |
398 | 101.694 Mailing of ballots upon receipt of federal |
399 | postcard application.- |
400 | (1) Upon receipt of a federal postcard application for an |
401 | absentee ballot executed by a person whose registration is in |
402 | order or whose application is sufficient to register or update |
403 | the registration of that person, the supervisor shall send the |
404 | ballot in accordance with s. 101.62(4) mail to the applicant a |
405 | ballot, if the ballots are available for mailing. The federal |
406 | postcard application request for an absentee ballot shall be |
407 | effective for all elections through the next two regularly |
408 | scheduled general elections. |
409 | Section 8. Effective upon this act becoming a law, |
410 | subsection (2) of section 101.71, Florida Statutes, is amended |
411 | to read: |
412 | 101.71 Polling place.- |
413 | (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), |
414 | whenever the supervisor of elections of any county determines |
415 | that the accommodations for holding any election at a polling |
416 | place designated for any precinct in the county are unavailable, |
417 | are inadequate for the expeditious and efficient housing and |
418 | handling of voting and voting paraphernalia, or do not comply |
419 | with the requirements of s. 101.715, the supervisor shall, not |
420 | less than 30 days prior to the holding of an election, provide |
421 | for the voting place for such precinct to be moved to another |
422 | site that is accessible to the public on election day in said |
423 | precinct or, if such is not available, to another site that is |
424 | accessible to the public on election day in a contiguous |
425 | precinct. If such action of the supervisor results in the voting |
426 | place for two or more precincts being located for the purposes |
427 | of an election in one building, the supervisor of elections |
428 | shall ensure that adequate supplies, equipment, and personnel |
429 | are available to accommodate the voters for the precincts that |
430 | are collocated voting places for the several precincts involved |
431 | shall be established and maintained separate from each other in |
432 | said building. When any supervisor moves any polling place |
433 | pursuant to this subsection, the supervisor shall, not more than |
434 | 30 days or fewer than 7 days prior to the holding of an |
435 | election, give notice of the change of the polling place for the |
436 | precinct involved, with clear description of the voting place to |
437 | which changed, at least once in a newspaper of general |
438 | circulation in the said county and on the supervisor of |
439 | elections' website. A notice of the change of the polling place |
440 | involved shall be mailed, at least 14 days prior to an election, |
441 | to each registered elector or to each household in which there |
442 | is a registered elector. |
443 | Section 9. Effective upon this act becoming a law, |
444 | subsection (1) of section 102.012, Florida Statutes, is amended |
445 | to read: |
446 | 102.012 Inspectors and clerks to conduct elections.- |
447 | (1)(a) The supervisor of elections of each county, at |
448 | least 20 days prior to the holding of any election, shall |
449 | appoint an election board comprised of poll workers who serve as |
450 | clerks or inspectors for each precinct in the county. The clerk |
451 | shall be in charge of, and responsible for, seeing that the |
452 | election board carries out its duties and responsibilities. Each |
453 | inspector and each clerk shall take and subscribe to an oath or |
454 | affirmation, which shall be written or printed, to the effect |
455 | that he or she will perform the duties of inspector or clerk of |
456 | election, respectively, according to law and will endeavor to |
457 | prevent all fraud, deceit, or abuse in conducting the election. |
458 | The oath may be taken before an officer authorized to administer |
459 | oaths or before any of the persons who are to act as inspectors, |
460 | one of them to swear the others, and one of the others sworn |
461 | thus, in turn, to administer the oath to the one who has not |
462 | been sworn. The oaths shall be returned with the poll list and |
463 | the returns of the election to the supervisor. In all questions |
464 | that may arise before the members of an election board, the |
465 | decision of a majority of them shall decide the question. The |
466 | supervisor of elections of each county shall be responsible for |
467 | the attendance and diligent performance of his or her duties by |
468 | each clerk and inspector. |
469 | (b) If two or more precincts share the same building and |
470 | voting place, the supervisor of elections may appoint one |
471 | election board for the collocated precincts. The supervisor |
472 | shall ensure that a sufficient number of poll workers are |
473 | appointed to adequately handle the processing of the voters in |
474 | the collocated precincts. |
475 | Section 10. Effective upon this act becoming a law, |
476 | section 102.111, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
477 | 102.111 Elections Canvassing Commission.- |
478 | (1) The Elections Canvassing Commission shall consist of |
479 | the Governor and two members of the Cabinet selected by the |
480 | Governor, all of whom shall serve ex officio. If a member of the |
481 | Elections Canvassing commission is unable to serve for any |
482 | reason, the Governor shall appoint a remaining member of the |
483 | Cabinet. If there is a further vacancy, the remaining members of |
484 | the commission shall agree on another elected official to fill |
485 | the vacancy. |
