Florida Senate - 2011                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. CS for CS for SB 2086
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Barcode 251734                          
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                  Comm: FAV            .                                
                  04/28/2011           .                                
                                       .                                
                Floor: 1/RS/2R         .                                
             05/04/2011 01:38 PM       .                                
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       The Committee on Budget (Thrasher) recommended the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Subsection (16) is added to section 97.012,
    6  Florida Statutes, to read:
    7         97.012 Secretary of State as chief election officer.—The
    8  Secretary of State is the chief election officer of the state,
    9  and it is his or her responsibility to:
   10         (16)Provide written direction and opinions to the
   11  supervisors of elections on the performance of their official
   12  duties with respect to the Florida Election Code or rules
   13  adopted by the Department of State.
   14         Section 2. Subsection (18) of section 97.021, Florida
   15  Statutes, is amended to read:
   16         97.021 Definitions.—For the purposes of this code, except
   17  where the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term:
   18         (18) “Minor political party” is any group as specified
   19  defined in s. 103.095 this subsection which on January 1
   20  preceding a primary election does not have registered as members
   21  5 percent of the total registered electors of the state. Any
   22  group of citizens organized for the general purposes of electing
   23  to office qualified persons and determining public issues under
   24  the democratic processes of the United States may become a minor
   25  political party of this state by filing with the department a
   26  certificate showing the name of the organization, the names of
   27  its current officers, including the members of its executive
   28  committee, and a copy of its constitution or bylaws. It shall be
   29  the duty of the minor political party to notify the department
   30  of any changes in the filing certificate within 5 days of such
   31  changes.
   32         Section 3. Section 97.025, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   33  read:
   34         97.025 Election Code; copies thereof.—A pamphlet of a
   35  reprint of the Election Code, adequately indexed, shall be
   36  prepared by the Department of State. The pamphlet shall be made
   37  available It shall have a sufficient number of these pamphlets
   38  printed so that one may be given, upon request, to each
   39  candidate who qualifies with the department. The pamphlet shall
   40  be made available A sufficient number may be sent to each
   41  supervisor, prior to the first day of qualifying, so that for
   42  distribution, upon request, to each candidate who qualifies with
   43  the supervisor and to each clerk of elections have access to the
   44  pamphlet. The cost of making printing the pamphlets available
   45  shall be paid out of funds appropriated for conducting
   46  elections.
   47         Section 4. Section 97.0575, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   48  read:
   49         97.0575 Third-party voter registrations.—
   50         (1) Before engaging in any voter registration activities, a
   51  third-party voter registration organization must register and
   52  provide to the division, in an electronic format, the following
   53  information:
   54         (a) The names of the officers of the organization and the
   55  name and permanent address of the organization.
   56         (b) The name and address of the organization’s registered
   57  agent in the state.
   58         (c) The names, permanent addresses, and temporary
   59  addresses, if any, of each registration agent registering
   60  persons to vote in this state on behalf of the organization.
   61         (d) A sworn statement from each registration agent employed
   62  by or volunteering for the organization stating that the agent
   63  will obey all state laws and rules regarding the registration of
   64  voters. Such statement must be on a form containing notice of
   65  applicable penalties for false registration.
   66         (2) The division or the supervisor of elections shall make
   67  voter registration forms available to third-party voter
   68  registration organizations. All such forms must contain
   69  information identifying the organization to which the forms are
   70  provided. The division shall maintain a database of all third
   71  party voter registration organizations and the voter
   72  registration forms assigned to the third-party voter
   73  registration organization. Each supervisor of elections shall
   74  provide to the division information on voter registration forms
   75  assigned to and received from third-party voter registration
   76  organizations. The information must be provided in a format and
   77  at times as required by the division by rule. The division must
   78  update information on third-party voter registrations daily and
   79  make the information publicly available.
   80         (1) Prior to engaging in any voter registration activities,
   81  a third-party voter registration organization shall name a
   82  registered agent in the state and submit to the division, in a
   83  form adopted by the division, the name of the registered agent
   84  and the name of those individuals responsible for the day-to-day
   85  operation of the third-party voter registration organization,
   86  including, if applicable, the names of the entity’s board of
   87  directors, president, vice president, managing partner, or such
   88  other individuals engaged in similar duties or functions. On or
   89  before the 15th day after the end of each calendar quarter, each
   90  third-party voter registration organization shall submit to the
   91  division a report providing the date and location of any
   92  organized voter registration drives conducted by the
   93  organization in the prior calendar quarter.
   94         (2) The failure to submit the information required by
   95  subsection (1) does not subject the third-party voter
   96  registration organization to any civil or criminal penalties for
   97  such failure, and the failure to submit such information is not
   98  a basis for denying such third-party voter registration
   99  organization with copies of voter registration application
  100  forms.
  101         (3)(a) A third-party voter registration organization that
  102  collects voter registration applications serves as a fiduciary
  103  to the applicant, ensuring that any voter registration
  104  application entrusted to the third-party voter registration
  105  organization, irrespective of party affiliation, race,
  106  ethnicity, or gender, shall be promptly delivered to the
  107  division or the supervisor of elections within 48 hours after
  108  the applicant completes it or the next business day if the
  109  appropriate office is closed for that 48-hour period. If a voter
  110  registration application collected by any third-party voter
  111  registration organization is not promptly delivered to the
  112  division or supervisor of elections, the third-party voter
  113  registration organization is shall be liable for the following
  114  fines:
  115         1.(a) A fine in the amount of $50 for each application
  116  received by the division or the supervisor of elections more
  117  than 48 hours 10 days after the applicant delivered the
  118  completed voter registration application to the third-party
  119  voter registration organization or any person, entity, or agent
  120  acting on its behalf or the next business day, if the office is
  121  closed. A fine in the amount of $250 for each application
  122  received if the third-party voter registration organization or
  123  person, entity, or agency acting on its behalf acted willfully.
  124         2.(b) A fine in the amount of $100 for each application
  125  collected by a third-party voter registration organization or
  126  any person, entity, or agent acting on its behalf, before prior
  127  to book closing for any given election for federal or state
  128  office and received by the division or the supervisor of
  129  elections after the book-closing book closing deadline for such
  130  election. A fine in the amount of $500 for each application
  131  received if the third-party registration organization or person,
  132  entity, or agency acting on its behalf acted willfully.
  133         3.(c) A fine in the amount of $500 for each application
  134  collected by a third-party voter registration organization or
  135  any person, entity, or agent acting on its behalf, which is not
  136  submitted to the division or supervisor of elections. A fine in
  137  the amount of $1,000 for any application not submitted if the
  138  third-party voter registration organization or person, entity,
  139  or agency acting on its behalf acted willfully.
