House Bill 0565
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Florida House of Representatives - 1999 HB 565
By Representatives Logan and Brown
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to campaign financing; amending
3 s. 106.021, F.S.; eliminating a provision that
4 authorizes the unrestricted expenditure of
5 funds for the purpose of jointly endorsing
6 three or more candidates; amending s. 106.03,
7 F.S.; requiring additional information for
8 registration of political committees and
9 certification of committees of continuous
10 existence; reenacting s. 106.04(2), F.S.,
11 relating to requirements for certification of
12 committees of continuous existence, to
13 incorporate the amendment to s. 106.03, F.S.,
14 in a reference thereto; amending ss. 106.04 and
15 106.07, F.S.; requiring reports of committees
16 of continuous existence and political
17 committees to include certain information if a
18 majority of the committee's contributors share
19 a common economic or other special interest;
20 providing penalties; eliminating unnecessary
21 language relating to prohibited activities of
22 committees of continuous existence under
23 campaign financing law and the penalties
24 applicable thereto; amending s. 106.08, F.S.;
25 providing limits on contributions to political
26 parties; revising limits on contributions that
27 political parties may make to candidates and on
28 contributions that candidates may accept from
29 political parties; eliminating a provision
30 relating to nonallocable, in-kind contributions
31 to candidates from political parties and the
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1 reporting thereof; providing penalties;
2 amending s. 106.087, F.S.; eliminating a
3 provision that prohibits certain political
4 committees and committees of continuous
5 existence from making independent expenditures
6 in support of or opposition to a candidate or
7 elected public official; amending s. 106.29,
8 F.S.; correcting cross references and revising
9 language, to conform; reenacting s.
10 106.19(1)(a), F.S., relating to penalties
11 applicable to acceptance of contributions in
12 excess of the limits provided by law, to
13 incorporate the amendment to s. 106.08, F.S.,
14 in a reference thereto; providing an effective
15 date.
16
17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19 Section 1. Subsection (3) of section 106.021, Florida
20 Statutes, is amended to read:
21 106.021 Campaign treasurers; deputies; primary and
22 secondary depositories.--
23 (3) Except for independent expenditures, no
24 contribution or expenditure, including contributions or
25 expenditures of a candidate or of the candidate's family,
26 shall be directly or indirectly made or received in
27 furtherance of the candidacy of any person for nomination or
28 election to political office in the state or on behalf of any
29 political committee except through the duly appointed campaign
30 treasurer of the candidate or political committee. However,
31 expenditures may be made directly by any political committee
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1 or political party regulated by chapter 103 for obtaining
2 time, space, or services in or by any communications medium
3 for the purpose of jointly endorsing three or more candidates,
4 and any such expenditure shall not be considered a
5 contribution or expenditure to or on behalf of any such
6 candidates for the purposes of this chapter.
7 Section 2. Subsection (2) of section 106.03, Florida
8 Statutes, is amended to read:
9 106.03 Registration of political committees.--
10 (2) The statement of organization shall include:
11 (a) The name and address of the committee and, if
12 applicable, the name of the corporation, labor union, or
13 professional association whose officials, employees, or
14 members established the committee;
15 (b) The address of the committee;
16 (c)(b) The names, addresses, and relationships of
17 affiliated or connected organizations;
18 (d)(c) The area, scope, or jurisdiction of the
19 committee;
20 (e)(d) The name, address, and position, and principal
21 employer of the custodian of books and accounts;
22 (f)(e) The name, address, and position, and principal
23 employer of each other principal officer officers, including
24 each officer and each member officers and members of the
25 finance committee, if any;
26 (g)(f) The name, address, office sought, and party
27 affiliation of:
28 1. Each candidate whom the committee is supporting;
29 2. Any other individual, if any, whom the committee is
30 supporting for nomination for election, or election, to any
31 public office whatever;
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1 (h)(g) Any issue or issues such organization is
2 supporting or opposing;
3 (i)(h) If the committee is supporting the entire
4 ticket of any party, a statement to that effect and the name
5 of the party;
6 (j)(i) A statement of whether the committee is a
7 continuing one;
8 (k)(j) Plans for the disposition of residual funds
9 which will be made in the event of dissolution;
10 (l)(k) A listing of all banks, safe-deposit boxes, or
11 other depositories used for committee funds; and
12 (m)(l) A statement of the reports required to be filed
13 by the committee with federal officials, if any, and the
14 names, addresses, and positions of such officials.
