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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to candidates for public office; amending

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s. 99.012, F.S.; authorizing a law enforcement officer to

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qualify as a candidate for public office without resigning

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his or her law enforcement position; providing an

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exception; providing for reinstatement to the law

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enforcement office; amending s. 99.095, F.S.; authorizing

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a candidate to pay a pro rata portion of the qualifying

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fee under certain conditions; 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 (8) is added to section 99.012,

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Florida Statutes, to read:

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     99.012  Restrictions on individuals qualifying for public

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office.--

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     (8) A law enforcement officer is not required to resign his

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or her law enforcement office upon qualifying as a candidate for

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public office or election to public office unless the officer is

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seeking a public office currently held by an officer who has

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authority to appoint, employ, promote, or otherwise supervise

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that person and who has qualified as a candidate for reelection

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to that office. This chapter does not prohibit a subordinate

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officer, deputy sheriff, or police officer from being reinstated

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to duty if he or she is unsuccessful in seeking public office.

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     Section 2.  Subsection (6) is added to section 99.095,

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Florida Statutes, to read:

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     99.095  Petition process in lieu of a qualifying fee and

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party assessment.--

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     (6) If a candidate obtains at least 50 percent but less

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than 100 percent of the required number of signatures set forth

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in this section, the candidate may pay a pro rata portion of the

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qualifying fee required pursuant to s. 99.092.

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     Section 3.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2009.