  140  
  141  The aggregate fine pursuant to this paragraph subsection which
  142  may be assessed against a third-party voter registration
  143  organization, including affiliate organizations, for violations
  144  committed in a calendar year is shall be $1,000.
  145         (b) A showing by the fines provided in this subsection
  146  shall be reduced by three-fourths in cases in which the third
  147  party voter registration organization that the failure to
  148  deliver the voter registration application within the required
  149  timeframe is based upon force majeure or impossibility of
  150  performance shall be an affirmative defense to a violation of
  151  this subsection has complied with subsection (1). The secretary
  152  may shall waive the fines described in this subsection upon a
  153  showing that the failure to deliver the voter registration
  154  application promptly is based upon force majeure or
  155  impossibility of performance.
  156         (4) If the Secretary of State reasonably believes that a
  157  person has committed a violation of this section, the secretary
  158  may refer the matter to the Attorney General for enforcement.
  159  The Attorney General may institute a civil action for a
  160  violation of this section or to prevent a violation of this
  161  section. An action for relief may include a permanent or
  162  temporary injunction, a restraining order, or any other
  163  appropriate order.
  164         (5)(4)(a) The division shall adopt by rule a form to elicit
  165  specific information concerning the facts and circumstances from
  166  a person who claims to have been registered to vote by a third
  167  party voter registration organization but who does not appear as
  168  an active voter on the voter registration rolls. The division
  169  shall also adopt rules to ensure the integrity of the
  170  registration process, including rules requiring third-party
  171  voter registration organizations to account for all state and
  172  federal registration forms used by their registration agents.
  173  Such rules may require an organization to provide organization
  174  and form specific identification information on each form as
  175  determined by the department as needed to assist in the
  176  accounting of state and federal registration forms.
  177         (b) The division may investigate any violation of this
  178  section. Civil fines shall be assessed by the division and
  179  enforced through any appropriate legal proceedings.
  180         (6)(5) The date on which an applicant signs a voter
  181  registration application is presumed to be the date on which the
  182  third-party voter registration organization received or
  183  collected the voter registration application.
  184         (7) The requirements of this section are retroactive for
  185  any third-party voter registration organization registered with
  186  the department on July 1, 2011, and must be complied with within
  187  90 days after the department provides notice to the third-party
  188  voter registration organization of the requirements contained in
  189  this section. Failure of the third-party voter registration
  190  organization to comply with the requirements within 90 days
  191  after receipt of the notice shall automatically result in the
  192  cancellation of the third-party voter registration
  193  organization’s registration.
  194         (6) The civil fines provided in this section are in
  195  addition to any applicable criminal penalties.
  196         (7) Fines collected pursuant to this section shall be
  197  annually appropriated by the Legislature to the department for
  198  enforcement of this section and for voter education.
  199         (8) The division may adopt rules to administer this
  200  section.
  201         Section 5. Section 97.071, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  202  read:
  203         97.071 Voter information card.—
  204         (1) A voter information card shall be furnished by the
  205  supervisor to all registered voters residing in the supervisor’s
  206  county. The card must contain:
  207         (a) Voter’s registration number.
  208         (b) Date of registration.
  209         (c) Full name.
  210         (d) Party affiliation.
  211         (e) Date of birth.
  212         (f) Address of legal residence.
  213         (g) Precinct number.
  214         (h)Polling place address.
  215         (i)(h) Name of supervisor and contact information of
  216  supervisor.
  217         (j)(i) Other information deemed necessary by the
  218  supervisor.
  219         (2) A voter may receive a replacement voter information
  220  card by providing a signed, written request for a replacement
  221  card to a voter registration official. Upon verification of
  222  registration, the supervisor shall issue the voter a duplicate
  223  card without charge.
  224         (3) In the case of a change of name, address of legal
  225  residence, polling place address, or party affiliation, the
  226  supervisor shall issue the voter a new voter information card.
  227         Section 6. The supervisor must meet the requirements of
  228  section 5 of this act for any elector who registers to vote or
  229  who is issued a new voter information card pursuant to s.
  230  97.071(2) or (3), Florida Statutes, on or after August 1, 2012.
  231         Section 7. Subsection (1) of section 97.073, Florida
  232  Statutes, is amended to read:
  233         97.073 Disposition of voter registration applications;
  234  cancellation notice.—
  235         (1) The supervisor must notify each applicant of the
  236  disposition of the applicant’s voter registration application
  237  within 5 business days after voter registration information is
  238  entered into the statewide voter registration system. The notice
  239  must inform the applicant that the application has been
  240  approved, is incomplete, has been denied, or is a duplicate of a
  241  current registration. A voter information card sent to an
  242  applicant constitutes notice of approval of registration. If the
  243  application is incomplete, the supervisor must request that the
  244  applicant supply the missing information using a voter
  245  registration application signed by the applicant. A notice of
  246  denial must inform the applicant of the reason the application
  247  was denied.
  248         Section 8. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 97.1031,
  249  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  250         97.1031 Notice of change of residence, change of name, or
  251  change of party affiliation.—
  252         (1)(a) When an elector changes his or her residence
  253  address, the elector must notify the supervisor of elections.
  254  Except as provided in paragraph (b), an address change must be
  255  submitted using a voter registration application.
  256         (b) If the address change is within the state and notice is
  257  provided to the supervisor of elections of the county where the
  258  elector has moved, the elector may do so by:
  259         1. Contacting the supervisor of elections via telephone or
  260  electronic means, in which case the elector must provide his or
  261  her date of birth; or
  262         2. Submitting the change on a voter registration
  263  application or other signed written notice. moves from the
  264  address named on that person’s voter registration record to
  265  another address within the same county, the elector must provide
  266  notification of such move to the supervisor of elections of that
  267  county. The elector may provide the supervisor a signed, written
  268  notice or may notify the supervisor by telephone or electronic
  269  means. However, notification of such move other than by signed,
  270  written notice must include the elector’s date of birth. An
  271  elector may also provide notification to other voter
  272  registration officials as provided in subsection (2). A voter
  273  information card reflecting the new information shall be issued
  274  to the elector as provided in subsection (3).
  275         (2) When an elector moves from the address named on that
  276  person’s voter registration record to another address in a
  277  different county but within the state, the elector seeks to
  278  change party affiliation, or the name of an elector is changed
  279  by marriage or other legal process, the elector shall notify his
  280  or her supervisor of elections or other provide notice of such
  281  change to a voter registration official by using a voter
  282  registration application signed written notice that contains the
  283  elector’s date of birth or voter registration number by the
  284  elector. When an elector changes his or her name by marriage or
  285  other legal process, the elector shall notify his or her
  286  supervisor of elections or other voter registration official by
  287  using a signed written notice that contains the elector’s date
  288  of birth or voter’s registration number. A voter information
  289  card reflecting the new information shall be issued to the
  290  elector as provided in subsection (3).