486 | (2) The Elections Canvassing Commission shall meet at 9 |
487 | a.m. on the 9th day after a primary election and at 9 a.m. on |
488 | the 14th day after a general election to, as soon as the |
489 | official results are compiled from all counties, certify the |
490 | returns of the election and determine and declare who has been |
491 | elected for each federal, state, and multicounty office. If a |
492 | member of a county canvassing board that was constituted |
493 | pursuant to s. 102.141 determines, within 5 days after the |
494 | certification by the Elections Canvassing Commission, that a |
495 | typographical error occurred in the official returns of the |
496 | county, the correction of which could result in a change in the |
497 | outcome of an election, the county canvassing board must certify |
498 | corrected returns to the Department of State within 24 hours, |
499 | and the Elections Canvassing Commission must correct and |
500 | recertify the election returns as soon as practicable. |
501 | (3)(2) The Division of Elections shall provide the staff |
502 | services required by the Elections Canvassing Commission. |
503 | Section 11. Effective upon this act becoming a law, |
504 | subsection (2) of section 102.112, Florida Statutes, is amended |
505 | to read: |
506 | 102.112 Deadline for submission of county returns to the |
507 | Department of State.- |
508 | (2) Returns must be filed by 5 p.m. on the 7th day |
509 | following a primary election and by noon on the 12th day |
510 | following the general election. However, the Department of State |
511 | may correct typographical errors, including the transposition of |
512 | numbers, in any returns submitted to the Department of State |
513 | pursuant to s. 102.111(2) s. 102.111(1). |
514 | Section 12. Effective upon this act becoming a law, |
515 | subsections (2) and (7) of section 102.141, Florida Statutes, |
516 | are amended to read: |
517 | 102.141 County canvassing board; duties.- |
518 | (2) The county canvassing board shall meet in a building |
519 | accessible to the public in the county where the election |
520 | occurred at a time and place to be designated by the supervisor |
521 | of elections to publicly canvass the absentee electors' ballots |
522 | as provided for in s. 101.68 and provisional ballots as provided |
523 | by ss. 101.048, 101.049, and 101.6925. Provisional ballots cast |
524 | pursuant to s. 101.049 shall be canvassed in a manner that votes |
525 | for candidates and issues on those ballots can be segregated |
526 | from other votes. Public notice of the time and place at which |
527 | the county canvassing board shall meet to canvass the absentee |
528 | electors' ballots and provisional ballots shall be given at |
529 | least 48 hours prior thereto by publication on the supervisor of |
530 | elections' website and once in one or more newspapers of general |
531 | circulation in the county or, if there is no newspaper of |
532 | general circulation in the county, by posting such notice in at |
533 | least four conspicuous places in the county. As soon as the |
534 | absentee electors' ballots and the provisional ballots are |
535 | canvassed, the board shall proceed to publicly canvass the vote |
536 | given each candidate, nominee, constitutional amendment, or |
537 | other measure submitted to the electorate of the county, as |
538 | shown by the returns then on file in the office of the |
539 | supervisor of elections and the office of the county court |
540 | judge. |
541 | (7) If the unofficial returns reflect that a candidate for |
542 | any office was defeated or eliminated by one-half of a percent |
543 | or less of the votes cast for such office, that a candidate for |
544 | retention to a judicial office was retained or not retained by |
545 | one-half of a percent or less of the votes cast on the question |
546 | of retention, or that a measure appearing on the ballot was |
547 | approved or rejected by one-half of a percent or less of the |
548 | votes cast on such measure, the board responsible for certifying |
549 | the results of the vote on such race or measure shall order a |
550 | recount shall be ordered of the votes cast with respect to such |
551 | office or measure. The Secretary of State Elections Canvassing |
552 | Commission is the board responsible for ordering recounts in |
553 | federal, state, and multicounty races recounts. The county |
554 | canvassing board or the local board responsible for certifying |
555 | the election is responsible for ordering recounts in all other |
556 | races. A recount need not be ordered with respect to the returns |
557 | for any office, however, if the candidate or candidates defeated |
558 | or eliminated from contention for such office by one-half of a |
559 | percent or less of the votes cast for such office request in |
560 | writing that a recount not be made. |
561 | (a) Each canvassing board responsible for conducting a |
562 | recount shall put each marksense ballot through automatic |
563 | tabulating equipment and determine whether the returns correctly |
564 | reflect the votes cast. If any marksense ballot is physically |
565 | damaged so that it cannot be properly counted by the automatic |
566 | tabulating equipment during the recount, a true duplicate shall |
567 | be made of the damaged ballot pursuant to the procedures in s. |
568 | 101.5614(5). Immediately before the start of the recount, a test |
569 | of the tabulating equipment shall be conducted as provided in s. |
570 | 101.5612. If the test indicates no error, the recount tabulation |
571 | of the ballots cast shall be presumed correct and such votes |