15 Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 106.04, Florida
16 Statutes, is reenacted, and paragraph (c) of subsection (4)
17 and subsection (5) of said section are amended, to read:
18 106.04 Committees of continuous existence.--
19 (2) Any group, organization, association, or other
20 entity may seek certification from the Department of State as
21 a committee of continuous existence by filing an application
22 with the Division of Elections on a form provided by the
23 division. Such application shall provide the information
24 required of political committees by s. 106.03(2). Each
25 application shall be accompanied by the name and street
26 address of the principal officer of the applying entity as of
27 the date of the application; a copy of the charter or bylaws
28 of the organization; a copy of the dues or assessment schedule
29 of the organization, or formula by which dues or assessments
30 are levied; and a complete financial statement or annual audit
31 summarizing all income received, and all expenses incurred, by
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1 the organization during the 12 months preceding the date of
2 application. A membership list shall be made available for
3 inspection if deemed necessary by the division.
4 (4)
5 (c) All committees of continuous existence shall file
6 the original and one copy of their reports with the Division
7 of Elections. In addition, a duplicate copy of each report
8 shall be filed with the supervisor of elections in the county
9 in which the committee maintains its books and records, except
10 that if the filing officer to whom the committee is required
11 to report is located in the same county as the supervisor no
12 such duplicate report is required to be filed with the
13 supervisor. Reports shall be on forms provided by the
14 division and shall contain the following information:
15 1. The full name, address, and occupation of each
16 person who has made one or more contributions to the committee
17 during the reporting period, together with the amounts and
18 dates of such contributions. For corporations, the report
19 must provide as clear a description as practicable of the
20 principal type of business conducted by the corporation.
21 However, if the contribution is $100 or less, the occupation
22 of the contributor or principal type of business need not be
23 listed. However, for any contributions which represent the
24 payment of dues by members in a fixed amount pursuant to the
25 schedule on file with the Division of Elections, only the
26 aggregate amount of such contributions need be listed,
27 together with the number of members paying such dues and the
28 amount of the membership dues.
29 2. The name and address of each political committee or
30 committee of continuous existence from which the reporting
31 committee received, or the name and address of each political
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1 committee, committee of continuous existence, or political
2 party to which it made, any transfer of funds, together with
3 the amounts and dates of all transfers.
4 3. Any other receipt of funds not listed pursuant to
5 subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2., including the sources and
6 amounts of all such funds.
7 4. The name and address of, and office sought by, each
8 candidate to whom the committee has made a contribution during
9 the reporting period, together with the amount and date of
10 each contribution.
11 5. As clear a description as practicable of the
12 economic or other special interest of a majority of the
13 committee's contributors if a majority of the committee's
14 contributors share a common economic or other special
15 interest. For purposes of this subparagraph, "majority of the
16 committee's contributors" means more than 50 percent of the
17 total number of contributors who have contributed in excess of
18 $100 or more than 50 percent of the total amount of
19 contributions in excess of $100 each.
20 (d) The treasurer of each committee shall certify as
21 to the correctness of each report and shall bear the
22 responsibility for its accuracy and veracity. Any treasurer
23 who willfully certifies to the correctness of a report while
24 knowing that such report is incorrect, false, or incomplete
25 commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as
26 provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
27 (5) No committee of continuous existence shall
28 contribute to any candidate or political committee an amount
29 in excess of the limits contained in s. 106.08(1) or
30 participate in any other activity which is prohibited by this
31 chapter. If any violation occurs, it shall be punishable as
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1 provided in this chapter for the given offense. No funds of a
2 committee of continuous existence shall be expended on behalf
3 of a candidate, except by means of a contribution made through
4 the duly appointed campaign treasurer of a candidate. No such
5 committee shall make expenditures in support of, or in
6 opposition to, an issue unless such committee first registers
7 as a political committee pursuant to this chapter and
8 undertakes all the practices and procedures required thereof;
9 provided such committee may make contributions in a total
10 amount not to exceed 25 percent of its aggregate income, as
11 reflected in the annual report filed for the previous year, to
12 one or more political committees registered pursuant to s.
13 106.03 and formed to support or oppose issues.