  291         Section 9. Subsections (3) and (6) of section 98.075,
  292  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  293         98.075 Registration records maintenance activities;
  294  ineligibility determinations.—
  295         (3) DECEASED PERSONS.—
  296         (a)1. The department shall identify those registered voters
  297  who are deceased by comparing information on the lists of
  298  deceased persons received from either:
  299         a. The Department of Health as provided in s. 98.093; or.
  300         b. The United States Social Security Administration,
  301  including, but not limited to, any master death file or index
  302  compiled by the United States Social Security Administration.
  303         2. Within 7 days after Upon receipt of such information
  304  through the statewide voter registration system, the supervisor
  305  shall remove the name of the registered voter.
  306         (b) The supervisor shall remove the name of a deceased
  307  registered voter from the statewide voter registration system
  308  upon receipt of a copy of a death certificate issued by a
  309  governmental agency authorized to issue death certificates.
  310         (6) OTHER BASES FOR INELIGIBILITY.—If the department or
  311  supervisor receives information other than from the sources
  312  other than those identified in subsections (2)-(5) that a
  313  registered voter is ineligible because he or she is deceased,
  314  adjudicated a convicted felon without having had his or her
  315  civil rights restored, adjudicated mentally incapacitated
  316  without having had his or her voting rights restored, does not
  317  meet the age requirement pursuant to s. 97.041, is not a United
  318  States citizen, is a fictitious person, or has listed a
  319  residence that is not his or her legal residence, the supervisor
  320  must shall adhere to the procedures set forth in subsection (7)
  321  prior to the removal of a registered voter’s name from the
  322  statewide voter registration system.
  323         Section 10. Section 98.093, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  324  read:
  325         98.093 Duty of officials to furnish information relating to
  326  lists of deceased persons, persons adjudicated mentally
  327  incapacitated, and persons convicted of a felony.—
  328         (1) In order to identify ineligible registered voters and
  329  maintain ensure the maintenance of accurate and current voter
  330  registration records in the statewide voter registration system
  331  pursuant to procedures in s. 98.065 or s. 98.075, it is
  332  necessary for the department and supervisors of elections to
  333  receive or access certain information from state and federal
  334  officials and entities in the format prescribed. The department
  335  and supervisors of elections shall use the information provided
  336  from the sources in subsection (2) to maintain the voter
  337  registration records.
  338         (2) To the maximum extent feasible, state and local
  339  government agencies shall facilitate provision of information
  340  and access to data to the department, including, but not limited
  341  to, databases that contain reliable criminal records and records
  342  of deceased persons. State and local government agencies that
  343  provide such data shall do so without charge if the direct cost
  344  incurred by those agencies is not significant.
  345         (a) The Department of Health shall furnish monthly to the
  346  department a list containing the name, address, date of birth,
  347  date of death, social security number, race, and sex of each
  348  deceased person 17 years of age or older.
  349         (b) Each clerk of the circuit court shall furnish monthly
  350  to the department a list of those persons who have been
  351  adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting during
  352  the preceding calendar month, a list of those persons whose
  353  mental capacity with respect to voting has been restored during
  354  the preceding calendar month, and a list of those persons who
  355  have returned signed jury notices during the preceding months to
  356  the clerk of the circuit court indicating a change of address.
  357  Each list shall include the name, address, date of birth, race,
  358  sex, and, whichever is available, the Florida driver’s license
  359  number, Florida identification card number, or social security
  360  number of each such person.
  361         (c) Upon receipt of information from the United States
  362  Attorney, listing persons convicted of a felony in federal
  363  court, the department shall use such information to identify
  364  registered voters or applicants for voter registration who may
  365  be potentially ineligible based on information provided in
  366  accordance with s. 98.075.
  367         (d) The Department of Law Enforcement shall identify those
  368  persons who have been convicted of a felony who appear in the
  369  voter registration records supplied by the statewide voter
  370  registration system, in a time and manner that enables the
  371  department to meet its obligations under state and federal law.
  372         (e) The Florida Parole Commission Board of Executive
  373  Clemency shall furnish at least bimonthly monthly to the
  374  department data, including the identity a list of those persons
  375  granted clemency in the preceding month or any updates to prior
  376  records which have occurred in the preceding month. The data
  377  list shall contain the commission’s Board of Executive Clemency
  378  case number and the person’s, name, address, date of birth,
  379  race, gender sex, Florida driver’s license number, Florida
  380  identification card number, or the last four digits of the
  381  social security number, if available, and references to record
  382  identifiers assigned by the Department of Corrections and the
  383  Department of Law Enforcement, a unique identifier of each
  384  clemency case, and the effective date of clemency of each
  385  person.
  386         (f) The Department of Corrections shall identify those
  387  persons who have been convicted of a felony and committed to its
  388  custody or placed on community supervision. The information must
  389  be provided to the department at a time and in manner that
  390  enables the department to identify registered voters who are
  391  convicted felons and to meet its obligations under state and
  392  federal law. furnish monthly to the department a list of those
  393  persons transferred to the Department of Corrections in the
  394  preceding month or any updates to prior records which have
  395  occurred in the preceding month. The list shall contain the
  396  name, address, date of birth, race, sex, social security number,
  397  Department of Corrections record identification number, and
  398  associated Department of Law Enforcement felony conviction
  399  record number of each person.
  400         (g) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
  401  shall furnish monthly to the department a list of those persons
  402  whose names have been removed from the driver’s license database
  403  because they have been licensed in another state. The list shall
  404  contain the name, address, date of birth, sex, social security
  405  number, and driver’s license number of each such person.
  406         (3) Nothing in This section does not shall limit or
  407  restrict the supervisor in his or her duty to remove the names
  408  of persons from the statewide voter registration system pursuant
  409  to s. 98.075(7) based upon information received from other
  410  sources.
  411         Section 11. Effective July 1, 2012, subsections (1) and (2)
  412  of section 98.0981, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  413         98.0981 Reports; voting history; statewide voter
  414  registration system information; precinct-level election
  415  results; book closing statistics.—
  416         (1) VOTING HISTORY AND STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM
  417  INFORMATION.—
  418         (a) Within 30 45 days after certification by the Elections
  419  Canvassing Commission of a presidential preference primary,
  420  special election, primary election, or a general election,
  421  supervisors of elections shall transmit to the department, in a
  422  uniform electronic format specified in paragraph (d) by the
  423  department, completely updated voting history information for
  424  each qualified voter who voted.