572 | shall be canvassed accordingly. If an error is detected, the |
573 | cause therefor shall be ascertained and corrected and the |
574 | recount repeated, as necessary. The canvassing board shall |
575 | immediately report the error, along with the cause of the error |
576 | and the corrective measures being taken, to the Department of |
577 | State. No later than 11 days after the election, the canvassing |
578 | board shall file a separate incident report with the Department |
579 | of State, detailing the resolution of the matter and identifying |
580 | any measures that will avoid a future recurrence of the error. |
581 | (b) Each canvassing board responsible for conducting a |
582 | recount where touchscreen ballots were used shall examine the |
583 | counters on the precinct tabulators to ensure that the total of |
584 | the returns on the precinct tabulators equals the overall |
585 | election return. If there is a discrepancy between the overall |
586 | election return and the counters of the precinct tabulators, the |
587 | counters of the precinct tabulators shall be presumed correct |
588 | and such votes shall be canvassed accordingly. |
589 | (c) The canvassing board shall submit on forms or in |
590 | formats provided by the division a second set of unofficial |
591 | returns to the Department of State for each federal, statewide, |
592 | state, or multicounty office or ballot measure. The returns |
593 | shall be filed no later than 3 p.m. on the 5th fifth day after |
594 | any primary election and no later than 3 p.m. on the 9th ninth |
595 | day after any general election in which a recount was ordered by |
596 | the Secretary of State conducted pursuant to this subsection. If |
597 | the canvassing board is unable to complete the recount |
598 | prescribed in this subsection by the deadline, the second set of |
599 | unofficial returns submitted by the canvassing board shall be |
600 | identical to the initial unofficial returns and the submission |
601 | shall also include a detailed explanation of why it was unable |
602 | to timely complete the recount. However, the canvassing board |
603 | shall complete the recount prescribed in this subsection, along |
604 | with any manual recount prescribed in s. 102.166, and certify |
605 | election returns in accordance with the requirements of this |
606 | chapter. |
607 | (d) The Department of State shall adopt detailed rules |
608 | prescribing additional recount procedures for each certified |
609 | voting system, which shall be uniform to the extent practicable. |
610 | Section 13. Effective upon this act becoming a law, |
611 | subsection (1) of section 102.166, Florida Statutes, is amended |
612 | to read: |
613 | 102.166 Manual recounts of overvotes and undervotes.- |
614 | (1) If the second set of unofficial returns pursuant to s. |
615 | 102.141 indicates that a candidate for any office was defeated |
616 | or eliminated by one-quarter of a percent or less of the votes |
617 | cast for such office, that a candidate for retention to a |
618 | judicial office was retained or not retained by one-quarter of a |
619 | percent or less of the votes cast on the question of retention, |
620 | or that a measure appearing on the ballot was approved or |
621 | rejected by one-quarter of a percent or less of the votes cast |
622 | on such measure, the board responsible for certifying the |
623 | results of the vote on such race or measure shall order a manual |
624 | recount of the overvotes and undervotes cast in the entire |
625 | geographic jurisdiction of such office or ballot measure shall |
626 | be ordered unless:. A manual recount may not be ordered, |
627 | however, if |
628 | (a) The candidate or candidates defeated or eliminated |
629 | from contention by one-quarter of 1 percent or less of the votes |
630 | cast for such office request in writing that a recount not be |
631 | made; or |
632 | (b) The number of overvotes and, undervotes, and |
633 | provisional ballots is fewer than the number of votes needed to |
634 | change the outcome of the election. |
635 |
|
636 | The Secretary of State is responsible for ordering a manual |
637 | recount for federal, state, and multicounty races. The county |
638 | canvassing board or local board responsible for certifying the |
639 | election is responsible for ordering a manual recount for all |
640 | other races. |
641 | Section 14. Subsections (4) and (7) of section 106.03, |
642 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
643 | 106.03 Registration of political committees.- |
644 | (4) Any change in information previously submitted in a |
645 | statement of organization shall be reported to the agency or |
646 | officer with whom the political such committee is registered |
647 | shall be reported required to register pursuant to subsection |
648 | (3), within 10 days after following the change. |
649 | (7) The Division of Elections shall adopt promulgate rules |
650 | to prescribe the manner in which inactive committees that fail |
651 | to file a report or information required pursuant to this |
652 | chapter or that fail to meet the criteria prescribed in s. |
653 | 106.011 may be dissolved and have their registration canceled. |
654 | Such rules shall, at a minimum, provide for: |
655 | (a) Notice which shall contain the facts and conduct which |
656 | warrant the intended action, including but not limited to |
657 | failure to file reports and limited activity. |
658 | (b) Adequate opportunity to respond. |
659 | (c) Appeal of the decision to the Florida Elections |
660 | Commission. Such appeals shall be exempt from the |
661 | confidentiality provisions of s. 106.25. |
662 | Section 15. Subsection (4) of section 106.04, Florida |
