| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to electioneering communications |
| 3 | organizations; amending s. 106.011, F.S.; providing |
| 4 | additional reporting requirements for certain |
| 5 | contributions received by electioneering communications |
| 6 | organizations; amending s. 106.071, F.S.; providing |
| 7 | reporting requirements for certain expenditures made by |
| 8 | electioneering communications organizations; providing an |
| 9 | effective date. |
| 10 |
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| 11 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 12 |
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| 13 | Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section |
| 14 | 106.011, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 15 | 106.011 Definitions.--As used in this chapter, the |
| 16 | following terms have the following meanings unless the context |
| 17 | clearly indicates otherwise: |
| 18 | (1) |
| 19 | (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the following entities |
| 20 | are not considered political committees for purposes of this |
| 21 | chapter: |
| 22 | 1. Organizations which are certified by the Department of |
| 23 | State as committees of continuous existence pursuant to s. |
| 24 | 106.04, national political parties, and the state and county |
| 25 | executive committees of political parties regulated by chapter |
| 26 | 103. |
| 27 | 2. Corporations regulated by chapter 607 or chapter 617 or |
| 28 | other business entities formed for purposes other than to |
| 29 | support or oppose issues or candidates, if their political |
| 30 | activities are limited to contributions to candidates, political |
| 31 | parties, or political committees or expenditures in support of |
| 32 | or opposition to an issue from corporate or business funds and |
| 33 | if no contributions are received by such corporations or |
| 34 | business entities. |
| 35 | 3. Electioneering communications organizations as defined |
| 36 | in subsection (19); however, such organizations shall be |
| 37 | required to register with and report expenditures and |
| 38 | contributions, including contributions received from committees |
| 39 | of continuous existence, to the Division of Elections in the |
| 40 | same manner, at the same time, and subject to the same penalties |
| 41 | as a political committee supporting or opposing an issue or a |
| 42 | legislative candidate, except as otherwise specifically provided |
| 43 | in this chapter; however, each contribution that exceeds $500 |
| 44 | shall be reported within 24 hours after receipt. |
| 45 | Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 106.071, Florida |
| 46 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 47 | 106.071 Independent expenditures; electioneering |
| 48 | communications; reports; disclaimers.-- |
| 49 | (1)(a) Each person who makes an independent expenditure |
| 50 | with respect to any candidate or issue, and each individual who |
| 51 | makes an expenditure for an electioneering communication which |
| 52 | is not otherwise reported pursuant to this chapter, which |
| 53 | expenditure, in the aggregate, is in the amount of $100 or more, |
| 54 | shall file periodic reports of such expenditures in the same |
| 55 | manner, at the same time, subject to the same penalties, and |
| 56 | with the same officer as a political committee supporting or |
| 57 | opposing such candidate or issue. |
| 58 | (b) Each individual who makes an expenditure for an |
| 59 | electioneering communication that is not otherwise reported |
| 60 | pursuant to this chapter, which expenditure, in the aggregate, |
| 61 | is in the amount of $100 or more, shall file periodic reports of |
| 62 | such expenditures in the same manner, at the same time, subject |
| 63 | to the same penalties, and with the same officer as a political |
| 64 | committee supporting or opposing such candidate or issue, except |
| 65 | each expenditure that in the aggregate exceeds $500 shall be |
| 66 | reported within 24 hours after being made. |
| 67 | (c) The reports required in paragraphs (a) and (b) report |
| 68 | shall contain the full name and address of the person making the |
| 69 | expenditure; the full name and address of each person to whom |
| 70 | and for whom each such expenditure has been made; the amount, |
| 71 | date, and purpose of each such expenditure; a description of the |
| 72 | services or goods obtained by each such expenditure; the issue |
| 73 | to which the expenditure relates; and the name and address of, |
| 74 | and office sought by, each candidate on whose behalf such |
| 75 | expenditure was made. |
| 76 | Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2008. |