  425         (b) After receipt of the information in paragraph (a), the
  426  department shall prepare a report in electronic format which
  427  contains the following information, separately compiled for the
  428  primary and general election for all voters qualified to vote in
  429  either election:
  430         1. The unique identifier assigned to each qualified voter
  431  within the statewide voter registration system;
  432         2. All information provided by each qualified voter on his
  433  or her voter registration application pursuant to s. 97.052(2),
  434  except that which is confidential or exempt from public records
  435  requirements;
  436         3. Each qualified voter’s date of registration;
  437         4. Each qualified voter’s current state representative
  438  district, state senatorial district, and congressional district,
  439  assigned by the supervisor of elections;
  440         5. Each qualified voter’s current precinct; and
  441         6. Voting history as transmitted under paragraph (a) to
  442  include whether the qualified voter voted at a precinct
  443  location, voted during the early voting period, voted by
  444  absentee ballot, attempted to vote by absentee ballot that was
  445  not counted, attempted to vote by provisional ballot that was
  446  not counted, or did not vote.
  447         (c) Within 45 60 days after certification by the Elections
  448  Canvassing Commission of a presidential preference primary,
  449  special election, primary election, or a general election, the
  450  department shall send to the President of the Senate, the
  451  Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Senate Minority
  452  Leader, and the House Minority Leader a report in electronic
  453  format that includes all information set forth in paragraph (b).
  454         (d)File specifications are as follows:
  455         1.The file shall contain records designated by the
  456  categories below for all qualified voters who, regardless of the
  457  voter’s county of residence or active or inactive registration
  458  status at the book closing for the corresponding election that
  459  the file is being created for:
  460         a.Voted a regular ballot at a precinct location.
  461         b.Voted at a precinct location using a provisional ballot
  462  that was subsequently counted.
  463         c.Voted a regular ballot during the early voting period.
  464         d.Voted during the early voting period using a provisional
  465  ballot that was subsequently counted.
  466         e.Voted by absentee ballot.
  467         f.Attempted to vote by absentee ballot, but the ballot was
  468  not counted.
  469         g.Attempted to vote by provisional ballot, but the ballot
  470  was not counted in that election.
  471         2.Each file shall be created or converted into a tab
  472  delimited format.
  473         3.File names shall adhere to the following convention:
  474         a.Three-character county identifier as established by the
  475  department followed by an underscore.
  476         b.Followed by four-character file type identifier of
  477  ‘VH03’ followed by an underscore.
  478         c.Followed by FVRS election ID followed by an underscore.
  479         d.Followed by Date Created followed by an underscore.
  480         e.Date format is YYYYMMDD.
  481         f.Followed by Time Created - HHMMSS.
  482         g.Followed by “.txt”.
  483         4.Each record shall contain the following columns: Record
  484  Identifier, FVRS Voter ID Number, FVRS Election ID Number, Vote
  485  Date, Vote History Code, Precinct, Congressional District, House
  486  District, Senate District, County Commission District, and
  487  School Board District.
  488         (e) Each supervisor of elections shall reconcile, before
  489  submission, the aggregate total of ballots cast in each precinct
  490  as reported in the precinct-level election results to the
  491  aggregate total number of voters with voter history for the
  492  election for each district.
  493         (f)Each supervisor of elections shall submit the results
  494  of the data reconciliation as described in paragraph (e) to the
  495  department in an electronic format and give a written
  496  explanation for any precincts where the reconciliation as
  497  described in paragraph (e) results in a discrepancy between the
  498  voter history and the election results.
  499         (2)(a) PRECINCT-LEVEL ELECTION RESULTS.—Within 25 45 days
  500  after the date of a presidential preference primary election, a
  501  special election, primary election, or a general election, the
  502  supervisors of elections shall collect and submit to the
  503  department precinct-level election results for the election in a
  504  uniform electronic format specified by paragraph (c) the
  505  department. The precinct-level election results shall be
  506  compiled separately for the primary or special primary election
  507  that preceded the general or special general election,
  508  respectively. The results shall specifically include for each
  509  precinct the aggregate total of all ballots cast for each
  510  candidate or nominee to fill a national, state, county, or
  511  district office or proposed constitutional amendment, with
  512  subtotals for each candidate and ballot type. “All ballots cast”
  513  means ballots cast by voters who cast a ballot whether at a
  514  precinct location, by absentee ballot including overseas
  515  absentee ballots, during the early voting period, or by
  516  provisional ballot.
  517         (b)The department shall make such information available on
  518  a searchable, sortable, and downloadable database via its
  519  website that also includes the file layout and codes. The
  520  database shall be searchable and sortable by county, precinct,
  521  and candidate. The database shall be downloadable in a tab
  522  delimited format. The database shall be available for download
  523  county-by-county and also as a statewide file. Such report shall
  524  also be made available upon request.
  525         (c)The files containing the precinct-level election
  526  results shall be created in accordance with the applicable file
  527  specification:
  528         1.The precinct-level results file shall be created or
  529  converted into a tab-delimited text file.
  530         2.The row immediately before the first data record shall
  531  contain the column names of the data elements that make up the
  532  data records. There shall be one header record followed by
  533  multiple data records.
  534         3.The data records shall include the following columns:
  535  County Name, Election Number, Election Date, Unique Precinct
  536  Identifier, Precinct Polling Location, Total Registered Voters,
  537  Total Registered Republicans, Total Registered Democrats, Total
  538  Registered All Other Parties, Contest Name,
  539  Candidate/Retention/Issue Name, Candidate Ethnicity, Division of
  540  Elections Unique Candidate Identifying Number, Candidate Party,
  541  District, Undervote Total, Overvote Total, Write-in Total, and
  542  Vote Total.
  543         Section 12. Subsection (5) of section 99.012, Florida
  544  Statutes, is amended to read:
  545         99.012 Restrictions on individuals qualifying for public
  546  office.—
  547         (5) A person may not be qualified as a candidate for an
  548  election or appear on the ballot unless the person complies with
  549  this section. The name of any person who does not comply with
  550  this section may be removed from every ballot on which it
  551  appears when ordered by a circuit court upon the petition of an
  552  elector or the Department of State.