663 | Statutes, is amended, present subsections (7) and (8) of that |
664 | section are amended and renumbered as subsections (8) and (9), |
665 | respectively, and a new subsection (7) is added to that section, |
666 | to read: |
667 | 106.04 Committees of continuous existence.- |
668 | (4)(a) Each committee of continuous existence shall file |
669 | an annual report with the Division of Elections during the month |
670 | of January. Such annual reports shall contain the same |
671 | information and shall be accompanied by the same materials as |
672 | original applications filed pursuant to subsection (2). However, |
673 | the charter or bylaws need not be filed if the annual report is |
674 | accompanied by a sworn statement by the chair that no changes |
675 | have been made to such charter or bylaws since the last filing. |
676 | (b)1. Each committee of continuous existence shall file |
677 | regular reports with the Division of Elections pursuant to s. |
678 | 106.0705 at the same times and subject to the same filing |
679 | conditions as are established by s. 106.07(1) and (2) for |
680 | candidates' reports. In addition, when a special election is |
681 | called to fill a vacancy in office, all committees of continuous |
682 | existence making contributions or expenditures to influence the |
683 | results of the special election or the preceding special primary |
684 | election must file campaign treasurers' reports with the filing |
685 | officer on the dates set by the Department of State pursuant to |
686 | s. 100.111. |
687 | 2. A committee of continuous existence that makes a |
688 | contribution or an expenditure in connection with a county or |
689 | municipal election that is not being held at the same time as a |
690 | state or federal election must also file campaign finance |
691 | reports with the county or municipal filing officer on the same |
692 | dates as county or municipal candidates or committees for that |
693 | election. The committee of continuous existence must include the |
694 | contribution or expenditure in the next report filed with the |
695 | Division of Elections pursuant to this section after the county |
696 | or municipal election. |
697 | 3.2. Any committee of continuous existence failing to so |
698 | file a report with the Division of Elections or applicable |
699 | filing officer pursuant to this paragraph on the designated due |
700 | date shall be subject to a fine for late filing as provided by |
701 | this section. |
702 | (c) All committees of continuous existence shall file |
703 | their reports with the Division of Elections. Reports filed |
704 | pursuant to paragraph (b) must shall be filed in accordance with |
705 | s. 106.0705 and shall contain the following information: |
706 | 1. The full name, address, and occupation of each person |
707 | who has made one or more contributions, including contributions |
708 | that represent the payment of membership dues, to the committee |
709 | during the reporting period, together with the amounts and dates |
710 | of such contributions. For corporations, the report must provide |
711 | as clear a description as practicable of the principal type of |
712 | business conducted by the corporation. However, if the |
713 | contribution is $100 or less, the occupation of the contributor |
714 | or principal type of business need not be listed. However, for |
715 | any contributions that represent the payment of dues by members |
716 | in a fixed amount aggregating no more than $250 per calendar |
717 | year, pursuant to the schedule on file with the Division of |
718 | Elections, only the aggregate amount of such contributions need |
719 | be listed, together with the number of members paying such dues |
720 | and the amount of the membership dues. |
721 | 2. The name and address of each political committee or |
722 | committee of continuous existence from which the reporting |
723 | committee received, or the name and address of each political |
724 | committee, committee of continuous existence, or political party |
725 | to which it made, any transfer of funds, together with the |
726 | amounts and dates of all transfers. |
727 | 3. Any other receipt of funds not listed pursuant to |
728 | subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2., including the sources and |
729 | amounts of all such funds. |
730 | 4. The name and address of, and office sought by, each |
731 | candidate to whom the committee has made a contribution during |
732 | the reporting period, together with the amount and date of each |
733 | contribution. |
734 | 5. The full name and address of each person to whom |
735 | expenditures have been made by or on behalf of the committee |
736 | within the reporting period; the amount, date, and purpose of |
737 | each such expenditure; and the name and address, and office |
738 | sought by, each candidate on whose behalf such expenditure was |
739 | made. |
740 | 6. The full name and address of each person to whom an |
741 | expenditure for personal services, salary, or reimbursement for |
742 | authorized expenses has been made, including the full name and |
743 | address of each entity to whom the person made payment for which |
744 | reimbursement was made by check drawn upon the committee |
745 | account, together with the amount and purpose of such payment. |
746 | 7. Transaction information from each credit card purchase |
747 | statement that will be included in the next report following |
748 | receipt thereof by the committee. Receipts for each credit card |
749 | purchase shall be retained by the treasurer with the records for |
750 | the committee account. |