14 Section 4. Subsection (4) of section 106.07, Florida
15 Statutes, is amended to read:
16 106.07 Reports; certification and filing.--
17 (4)(a) Each report required by this section shall
18 contain:
19 1. The full name, address, and occupation, if any of
20 each person who has made one or more contributions to or for
21 such committee or candidate within the reporting period,
22 together with the amount and date of such contributions. For
23 corporations, the report must provide as clear a description
24 as practicable of the principal type of business conducted by
25 the corporation. However, if the contribution is $100 or less
26 or is from a relative, as defined in s. 112.312, provided that
27 the relationship is reported, the occupation of the
28 contributor or the principal type of business need not be
29 listed.
30 2. The name and address of each political committee
31 from which the reporting committee or the candidate received,
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1 or to which the reporting committee or candidate made, any
2 transfer of funds, together with the amounts and dates of all
3 transfers.
4 3. Each loan for campaign purposes to or from any
5 person or political committee within the reporting period,
6 together with the full names, addresses, and occupations, and
7 principal places of business, if any, of the lender and
8 endorsers, if any, and the date and amount of such loans.
9 4. A statement of each contribution, rebate, refund,
10 or other receipt not otherwise listed under subparagraphs 1.
11 through 3.
12 5. The total sums of all loans, in-kind contributions,
13 and other receipts by or for such committee or candidate
14 during the reporting period. The reporting forms shall be
15 designed to elicit separate totals for in-kind contributions,
16 loans, and other receipts.
17 6. The full name and address of each person to whom
18 expenditures have been made by or on behalf of the committee
19 or candidate within the reporting period; the amount, date,
20 and purpose of each such expenditure; and the name and address
21 of, and office sought by, each candidate on whose behalf such
22 expenditure was made. However, expenditures made from the
23 petty cash fund provided by s. 106.12 need not be reported
24 individually.
25 7. The full name and address of each person to whom an
26 expenditure for personal services, salary, or reimbursement
27 for authorized expenses has been made and which is not
28 otherwise reported, including the amount, date, and purpose of
29 such expenditure. However, expenditures made from the petty
30 cash fund provided for in s. 106.12 need not be reported
31 individually.
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1 8. The total amount withdrawn and the total amount
2 spent for petty cash purposes pursuant to this chapter during
3 the reporting period.
4 9. The total sum of expenditures made by such
5 committee or candidate during the reporting period.
6 10. The amount and nature of debts and obligations
7 owed by or to the committee or candidate, which relate to the
8 conduct of any political campaign.
9 11. A copy of each credit card statement which shall
10 be included in the next report following receipt thereof by
11 the candidate or political committee. Receipts for each credit
12 card purchase shall be retained by the treasurer with the
13 records for the campaign account.
14 12. The amount and nature of any separate
15 interest-bearing accounts or certificates of deposit and
16 identification of the financial institution in which such
17 accounts or certificates of deposit are located.
18 (b) Each report required to be filed under this
19 section by a political committee shall contain as clear a
20 description as practicable of the economic or other special
21 interest of a majority of the committee's contributors if a
22 majority of the committee's contributors share a common
23 economic or special interest. For purposes of this paragraph,
24 "majority of the committee's contributors" means more than 50
25 percent of the total number of contributors who have
26 contributed in excess of $100 or more than 50 percent of the
27 total amount of contributions in excess of $100 each.
28 (c)(b) The filing officer shall make available to any
29 candidate or committee a reporting form which the candidate or
30 committee may use to indicate contributions received by the
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1 candidate or committee but returned to the contributor before
2 deposit.
3 (5) The candidate and his or her campaign treasurer,
4 in the case of a candidate, or the political committee chair
5 and campaign treasurer of the committee, in the case of a
6 political committee, shall certify as to the correctness of
7 each report; and each person so certifying shall bear the
8 responsibility for the accuracy and veracity of each report.
9 Any campaign treasurer, candidate, or political committee
10 chair who willfully certifies the correctness of any report
11 while knowing that such report is incorrect, false, or
12 incomplete commits a misdemeanor of the first degree,
13 punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
14 Section 5. Section 106.08, Florida Statutes, is
15 amended to read:
16 106.08 Contributions; limitations on.--
17 (1)(a) Except for political parties, no person,
18 political committee, or committee of continuous existence may,
19 in any election, make contributions in excess of $500 to any
20 candidate for election to or retention in office or to any
21 political committee supporting or opposing one or more
22 candidates. Candidates for the offices of Governor and
23 Lieutenant Governor on the same ticket are considered a single
24 candidate for the purpose of this section.
25 (b)1. The contribution limits provided in this
26 subsection do not apply to contributions made by a state or
27 county executive committee of a political party regulated by
28 chapter 103 or to amounts contributed by a candidate to his or
29 her own campaign.