  553         Section 13. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of
  554  section 99.021, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection
  555  (3) is added to that section, to read:
  556         99.021 Form of candidate oath.—
  557         (1)(a)1. Each candidate, whether a party candidate, a
  558  candidate with no party affiliation, or a write-in candidate, in
  559  order to qualify for nomination or election to any office other
  560  than a judicial office as defined in chapter 105 or a federal
  561  office, shall take and subscribe to an oath or affirmation in
  562  writing. A printed copy of the oath or affirmation shall be made
  563  available furnished to the candidate by the officer before whom
  564  such candidate seeks to qualify and shall be substantially in
  565  the following form:
  566  
  567  State of Florida
  568  County of....
  569         Before me, an officer authorized to administer oaths,
  570  personally appeared ...(please print name as you wish it to
  571  appear on the ballot)..., to me well known, who, being sworn,
  572  says that he or she is a candidate for the office of ....; that
  573  he or she is a qualified elector of .... County, Florida; that
  574  he or she is qualified under the Constitution and the laws of
  575  Florida to hold the office to which he or she desires to be
  576  nominated or elected; that he or she has taken the oath required
  577  by ss. 876.05-876.10, Florida Statutes; that he or she has
  578  qualified for no other public office in the state, the term of
  579  which office or any part thereof runs concurrent with that of
  580  the office he or she seeks; and that he or she has resigned from
  581  any office from which he or she is required to resign pursuant
  582  to s. 99.012, Florida Statutes; and that he or she will support
  583  the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of
  584  the State of Florida.
  585  ...(Signature of candidate)...
  586  ...(Address)...
  587  Sworn to and subscribed before me this .... day of ....,
  588  ...(year)..., at .... County, Florida.
  589  ...(Signature and title of officer administering oath)...
  590  
  591         2. Each candidate for federal office, whether a party
  592  candidate, a candidate with no party affiliation, or a write-in
  593  candidate, in order to qualify for nomination or election to
  594  office shall take and subscribe to an oath or affirmation in
  595  writing. A printed copy of the oath or affirmation shall be made
  596  available furnished to the candidate by the officer before whom
  597  such candidate seeks to qualify and shall be substantially in
  598  the following form:
  599  
  600  State of Florida
  601  County of ....
  602         Before me, an officer authorized to administer oaths,
  603  personally appeared ...(please print name as you wish it to
  604  appear on the ballot)..., to me well known, who, being sworn,
  605  says that he or she is a candidate for the office of ....; that
  606  he or she is qualified under the Constitution and laws of the
  607  United States to hold the office to which he or she desires to
  608  be nominated or elected; and that he or she has qualified for no
  609  other public office in the state, the term of which office or
  610  any part thereof runs concurrent with that of the office he or
  611  she seeks; and that he or she will support the Constitution of
  612  the United States.
  613  ...(Signature of candidate)...
  614  ...(Address)...
  615  
  616  Sworn to and subscribed before me this .... day of ....,
  617  ...(year)..., at .... County, Florida.
  618  ...(Signature and title of officer administering oath)...
  619  
  620         (b) In addition, any person seeking to qualify for
  621  nomination as a candidate of any political party shall, at the
  622  time of subscribing to the oath or affirmation, state in
  623  writing:
  624         1. The party of which the person is a member.
  625         2. That the person is not a registered member of any other
  626  political party and has not been a registered member of
  627  candidate for nomination for any other political party for 365
  628  days before the beginning of qualifying for a period of 6 months
  629  preceding the general election for which the person seeks to
  630  qualify.
  631         3. That the person has paid the assessment levied against
  632  him or her, if any, as a candidate for said office by the
  633  executive committee of the party of which he or she is a member.
  634         (3) This section does not apply to a person who seeks to
  635  qualify for election pursuant to ss. 103.021 and 103.101.
  636         Section 14. Subsections (5) and (7) of section 99.061,
  637  Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (11) is added to
  638  that section, to read:
  639         99.061 Method of qualifying for nomination or election to
  640  federal, state, county, or district office.—
  641         (5) At the time of qualifying for office, each candidate
  642  for a constitutional office shall file a full and public
  643  disclosure of financial interests pursuant to s. 8, Art. II of
  644  the State Constitution, which must be verified under oath or
  645  affirmation pursuant to s. 92.525(1)(a), and a candidate for any
  646  other office, including local elective office, shall file a
  647  statement of financial interests pursuant to s. 112.3145.
  648         (7)(a) In order for a candidate to be qualified, the
  649  following items must be received by the filing officer by the
  650  end of the qualifying period:
  651         1. A properly executed check drawn upon the candidate’s
  652  campaign account payable to the person or entity as prescribed
  653  by the filing officer in an amount not less than the fee
  654  required by s. 99.092, unless the candidate obtained the
  655  required number of signatures on petitions or, in lieu thereof,
  656  as applicable, the copy of the notice of obtaining ballot
  657  position pursuant to s. 99.095. The filing fee for a special
  658  district candidate is not required to be drawn upon the
  659  candidate’s campaign account. If a candidate’s check is returned
  660  by the bank for any reason, the filing officer shall immediately
  661  notify the candidate and the candidate shall have until, the end
  662  of qualifying notwithstanding, have 48 hours from the time such
  663  notification is received, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and
  664  legal holidays, to pay the fee with a cashier’s check purchased
  665  from funds of the campaign account. Failure to pay the fee as
  666  provided in this subparagraph shall disqualify the candidate.
  667         2. The candidate’s oath required by s. 99.021, which must
  668  contain the name of the candidate as it is to appear on the
  669  ballot; the office sought, including the district or group
  670  number if applicable; and the signature of the candidate, which
  671  must be verified under oath or affirmation pursuant to s.
  672  92.525(1)(a) duly acknowledged.
  673         3.The loyalty oath required by s. 876.05, signed by the
  674  candidate and duly acknowledged.
  675         3.4. If the office sought is partisan, the written
  676  statement of political party affiliation required by s.
  677  99.021(1)(b).
  678         4.5. The completed form for the appointment of campaign
  679  treasurer and designation of campaign depository, as required by
  680  s. 106.021.
  681         5.6. The full and public disclosure or statement of
  682  financial interests required by subsection (5). A public officer
  683  who has filed the full and public disclosure or statement of
  684  financial interests with the Commission on Ethics or the
  685  supervisor of elections prior to qualifying for office may file
  686  a copy of that disclosure at the time of qualifying.
  687         (b) If the filing officer receives qualifying papers during
  688  the qualifying period prescribed in this section which that do
  689  not include all items as required by paragraph (a) prior to the
  690  last day of qualifying, the filing officer shall make a
  691  reasonable effort to notify the candidate of the missing or
  692  incomplete items and shall inform the candidate that all
  693  required items must be received by the close of qualifying. A
  694  candidate’s name as it is to appear on the ballot may not be
  695  changed after the end of qualifying.
