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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to the chief election officer; amending s.

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97.012, F.S.; requiring that the Secretary of State

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endeavor to be nonpartisan in all decisions and statements

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related to elections; prohibiting the secretary from

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performing certain actions; providing an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1.  Subsection (16) is added to section 97.012,

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Florida Statutes, to read:

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     97.012  Secretary of State as chief election officer.--The

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Secretary of State is the chief election officer of the state,

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and it is his or her responsibility to:

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     (16) Endeavor to be nonpartisan in all decisions and

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statements. The secretary may not:

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     (a) Directly or indirectly engage in any political campaign

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or in any partisan political activity except to vote;

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     (b) Serve as an officer of any political party or any

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partisan organization;

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     (c) Publicly support or oppose any partisan organization or

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candidate, including candidates for any local, state, or federal

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office;

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     (d) Allow his or her name to be used in connection with any

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activity of a political organization;

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     (e) Make speeches on behalf of any political organization

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or any candidate;

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     (f) Attend political gatherings;

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     (g) Take a public position for or against, or participate

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in, a campaign to support or oppose any ballot initiative or

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ballot measure; or

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     (h) Make any contribution to, or solicit funds on behalf

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of, any political party, partisan organization, or candidate,

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including a candidate for any local, state, or federal office.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.