30 2. Notwithstanding the limits provided in this
31 subsection, an unemancipated child under the age of 18 years
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1 of age may not make a contribution in excess of $100 to any
2 candidate or to any political committee supporting one or more
3 candidates.
4 (c) The contribution limits of this subsection apply
5 to each election. For purposes of this subsection, the first
6 primary, second primary, and general election are separate
7 elections so long as the candidate is not an unopposed
8 candidate as defined in s. 106.011(15). However, for the
9 purpose of contribution limits with respect to candidates for
10 retention as a justice of the Supreme Court or judge of a
11 district court of appeal, there is only one election, which is
12 the general election, and with respect to candidates for
13 circuit judge or county court judge, there are only two
14 elections, which are the first primary election and general
15 election.
16 (2) A person, political committee, or committee of
17 continuous existence may not make contributions to the state
18 and county executive committees of a political party,
19 including any subordinate committee of a state or county
20 executive committee of a political party, which contributions,
21 including in-kind contributions, in the aggregate in any
22 calendar year exceed $5,000.
23 (3)(2)(a) A candidate may not accept contributions
24 from national, state, including any subordinate committee of a
25 national, state, or county committee of a political party, and
26 county executive committees of a political party, including
27 any subordinate committee of a national, state, or county
28 executive committee of a political party, which contributions,
29 including in-kind contributions, in the aggregate exceed
30 $75,000 $50,000, no more than $25,000 of which may be accepted
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1 prior to the 28-day period immediately preceding the date of
2 the general election.
3 (b) National, state, and county executive committees
4 of a political party, including any subordinate committee of a
5 national, state, or county executive committee of a political
6 party, may not make contributions to a candidate, which
7 contributions, including in-kind contributions, in the
8 aggregate exceed $75,000.
9 (b) Polling services, research services, costs for
10 campaign staff, professional consulting services, and
11 telephone calls are not contributions to be counted toward the
12 contribution limits of paragraph (a). Any item not expressly
13 identified in this paragraph as nonallocable is a contribution
14 in an amount equal to the fair market value of the item and
15 must be counted as allocable toward the $50,000 contribution
16 limits of paragraph (a). Nonallocable, in-kind contributions
17 must be reported by the candidate under s. 106.07 and by the
18 political party under s. 106.29.
19 (4)(3)(a) Any contribution received by a candidate
20 with opposition in an election or by the campaign treasurer or
21 a deputy campaign treasurer of such a candidate on the day of
22 that election or less than 5 days prior to the day of that
23 election must be returned by him or her to the person or
24 committee contributing it and may not be used or expended by
25 or on behalf of the candidate.
26 (b) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c), any
27 contribution received by a candidate or by the campaign
28 treasurer or a deputy campaign treasurer of a candidate after
29 the date at which the candidate withdraws his or her
30 candidacy, or after the date the candidate is defeated,
31 becomes unopposed, or is elected to office must be returned to
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1 the person or committee contributing it and may not be used or
2 expended by or on behalf of the candidate.
3 (c) With respect to any campaign for an office in
4 which an independent or minor party candidate has filed as
5 required in s. 99.0955 or s. 99.096, but whose qualification
6 is pending a determination by the Department of State or
7 supervisor of elections as to whether or not the required
8 number of petition signatures was obtained:
9 1. The department or supervisor shall, no later than 3
10 days after that determination has been made, notify in writing
11 all other candidates for that office of that determination.
12 2. Any contribution received by a candidate or the
13 campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer of a candidate
14 after the candidate has been notified in writing by the
15 department or supervisor that he or she has become unopposed
16 as a result of an independent or minor party candidate failing
17 to obtain the required number of petition signatures shall be
18 returned to the person, political committee, or committee of
19 continuous existence contributing it and shall not be used or
20 expended by or on behalf of the candidate.
21 (5)(4) Any contribution received by the chair,
22 campaign treasurer, or deputy campaign treasurer of a
23 political committee supporting or opposing a candidate with
24 opposition in an election or supporting or opposing an issue
25 on the ballot in an election on the day of that election or
26 less than 5 days prior to the day of that election may not be
27 obligated or expended by the committee until after the date of
28 the election.