751 | 8. The total sum of expenditures made by the committee |
752 | during the reporting period. |
753 | (d) The treasurer of each committee shall certify as to |
754 | the correctness of each report and shall bear the responsibility |
755 | for its accuracy and veracity. Any treasurer who willfully |
756 | certifies to the correctness of a report while knowing that such |
757 | report is incorrect, false, or incomplete commits a misdemeanor |
758 | of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. |
759 | 775.083. |
760 | (7) Any change in information previously submitted to the |
761 | division must be reported within 10 days after the change. |
762 | (8)(7) If a committee of continuous existence ceases to |
763 | meet the criteria prescribed by subsection (1) or fails to file |
764 | a report or information required pursuant to this chapter, the |
765 | Division of Elections shall revoke its certification until such |
766 | time as the criteria are again met. The Division of Elections |
767 | shall adopt promulgate rules to prescribe the manner in which |
768 | the such certification of a committee of continuous existence |
769 | shall be revoked. Such rules shall, at a minimum, provide for: |
770 | (a) Notice, which must shall contain the facts and conduct |
771 | that warrant the intended action. |
772 | (b) Adequate opportunity to respond. |
773 | (c) Appeal of the decision to the Florida Elections |
774 | Commission. Such appeals are shall be exempt from the |
775 | confidentiality provisions of s. 106.25. |
776 | (9)(8)(a) Any committee of continuous existence failing to |
777 | file a report on the designated due date is shall be subject to |
778 | a fine. The fine shall be $50 per day for the first 3 days late |
779 | and, thereafter, $500 per day for each late day, not to exceed |
780 | 25 percent of the total receipts or expenditures, whichever is |
781 | greater, for the period covered by the late report. However, for |
782 | the reports immediately preceding each primary and general |
783 | election, including a special primary election and a special |
784 | general election, the fine shall be $500 per day for each late |
785 | day, not to exceed 25 percent of the total receipts or |
786 | expenditures, whichever is greater, for the period covered by |
787 | the late report. The fine shall be assessed by the filing |
788 | officer, and the moneys collected shall be deposited: |
789 | 1. In the General Revenue Fund, in the case of fines |
790 | collected by the Division of Elections. |
791 | 2. In the general revenue fund of the political |
792 | subdivision, in the case of fines collected by a county or |
793 | municipal filing officer No separate fine shall be assessed for |
794 | failure to file a copy of any report required by this section. |
795 | (b) Upon determining that a report is late, the filing |
796 | officer shall immediately notify the treasurer of the committee |
797 | or the committee's registered agent as to the failure to file a |
798 | report by the designated due date and that a fine is being |
799 | assessed for each late day. Upon receipt of the report, the |
800 | filing officer shall determine the amount of fine which is due |
801 | and shall notify the treasurer of the committee. Notice is |
802 | deemed sufficient upon proof of delivery of written notice to |
803 | the mailing or street address on record with the filing officer. |
804 | The filing officer shall determine the amount of the fine due |
805 | based upon the earliest of the following: |
806 | 1. When the report is actually received by such officer. |
807 | 2. When the report is postmarked. |
808 | 3. When the certificate of mailing is dated. |
809 | 4. When the receipt from an established courier company is |
810 | dated. |
811 |
|
812 | Such fine shall be paid to the filing officer within 20 days |
813 | after receipt of the notice of payment due, unless appeal is |
814 | made to the Florida Elections Commission pursuant to paragraph |
815 | (c). An officer or member of a committee is shall not be |
816 | personally liable for such fine. |
817 | (c) Any treasurer of a committee may appeal or dispute the |
818 | fine, based upon unusual circumstances surrounding the failure |
819 | to file on the designated due date, and may request and is shall |
820 | be entitled to a hearing before the Florida Elections |
821 | Commission, which may shall have the authority to waive the fine |
822 | in whole or in part. Any such request must shall be made within |
823 | 20 days after receipt of the notice of payment due. In such |
824 | case, the treasurer of The committee shall file a copy of the |
825 | appeal with, within the 20-day period, notify the filing officer |
826 | in writing of his or her intention to bring the matter before |
827 | the commission. |
828 | (d) The filing officer shall notify the Florida Elections |
829 | Commission of the repeated late filing by a committee of |
830 | continuous existence, the failure of a committee of continuous |
831 | existence to file a report after notice, or the failure to pay |
832 | the fine imposed. |
833 | Section 16. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2), subsections |
834 | (3) and (4), and paragraph (b) of subsection (8) of section |
835 | 106.07, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
836 | 106.07 Reports; certification and filing.- |
837 | (2) |
838 | (b)1. Any report which is deemed to be incomplete by the |
839 | officer with whom the candidate qualifies shall be accepted on a |
840 | conditional basis., and The campaign treasurer shall be notified |
841 | by certified registered mail, or other common carrier that can |
