Title: Political Party Executive Committees

Summary: Creates "Party Officer Integrity Act"; removes provisions that exclude candidates for political party executive committees from definition of "candidate" for purposes of The Florida Election Code.

Full Text:
An act relating to political party executive committees; providing a short title; amending ss. 97.021 and 106.011, F.S.; removing provisions that exclude candidates for political party executive committees from the definition of "candidate" for purposes of The Florida Election Code; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Party Officer Integrity Act." Section 2. Subsection (5) of section 97.021, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 97.021 Definitions.-For the purposes of this code, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term: (5) "Candidate" means any person to whom any one or more of the following applies: (a) Any person who seeks to qualify for nomination or election by means of the petitioning process. (b) Any person who seeks to qualify for election as a write-in candid ate. (c) Any person who receives contributions or makes expenditures, or gives his or her consent for any other person to receive contributions or make expenditures, with a view to bringing about his or her nomination or election to, or retention in, pub lic office. HB 2013 (d) Any person who appoints a treasurer and designates a primary depository. (e) Any person who files qualification papers and subscribes to a candidate's oath as required by law. However, this definition does not include any candidate for a political party executive committee. Section 3. Subsection (16) of section 106.011, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 106.011 Definitions.-As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings unless the context clearly indi cates otherwise: (16) "Candidate" means any person to whom any one or more of the following apply: (a) Any person who seeks to qualify for nomination or election by means of the petitioning process. (b) Any person who seeks to qualify for election as a write-in candidate. (c) Any person who receives contributions or makes expenditures, or consents for any other person to receive contributions or make expenditures, with a view to bring about his or her nomination or election to, or retention in, public office. (d) Any person who appoints a treasurer and designates a primary depository. (e) Any person who files qualification papers and subscribes to a candidate's oath as required by law. HB 2013 However, this definition does not include any candidate for a political party executive committee. Expenditures related to potential candidate polls as provided in s. 106.17 are not contributions or expenditures for purposes of this subsection. Section.This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.