29 (6)(5) A person may not make any contribution through
30 or in the name of another, directly or indirectly, in any
31 election. Candidates, political committees, and political
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1 parties may not solicit contributions from or make
2 contributions to any religious, charitable, civic, or other
3 causes or organizations established primarily for the public
4 good. However, it is not a violation of this subsection for a
5 candidate, political committee, or political party executive
6 committee to make gifts of money in lieu of flowers in memory
7 of a deceased person or for a candidate to continue membership
8 in, or make regular donations from personal or business funds
9 to, religious, political party, civic, or charitable groups of
10 which the candidate is a member or to which the candidate has
11 been a regular donor for more than 6 months. A candidate may
12 purchase, with campaign funds, tickets, admission to events,
13 or advertisements from religious, civic, political party, or
14 charitable groups.
15 (7)(6) A political party may not accept any
16 contribution which has been specifically designated for the
17 partial or exclusive use of a particular candidate. Any
18 contribution so designated must be returned to the contributor
19 and may not be used or expended by or on behalf of the
20 candidate.
21 (8)(7)(a) Any person who knowingly and willfully makes
22 no more than one contribution in violation of subsection (1),
23 subsection (2), or subsection (6) (5), or any person who
24 knowingly and willfully fails or refuses to return any
25 contribution as required in subsection (4) (3), commits a
26 misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.
27 775.082 or s. 775.083. If any corporation, partnership, or
28 other business entity or any political party, political
29 committee, or committee of continuous existence is convicted
30 of knowingly and willfully violating any provision punishable
31 under this paragraph, it shall be fined not less than $1,000
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1 and not more than $10,000. If it is a domestic entity, it may
2 be ordered dissolved by a court of competent jurisdiction; if
3 it is a foreign or nonresident business entity, its right to
4 do business in this state may be forfeited. Any officer,
5 partner, agent, attorney, or other representative of a
6 corporation, partnership, or other business entity or of a
7 political party, political committee, or committee of
8 continuous existence who aids, abets, advises, or participates
9 in a violation of any provision punishable under this
10 paragraph commits a misdemeanor of the first degree,
11 punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
12 (b) Any person who knowingly and willfully makes two
13 or more contributions in violation of subsection (1),
14 subsection (2), or subsection (6) (5) commits a felony of the
15 third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
16 775.083, or s. 775.084. If any corporation, partnership, or
17 other business entity or any political party, political
18 committee, or committee of continuous existence is convicted
19 of knowingly and willfully violating any provision punishable
20 under this paragraph, it shall be fined not less than $10,000
21 and not more than $50,000. If it is a domestic entity, it may
22 be ordered dissolved by a court of competent jurisdiction; if
23 it is a foreign or nonresident business entity, its right to
24 do business in this state may be forfeited. Any officer,
25 partner, agent, attorney, or other representative of a
26 corporation, partnership, or other business entity, or of a
27 political committee, committee of continuous existence, or
28 political party who aids, abets, advises, or participates in a
29 violation of any provision punishable under this paragraph
30 commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided
31 in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
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1 (9)(8) Except when otherwise provided in subsection
2 (8) (7), any person who knowingly and willfully violates any
3 provision of this section shall, in addition to any other
4 penalty prescribed by this chapter, pay to the state a sum
5 equal to twice the amount contributed in violation of this
6 chapter. Each campaign treasurer shall pay all amounts
7 contributed in violation of this section to the state for
8 deposit in the General Revenue Fund.
9 (10)(9) This section does not apply to the transfer of
10 funds between a primary campaign depository and a savings
11 account or certificate of deposit or to any interest earned on
12 such account or certificate.
13 Section 6. Section 106.087, Florida Statutes, is
14 amended to read:
15 106.087 Independent expenditures; contribution limits;
16 restrictions on political parties, political committees, and
17 committees of continuous existence.--
18 (1)(a) As a condition of receiving a rebate of filing
19 fees and party assessment funds pursuant to s. 99.061(2), s.
20 99.092(1), s. 99.103, or s. 103.121(1)(b), the chair or
21 treasurer of a state or county executive committee shall take
22 and subscribe to an oath or affirmation in writing. During the
23 qualifying period for state candidates and prior to
24 distribution of such funds, a printed copy of the oath or
25 affirmation shall be filed with the Secretary of State and
26 shall be substantially in the following form:
27
28 State of Florida
29 County of....
30 Before me, an officer authorized to administer oaths,
31 personally appeared ...(name)..., to me well known, who, being
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1 sworn, says that he or she is the ...(title)... of the
2 ...(name of party)... ...(state or specified county)...