842 | establish proof of delivery for the notice, as to why the report |
843 | is incomplete. and Within 7 be given 3 days after from receipt |
844 | of such notice, the campaign treasurer must to file an addendum |
845 | to the report providing all information necessary to complete |
846 | the report in compliance with this section. Failure to file a |
847 | complete report after such notice constitutes a violation of |
848 | this chapter. |
849 | 2. Notice is deemed sufficient upon proof of delivery of |
850 | written notice to the mailing or street address of the campaign |
851 | treasurer or registered agent on record with the filing officer. |
852 | In lieu of the notice by registered mail as required in |
853 | subparagraph 1., the qualifying officer may notify the campaign |
854 | treasurer by telephone that the report is incomplete and request |
855 | the information necessary to complete the report. If, however, |
856 | such information is not received by the qualifying officer |
857 | within 3 days after the telephone request therefor, notice shall |
858 | be sent by registered mail as provided in subparagraph 1. |
859 | (3)(a) Reports required of a political committee shall be |
860 | filed with the agency or officer before whom such committee |
861 | registers pursuant to s. 106.03(3) and shall be subject to the |
862 | same filing conditions as established for candidates' reports. |
863 | Incomplete reports by political committees shall be treated in |
864 | the manner provided for incomplete reports by candidates in |
865 | subsection (2). |
866 | (b) In addition to the reports required by paragraph (a), |
867 | a political committee that is registered with the Department of |
868 | State and that makes a contribution or expenditure in connection |
869 | with a county or municipal election that is not being held at |
870 | the same time as a state or federal election must file campaign |
871 | finance reports with the county or municipal filing officer on |
872 | the same dates as county or municipal candidates or committees |
873 | for that election. The political committee must also include the |
874 | contribution or expenditure in the next report filed with the |
875 | Division of Elections pursuant to this section following the |
876 | county or municipal election. |
877 | (4)(a) Each report required by this section must shall |
878 | contain: |
879 | 1. The full name, address, and occupation, if any of each |
880 | person who has made one or more contributions to or for such |
881 | committee or candidate within the reporting period, together |
882 | with the amount and date of such contributions. For |
883 | corporations, the report must provide as clear a description as |
884 | practicable of the principal type of business conducted by the |
885 | corporation. However, if the contribution is $100 or less or is |
886 | from a relative, as defined in s. 112.312, provided that the |
887 | relationship is reported, the occupation of the contributor or |
888 | the principal type of business need not be listed. |
889 | 2. The name and address of each political committee from |
890 | which the reporting committee or the candidate received, or to |
891 | which the reporting committee or candidate made, any transfer of |
892 | funds, together with the amounts and dates of all transfers. |
893 | 3. Each loan for campaign purposes to or from any person |
894 | or political committee within the reporting period, together |
895 | with the full names, addresses, and occupations, and principal |
896 | places of business, if any, of the lender and endorsers, if any, |
897 | and the date and amount of such loans. |
898 | 4. A statement of each contribution, rebate, refund, or |
899 | other receipt not otherwise listed under subparagraphs 1. |
900 | through 3. |
901 | 5. The total sums of all loans, in-kind contributions, and |
902 | other receipts by or for such committee or candidate during the |
903 | reporting period. The reporting forms shall be designed to |
904 | elicit separate totals for in-kind contributions, loans, and |
905 | other receipts. |
906 | 6. The full name and address of each person to whom |
907 | expenditures have been made by or on behalf of the committee or |
908 | candidate within the reporting period; the amount, date, and |
909 | purpose of each such expenditure; and the name and address of, |
910 | and office sought by, each candidate on whose behalf such |
911 | expenditure was made. However, expenditures made from the petty |
912 | cash fund provided by s. 106.12 need not be reported |
913 | individually. |
914 | 7. The full name and address of each person to whom an |
915 | expenditure for personal services, salary, or reimbursement for |
916 | authorized expenses as provided in s. 106.021(3) has been made |
917 | and which is not otherwise reported, including the amount, date, |
918 | and purpose of such expenditure. However, expenditures made from |
919 | the petty cash fund provided for in s. 106.12 need not be |
920 | reported individually. |
921 | 8. The total amount withdrawn and the total amount spent |
922 | for petty cash purposes pursuant to this chapter during the |
923 | reporting period. |
924 | 9. The total sum of expenditures made by such committee or |
925 | candidate during the reporting period. |
926 | 10. The amount and nature of debts and obligations owed by |
927 | or to the committee or candidate, which relate to the conduct of |
928 | any political campaign. |
929 | 11. Transaction information for each credit card purchase. |
930 | A copy of each credit card statement which shall be included in |
931 | the next report following receipt thereof by the candidate or |