  696         (c)The filing officer performs a ministerial function in
  697  reviewing qualifying papers. In determining whether a candidate
  698  is qualified, the filing officer shall review the qualifying
  699  papers to determine whether all items required by paragraph (a)
  700  have been properly filed and whether each item is complete on
  701  its face, including whether items that must be verified have
  702  been properly verified pursuant to s. 92.525(1)(a). The filing
  703  officer may not determine whether the contents of the qualifying
  704  papers are accurate.
  705         (11)The decision of the filing officer concerning whether
  706  a candidate is qualified is exempt from the provisions of
  707  chapter 120.
  708         Section 15. Subsection (2) of section 99.063, Florida
  709  Statutes, is amended to read:
  710         99.063 Candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor.—
  711         (2) No later than 5 p.m. of the 9th day following the
  712  primary election, each designated candidate for Lieutenant
  713  Governor shall file with the Department of State:
  714         (a) The candidate’s oath required by s. 99.021, which must
  715  contain the name of the candidate as it is to appear on the
  716  ballot; the office sought; and the signature of the candidate,
  717  which must be verified under oath or affirmation pursuant to s.
  718  92.525(1)(a) duly acknowledged.
  719         (b) The loyalty oath required by s. 876.05, signed by the
  720  candidate and duly acknowledged.
  721         (b)(c) If the office sought is partisan, the written
  722  statement of political party affiliation required by s.
  723  99.021(1)(b).
  724         (c)(d) The full and public disclosure of financial
  725  interests pursuant to s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution. A
  726  public officer who has filed the full and public disclosure with
  727  the Commission on Ethics prior to qualifying for office may file
  728  a copy of that disclosure at the time of qualifying.
  729         Section 16. Subsection (1) of section 99.092, Florida
  730  Statutes, is amended to read:
  731         99.092 Qualifying fee of candidate; notification of
  732  Department of State.—
  733         (1) Each person seeking to qualify for nomination or
  734  election to any office, except a person seeking to qualify by
  735  the petition process pursuant to s. 99.095 and except a person
  736  seeking to qualify as a write-in candidate, shall pay a
  737  qualifying fee, which shall consist of a filing fee and election
  738  assessment, to the officer with whom the person qualifies, and
  739  any party assessment levied, and shall attach the original or
  740  signed duplicate of the receipt for his or her party assessment
  741  or pay the same, in accordance with the provisions of s.
  742  103.121, at the time of filing his or her other qualifying
  743  papers. The amount of the filing fee is 3 percent of the annual
  744  salary of the office. The amount of the election assessment is 1
  745  percent of the annual salary of the office sought. The election
  746  assessment shall be deposited into the Clearing Funds Trust Fund
  747  and transferred to the Elections Commission Trust Fund within
  748  the Department of Legal Affairs. The amount of the party
  749  assessment is 2 percent of the annual salary. The annual salary
  750  of the office for purposes of computing the filing fee, election
  751  assessment, and party assessment shall be computed by
  752  multiplying 12 times the monthly salary, excluding any special
  753  qualification pay, authorized for such office as of July 1
  754  immediately preceding the first day of qualifying. No qualifying
  755  fee shall be returned to the candidate unless the candidate
  756  withdraws his or her candidacy before the last date to qualify.
  757  If a candidate dies prior to an election and has not withdrawn
  758  his or her candidacy before the last date to qualify, the
  759  candidate’s qualifying fee shall be returned to his or her
  760  designated beneficiary, and, if the filing fee or any portion
  761  thereof has been transferred to the political party of the
  762  candidate, the Secretary of State shall direct the party to
  763  return that portion to the designated beneficiary of the
  764  candidate.
  765         Section 17. Subsection (1) of section 99.093, Florida
  766  Statutes, is amended to read:
  767         99.093 Municipal candidates; election assessment.—
  768         (1) Each person seeking to qualify for nomination or
  769  election to a municipal office shall pay, at the time of
  770  qualifying for office, an election assessment. The election
  771  assessment shall be an amount equal to 1 percent of the annual
  772  salary of the office sought. Within 30 days after the close of
  773  qualifying, the qualifying officer shall forward all assessments
  774  collected pursuant to this section to the Florida Elections
  775  Commission Department of State for deposit in transfer to the
  776  Elections Commission Trust Fund within the Department of Legal
  777  Affairs.
  778         Section 18. Paragraph (d) is added to subsection (2) of
  779  section 99.095, Florida Statutes, to read:
  780         99.095 Petition process in lieu of a qualifying fee and
  781  party assessment.—
  782         (2)
  783         (d) In a year of apportionment, any candidate for county or
  784  district office seeking ballot position by the petition process
  785  may obtain the required number of signatures from any registered
  786  voter in the respective county, regardless of district
  787  boundaries. The candidate shall obtain at least the number of
  788  signatures equal to 1 percent of the total number of registered
  789  voters, as shown by a compilation by the department for the
  790  immediately preceding general election, divided by the total
  791  number of districts of the office involved.
  792         Section 19. Subsections (1), (3), and (5) of section
  793  99.097, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (6) is
  794  added to that section, to read:
  795         99.097 Verification of signatures on petitions.—
  796         (1)(a) As determined by each supervisor, based upon local
  797  conditions, the checking of names on petitions may be based on
  798  the most inexpensive and administratively feasible of either of
  799  the following methods of verification:
  800         1.(a) A name-by-name, signature-by-signature check of each
  801  petition the number of authorized signatures on the petitions;
  802  or
  803         2.(b) A check of a random sample, as provided by the
  804  Department of State, of names and signatures on the petitions.
  805  The sample must be such that a determination can be made as to
  806  whether or not the required number of signatures has have been
  807  obtained with a reliability of at least 99.5 percent.
  808         (b) Rules and guidelines for this method of petition
  809  verification shall be adopted promulgated by the Department of
  810  State. Rules and guidelines for a random sample method of
  811  verification, which may include a requirement that petitions
  812  bear an additional number of names and signatures, not to exceed
  813  15 percent of the names and signatures otherwise required. If
  814  the petitions do not meet such criteria or if the petitions are
  815  prescribed by s. 100.371, then the use of the random sample
  816  method of verification is method described in this paragraph
  817  shall not be available to supervisors.
  818         (3)(a) If all other requirements for the petition are met,
  819  a signature on a petition shall be verified and counted as valid
  820  for a registered voter if, after comparing the signature on the
  821  petition and the signature of the registered voter in the voter
  822  registration system, the supervisor is able to determine that
  823  the petition signer is the same as the registered voter, even if
  824  the name on the petition is not in substantially the same form
  825  as in the voter registration system. A name on a petition, which
  826  name is not in substantially the same form as a name on the
  827  voter registration books, shall be counted as a valid signature
  828  if, after comparing the signature on the petition with the
  829  signature of the alleged signer as shown on the registration
  830  books, the supervisor determines that the person signing the
  831  petition and the person who registered to vote are one and the
  832  same.