3 executive committee; that the executive committee has not
4 made, either directly or indirectly, an independent
5 expenditure in support of or opposition to a candidate or
6 elected public official in the prior 6 months; that the
7 executive committee will not make, either directly or
8 indirectly, an independent expenditure in support of or
9 opposition to a candidate or elected public official, through
10 and including the upcoming general election; and that the
11 executive committee will not violate the contribution limits
12 applicable to candidates under s. 106.08(3)(2), Florida
13 Statutes.
14 ...(Signature of committee officer)...
15 ...(Address)...
16
17 Sworn to and subscribed before me this .... day of ....,
18 19...., at .... County, Florida.
19 ...(Signature and title of officer administering oath)...
20
21 (2)(b) Any executive committee found to have violated
22 the provisions of the oath or affirmation in this section
23 prior to receiving funds shall be ineligible to receive the
24 rebate for that general election year.
25 (3)(c) Any executive committee found to have violated
26 the provisions of the oath or affirmation in this section
27 after receiving funds shall be ineligible to receive the
28 rebate from candidates qualifying for the following general
29 election cycle.
30
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1 (4)(d) Any funds not distributed to the state or
2 county executive committee pursuant to this section shall be
3 deposited into the General Revenue Fund of the state.
4 (2)(a) Any political committee or committee of
5 continuous existence that accepts the use of public funds,
6 equipment, personnel, or other resources to collect dues from
7 its members agrees not to make independent expenditures in
8 support of or opposition to a candidate or elected public
9 official. However, expenditures may be made for the sole
10 purpose of jointly endorsing three or more candidates.
11 (b) Any political committee or committee of continuous
12 existence that violates this subsection is liable for a civil
13 fine of up to $5,000 to be determined by the Florida Elections
14 Commission or the entire amount of the expenditures, whichever
15 is greater.
16 Section 7. Subsection (6) of section 106.29, Florida
17 Statutes, is amended to read:
18 106.29 Reports by political parties; restrictions on
19 contributions and expenditures; penalties.--
20 (6)(a) The national, state, and county executive
21 committees of a political party, including any subordinate
22 committee of a national, state, or county executive committee
23 of a political party, may not contribute to any candidate any
24 amount in excess of the limits contained in s. 106.08(3)(2),
25 and all contributions required to be reported under s.
26 106.08(2) by the national executive committee of a political
27 party shall be reported by the state executive committee of
28 that political party.
29 (b) A violation of the contribution limits contained
30 in s. 106.08(3)(2) is a misdemeanor of the first degree,
31 punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. A civil
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1 penalty equal to three times the amount in excess of the
2 limits contained in s. 106.08(3)(2) shall be assessed against
3 any executive committee found in violation thereof.
4 Section 8. For the purpose of incorporating the
5 amendment to section 106.08, Florida Statutes, in a reference
6 thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 106.19,
7 Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
8 106.19 Violations by candidates, persons connected
9 with campaigns, and political committees.--
10 (1) Any candidate; campaign manager, campaign
11 treasurer, or deputy treasurer of any candidate; committee
12 chair, vice chair, campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer, or
13 other officer of any political committee; agent or person
14 acting on behalf of any candidate or political committee; or
15 other person who knowingly and willfully:
16 (a) Accepts a contribution in excess of the limits
17 prescribed by s. 106.08;
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19 is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as
20 provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
21 Section 9. This act shall take effect January 1, 2000.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 1999 HB 565
238-265A-99
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2 HOUSE SUMMARY
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Eliminates provisions that authorize the unrestricted
4 expenditure of funds for the purpose of jointly endorsing
three or more candidates. Requires additional information
5 relating to establishment of the committee and the
principal employer of each officer of the committee for
6 purposes of registration of a political committee or
certification of a committee of continuous existence.
7 Requires each report of a committee of continuous
existence or political committee, if a majority of the
8 committee's contributors share a common economic or other
special interest, to include information as to that
9 economic or special interest. Provides limits on
contributions to political parties. Revises limits on
10 contributions that political parties may make to
candidates and on contributions that candidates may
11 accept from political parties. Eliminates a provision
relating to nonallocable, in-kind contributions to
12 candidates from political parties and the reporting
thereof. Eliminates a provision that prohibits a
13 political committee or committee of continuous existence
that accepts the use of public funds, equipment,
14 personnel, or other resources to collect dues from its
members from making independent expenditures in support
15 of or opposition to a candidate or elected public
official. See bill for details.
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