932 | political committee. Receipts for each credit card purchase |
933 | shall be retained by the treasurer with the records for the |
934 | campaign account. |
935 | 12. The amount and nature of any separate interest-bearing |
936 | accounts or certificates of deposit and identification of the |
937 | financial institution in which such accounts or certificates of |
938 | deposit are located. |
939 | 13. The primary purposes of an expenditure made indirectly |
940 | through a campaign treasurer pursuant to s. 106.021(3) for goods |
941 | and services such as communications media placement or |
942 | procurement services, campaign signs, insurance, and other |
943 | expenditures that include multiple components as part of the |
944 | expenditure. The primary purpose of an expenditure shall be that |
945 | purpose, including integral and directly related components, |
946 | that comprises 80 percent of such expenditure. |
947 | (b) The filing officer shall make available to any |
948 | candidate or committee a reporting form which the candidate or |
949 | committee may use to indicate contributions received by the |
950 | candidate or committee but returned to the contributor before |
951 | deposit. |
952 | (8) |
953 | (b) Upon determining that a report is late, the filing |
954 | officer shall immediately notify the candidate or chair of the |
955 | political committee as to the failure to file a report by the |
956 | designated due date and that a fine is being assessed for each |
957 | late day. The fine shall be $50 per day for the first 3 days |
958 | late and, thereafter, $500 per day for each late day, not to |
959 | exceed 25 percent of the total receipts or expenditures, |
960 | whichever is greater, for the period covered by the late report. |
961 | However, for the reports immediately preceding each primary and |
962 | general election, the fine shall be $500 per day for each late |
963 | day, not to exceed 25 percent of the total receipts or |
964 | expenditures, whichever is greater, for the period covered by |
965 | the late report. For reports required under s. 106.141(7), the |
966 | fine is $50 per day for each late day, not to exceed 25 percent |
967 | of the total receipts or expenditures, whichever is greater, for |
968 | the period covered by the late report. Upon receipt of the |
969 | report, the filing officer shall determine the amount of the |
970 | fine which is due and shall notify the candidate or chair or |
971 | registered agent of the political committee. The filing officer |
972 | shall determine the amount of the fine due based upon the |
973 | earliest of the following: |
974 | 1. When the report is actually received by such officer. |
975 | 2. When the report is postmarked. |
976 | 3. When the certificate of mailing is dated. |
977 | 4. When the receipt from an established courier company is |
978 | dated. |
979 | 5. When the electronic receipt issued pursuant to s. |
980 | 106.0705 or other electronic filing system authorized in this |
981 | section is dated. |
982 |
|
983 | Such fine shall be paid to the filing officer within 20 days |
984 | after receipt of the notice of payment due, unless appeal is |
985 | made to the Florida Elections Commission pursuant to paragraph |
986 | (c). Notice is deemed sufficient upon proof of delivery of |
987 | written notice to the mailing or street address on record with |
988 | the filing officer. In the case of a candidate, such fine shall |
989 | not be an allowable campaign expenditure and shall be paid only |
990 | from personal funds of the candidate. An officer or member of a |
991 | political committee shall not be personally liable for such |
992 | fine. |
993 | Section 17. Subsection (3) of section 106.0705, Florida |
994 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
995 | 106.0705 Electronic filing of campaign treasurer's |
996 | reports.- |
997 | (3) Reports filed pursuant to this section shall be |
998 | completed and filed through the electronic filing system not |
999 | later than midnight of the day designated. Reports not filed by |
1000 | midnight of the day designated are late filed and are subject to |
1001 | the penalties under s. 106.04(9) s. 106.04(8), s. 106.07(8), or |
1002 | s. 106.29(3), as applicable. |
1003 | Section 18. Subsection (6) is added to section 106.11, |
1004 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
1005 | 106.11 Expenses of and expenditures by candidates and |
1006 | political committees.-Each candidate and each political |
1007 | committee which designates a primary campaign depository |
1008 | pursuant to s. 106.021(1) shall make expenditures from funds on |
1009 | deposit in such primary campaign depository only in the |
1010 | following manner, with the exception of expenditures made from |
1011 | petty cash funds provided by s. 106.12: |
1012 | (6) A candidate who made a loan to his or her campaign and |
1013 | reported the loan as required by s. 106.07 may be reimbursed for |
1014 | the loan at any time the campaign account has sufficient funds |
1015 | to repay the loan and satisfy its other obligations. |
1016 | Section 19. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 106.143, |
1017 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
1018 | 106.143 Political advertisements circulated prior to |
1019 | election; requirements.- |
1020 | (1)(a) Any political advertisement that is paid for by a |
1021 | candidate and that is published, displayed, or circulated prior |
1022 | to, or on the day of, any election must prominently state: |
1023 | "Political advertisement paid for and approved by ...(name of |
1024 | candidate)..., ...(party affiliation)..., for ...(office |