  833         (b) In any situation in which this code requires the form
  834  of the petition to be prescribed by the division, no signature
  835  shall be counted toward the number of signatures required unless
  836  it is on a petition form prescribed by the division.
  837         (c)(b) If a voter signs a petition and lists an address
  838  other than the legal residence where the voter is registered,
  839  the supervisor shall treat the signature as if the voter had
  840  listed the address where the voter is registered.
  841         (5) The results of a verification pursuant to subparagraph
  842  (1)(a)2. paragraph (1)(b) may be contested in the circuit court
  843  by the candidate; an announced opponent; a representative of a
  844  designated political committee; or a person, party, or other
  845  organization submitting the petition. The contestant shall file
  846  a complaint, together with the fees prescribed in chapter 28,
  847  with the clerk of the circuit court in the county in which the
  848  petition is certified or in Leon County if the petition covers
  849  more than one county within 10 days after midnight of the date
  850  the petition is certified; and the complaint shall set forth the
  851  grounds on which the contestant intends to establish his or her
  852  right to require a complete check of the petition names and
  853  signatures pursuant to subparagraph (1)(a)1. paragraph (1)(a).
  854  In the event the court orders a complete check of the petition
  855  and the result is not changed as to the success or lack of
  856  success of the petitioner in obtaining the requisite number of
  857  valid signatures, then such candidate, unless the candidate has
  858  filed the oath stating that he or she is unable to pay such
  859  charges; announced opponent; representative of a designated
  860  political committee; or party, person, or organization
  861  submitting the petition, unless such person or organization has
  862  filed the oath stating inability to pay such charges, shall pay
  863  to the supervisor of elections of each affected county for the
  864  complete check an amount calculated at the rate of 10 cents for
  865  each additional signature checked or the actual cost of checking
  866  such additional signatures, whichever is less.
  867         (6)(a) If any person is paid to solicit signatures on a
  868  petition, an undue burden oath may not subsequently be filed in
  869  lieu of paying the fee to have signatures verified for that
  870  petition.
  871         (b) If an undue burden oath has been filed and payment is
  872  subsequently made to any person to solicit signatures on a
  873  petition, the undue burden oath is no longer valid and a fee for
  874  all signatures previously submitted to the supervisor of
  875  elections and any that are submitted thereafter shall be paid by
  876  the candidate, person, or organization that submitted the undue
  877  burden oath. If contributions as defined in s. 106.011 are
  878  received, any monetary contributions must first be used to
  879  reimburse the supervisor of elections for any signature
  880  verification fees that were not paid because of the filing of an
  881  undue burden oath.
  882         Section 20. Section 100.061, Florida Statutes, is amended
  883  to read:
  884         100.061 Primary election.—In each year in which a general
  885  election is held, a primary election for nomination of
  886  candidates of political parties shall be held on the Tuesday 12
  887  10 weeks prior to the general election. The candidate receiving
  888  the highest number of votes cast in each contest in the primary
  889  election shall be declared nominated for such office. If two or
  890  more candidates receive an equal and highest number of votes for
  891  the same office, such candidates shall draw lots to determine
  892  which candidate is nominated.
  893         Section 21. Section 100.101, Florida Statutes, is amended
  894  to read:
  895         100.101 Special elections and special primary elections.
  896  Except as provided in s. 100.111(2), A special election or
  897  special primary election shall be held in the following cases:
  898         (1) If no person has been elected at a general election to
  899  fill an office which was required to be filled by election at
  900  such general election.
  901         (2) If a vacancy occurs in the office of state senator or
  902  member of the state house of representatives.
  903         (3) If it is necessary to elect presidential electors, by
  904  reason of the offices of President and Vice President both
  905  having become vacant.
  906         (4) If a vacancy occurs in the office of member from
  907  Florida of the House of Representatives of Congress.
  908         Section 22. Section 100.111, Florida Statutes, is amended
  909  to read:
  910         100.111 Filling vacancy.—
  911         (1)(a) If any vacancy occurs in any office which is
  912  required to be filled pursuant to s. 1(f), Art. IV of the State
  913  Constitution and the remainder of the term of such office is 28
  914  months or longer, then at the next general election a person
  915  shall be elected to fill the unexpired portion of such term,
  916  commencing on the first Tuesday after the first Monday following
  917  such general election.
  918         (b) If such a vacancy occurs prior to the first day set by
  919  law for qualifying for election to office at such general
  920  election, any person seeking nomination or election to the
  921  unexpired portion of the term shall qualify within the time
  922  prescribed by law for qualifying for other offices to be filled
  923  by election at such general election.
  924         (c) If such a vacancy occurs prior to the primary election
  925  but on or after the first day set by law for qualifying, the
  926  Secretary of State shall set dates for qualifying for the
  927  unexpired portion of the term of such office. Any person seeking
  928  nomination or election to the unexpired portion of the term
  929  shall qualify within the time set by the Secretary of State. If
  930  time does not permit party nominations to be made in conjunction
  931  with the primary election, the Governor may call a special
  932  primary election to select party nominees for the unexpired
  933  portion of such term.
  934         (2)(a)If, in any state or county office required to be
  935  filled by election, a vacancy occurs during an election year by
  936  reason of the incumbent having qualified as a candidate for
  937  federal office pursuant to s. 99.061, no special election is
  938  required. Any person seeking nomination or election to the
  939  office so vacated shall qualify within the time prescribed by s.
  940  99.061 for qualifying for state or county offices to be filled
  941  by election.
  942         (b)If such a vacancy occurs in an election year other than
  943  the one immediately preceding expiration of the present term,
  944  the Secretary of State shall notify the supervisor of elections
  945  in each county served by the office that a vacancy has been
  946  created. Such notice shall be provided to the supervisor of
  947  elections not later than the close of the first day set for
  948  qualifying for state or county office. The supervisor shall
  949  provide public notice of the vacancy in any manner the Secretary
  950  of State deems appropriate.