1025 | sought)...." or "Pol. adv. pd. for and approved by ...(name of |
1026 | candidate)..., ...(party affiliation)..., for ...(office |
1027 | sought)...." A candidate seeking nonpartisan office shall omit |
1028 | the reference to party affiliation in all disclaimers. |
1029 | (b) Any other political advertisement published, |
1030 | displayed, or circulated prior to, or on the day of, any |
1031 | election must prominently: |
1032 | 1. Be marked "paid political advertisement" or with the |
1033 | abbreviation "pd. pol. adv." |
1034 | 2. State the name and address of the persons sponsoring |
1035 | the advertisement. |
1036 | 3.a.(I) State whether the advertisement and the cost of |
1037 | production is paid for or provided in kind by or at the expense |
1038 | of the entity publishing, displaying, broadcasting, or |
1039 | circulating the political advertisement; or |
1040 | (II) State who provided or paid for the advertisement and |
1041 | cost of production, if different from the source of sponsorship. |
1042 | b. This subparagraph does not apply if the source of the |
1043 | sponsorship is patently clear from the content or format of the |
1044 | political advertisement. |
1045 | (c) Any political advertisement made pursuant to s. |
1046 | 106.021(3)(d) must be marked "paid political advertisement" or |
1047 | with the abbreviation "pd. pol. adv." and must prominently |
1048 | state, "Paid for and sponsored by ...(name of person paying for |
1049 | political advertisement).... Approved by ...(names of persons, |
1050 | party affiliation, and offices sought in the political |
1051 | advertisement)...." |
1052 |
|
1053 | This subsection does not apply to campaign messages used by a |
1054 | candidate and the candidate's supporters if those messages are |
1055 | designed to be worn by a person. |
1056 | (2) Any political advertisement of a candidate running for |
1057 | partisan office shall express the name of the political party of |
1058 | which the candidate is seeking nomination or is the nominee. If |
1059 | the candidate for partisan office is running as a candidate with |
1060 | no party affiliation, any political advertisement of the |
1061 | candidate must state that the candidate has no party |
1062 | affiliation. A candidate running for a nonpartisan office must |
1063 | exclude the candidate's political party affiliation from any |
1064 | political advertisement. |
1065 | Section 20. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section |
1066 | 106.29, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
1067 | 106.29 Reports by political parties; restrictions on |
1068 | contributions and expenditures; penalties.- |
1069 | (3) |
1070 | (b) Upon determining that a report is late, the filing |
1071 | officer shall immediately notify the chair of the executive |
1072 | committee as to the failure to file a report by the designated |
1073 | due date and that a fine is being assessed for each late day. |
1074 | The fine shall be $1,000 for a state executive committee, and |
1075 | $50 for a county executive committee, per day for each late day, |
1076 | not to exceed 25 percent of the total receipts or expenditures, |
1077 | whichever is greater, for the period covered by the late report. |
1078 | However, if an executive committee fails to file a report on the |
1079 | Friday immediately preceding the general election, the fine |
1080 | shall be $10,000 per day for each day a state executive |
1081 | committee is late and $500 per day for each day a county |
1082 | executive committee is late. Upon receipt of the report, the |
1083 | filing officer shall determine the amount of the fine which is |
1084 | due and shall notify the chair. Notice is deemed sufficient upon |
1085 | proof of delivery of written notice to the mailing or street |
1086 | address on record with the filing officer. The filing officer |
1087 | shall determine the amount of the fine due based upon the |
1088 | earliest of the following: |
1089 | 1. When the report is actually received by such officer. |
1090 | 2. When the report is postmarked. |
1091 | 3. When the certificate of mailing is dated. |
1092 | 4. When the receipt from an established courier company is |
1093 | dated. |
1094 | 5. When the electronic receipt issued pursuant to s. |
1095 | 106.0705 is dated. |
1096 |
|
1097 | Such fine shall be paid to the filing officer within 20 days |
1098 | after receipt of the notice of payment due, unless appeal is |
1099 | made to the Florida Elections Commission pursuant to paragraph |
1100 | (c). An officer or member of an executive committee shall not be |
1101 | personally liable for such fine. |
1102 | Section 21. Subsection (11) of section 379.352, Florida |
1103 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
1104 | 379.352 Recreational licenses, permits, and authorization |
1105 | numbers to take wild animal life, freshwater aquatic life, and |
1106 | marine life; issuance; costs; reporting.- |
1107 | (11) When acting in its official capacity pursuant to this |
1108 | section, neither the commission nor a subagent is deemed a |
1109 | third-party registration organization, as defined in s. |
1110 | 97.021(37) s. 97.021(36), or a voter registration agency, as |
1111 | defined in s. 97.021(41) 97.021(40), and is not authorized to |
1112 | solicit, accept, or collect voter registration applications or |
1113 | provide voter registration services. |
1114 | Section 22. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this |
1115 | act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon |
1116 | this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect January 1, |
1117 | 2011. |