  951         (2)(3) Whenever there is a vacancy for which a special
  952  election is required pursuant to s. 100.101, the Governor, after
  953  consultation with the Secretary of State, shall fix the dates of
  954  a special primary election and a special election. Nominees of
  955  political parties shall be chosen under the primary laws of this
  956  state in the special primary election to become candidates in
  957  the special election. Prior to setting the special election
  958  dates, the Governor shall consider any upcoming elections in the
  959  jurisdiction where the special election will be held. The dates
  960  fixed by the Governor shall be specific days certain and shall
  961  not be established by the happening of a condition or stated in
  962  the alternative. The dates fixed shall provide a minimum of 2
  963  weeks between each election. In the event a vacancy occurs in
  964  the office of state senator or member of the House of
  965  Representatives when the Legislature is in regular legislative
  966  session, the minimum times prescribed by this subsection may be
  967  waived upon concurrence of the Governor, the Speaker of the
  968  House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate. If a
  969  vacancy occurs in the office of state senator and no session of
  970  the Legislature is scheduled to be held prior to the next
  971  general election, the Governor may fix the dates for the special
  972  primary election and for the special election to coincide with
  973  the dates of the primary election and general election. If a
  974  vacancy in office occurs in any district in the state Senate or
  975  House of Representatives or in any congressional district, and
  976  no session of the Legislature, or session of Congress if the
  977  vacancy is in a congressional district, is scheduled to be held
  978  during the unexpired portion of the term, the Governor is not
  979  required to call a special election to fill such vacancy.
  980         (a) The dates for candidates to qualify in such special
  981  election or special primary election shall be fixed by the
  982  Department of State, and candidates shall qualify not later than
  983  noon of the last day so fixed. The dates fixed for qualifying
  984  shall allow a minimum of 14 days between the last day of
  985  qualifying and the special primary election.
  986         (b) The filing of campaign expense statements by candidates
  987  in such special elections or special primaries and by committees
  988  making contributions or expenditures to influence the results of
  989  such special primaries or special elections shall be not later
  990  than such dates as shall be fixed by the Department of State,
  991  and in fixing such dates the Department of State shall take into
  992  consideration and be governed by the practical time limitations.
  993         (c) The dates for a candidate to qualify by the petition
  994  process pursuant to s. 99.095 in such special primary or special
  995  election shall be fixed by the Department of State. In fixing
  996  such dates the Department of State shall take into consideration
  997  and be governed by the practical time limitations. Any candidate
  998  seeking to qualify by the petition process in a special primary
  999  election shall obtain 25 percent of the signatures required by
 1000  s. 99.095.
 1001         (d) The qualifying fees and party assessments of such
 1002  candidates as may qualify shall be the same as collected for the
 1003  same office at the last previous primary for that office. The
 1004  party assessment shall be paid to the appropriate executive
 1005  committee of the political party to which the candidate belongs.
 1006         (e) Each county canvassing board shall make as speedy a
 1007  return of the result of such special primary elections and
 1008  special elections as time will permit, and the Elections
 1009  Canvassing Commission likewise shall make as speedy a canvass
 1010  and declaration of the nominees as time will permit.
 1011         (3)(4)(a) In the event that death, resignation, withdrawal,
 1012  or removal, or any other cause or event should cause a party to
 1013  have a vacancy in nomination which leaves no candidate for an
 1014  office from such party, the filing officer before whom the
 1015  candidate qualified Department of State shall notify the chair
 1016  of the appropriate state and, district, or county political
 1017  party executive committee of such party; and:,
 1018         1.If the vacancy in nomination is for a statewide office,
 1019  the state party chair shall, within 5 days, the chair shall call
 1020  a meeting of his or her executive board committee to consider
 1021  designation of a nominee to fill the vacancy.
 1022         2. If the vacancy in nomination is for the office of United
 1023  States Representative, state senator, state representative,
 1024  state attorney, or public defender, the state party chair shall
 1025  notify the appropriate county chair or chairs and, within 5
 1026  days, the appropriate county chair or chairs shall call a
 1027  meeting of the members of the executive committee in the
 1028  affected county or counties to consider designation of a nominee
 1029  to fill the vacancy.
 1030         3.If the vacancy in nomination is for a county office, the
 1031  state party chair shall notify the appropriate county chair and,
 1032  within 5 days, the appropriate county chair shall call a meeting
 1033  of his or her executive committee to consider designation of a
 1034  nominee to fill the vacancy.
 1035  
 1036  The name of any person so designated shall be submitted to the
 1037  filing officer before whom the candidate qualified Department of
 1038  State within 7 days after notice to the chair in order that the
 1039  person designated may have his or her name on the ballot of the
 1040  ensuing general election. If the name of the new nominee is
 1041  submitted after the certification of results of the preceding
 1042  primary election, however, the ballots shall not be changed and
 1043  the former party nominee’s name will appear on the ballot. Any
 1044  ballots cast for the former party nominee will be counted for
 1045  the person designated by the political party to replace the
 1046  former party nominee. If there is no opposition to the party
 1047  nominee, the person designated by the political party to replace
 1048  the former party nominee will be elected to office at the
 1049  general election. For purposes of this paragraph, the term
 1050  “district political party executive committee” means the members
 1051  of the state executive committee of a political party from those
 1052  counties comprising the area involving a district office.
 1053         (b) When, under the circumstances set forth in the
 1054  preceding paragraph, vacancies in nomination are required to be
 1055  filled by committee nominations, such vacancies shall be filled
 1056  by party rule. In any instance in which a nominee is selected by
 1057  a committee to fill a vacancy in nomination, such nominee shall
 1058  pay the same filing fee and take the same oath as the nominee
 1059  would have taken had he or she regularly qualified for election
 1060  to such office.
 1061         (c) Any person who, at the close of qualifying as
 1062  prescribed in ss. 99.061 and 105.031, was qualified for
 1063  nomination or election to or retention in a public office to be
 1064  filled at the ensuing general election or who attempted to
 1065  qualify and failed to qualify is prohibited from qualifying as a
 1066  candidate to fill a vacancy in nomination for any other office
 1067  to be filled at that general election, even if such person has
 1068  withdrawn or been eliminated as a candidate for the original
 1069  office sought. However, this paragraph does not apply to a
 1070  candidate for the office of Lieutenant Governor who applies to
 1071  fill a vacancy in nomination for the office of Governor on the
 1072  same ticket or to a person who has withdrawn or been eliminated
 1073  as a candidate and who is subsequently designated as a candidate
 1074  for Lieutenant Governor under s. 99.063.
 1075         (4)A vacancy in nomination is not created if an order of a
 1076  court that has become final determines that a nominee did not
 1077  properly qualify or did not meet the necessary qualifications to
 1078  hold the office for which he or she sought to qualify.
 1079         (5) In the event of unforeseeable circumstances not
 1080  contemplated in these general election laws concerning the
 1081  calling and holding of special primary elections and special
 1082  elections resulting from court order or other unpredictable
 1083  circumstances, the Department of State shall have the authority
 1084  to provide for the conduct of orderly elections.
 1085         Section 23. Subsections (1), (3), (6), (7), and (8) of
 1086  section 100.371, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1087         100.371 Initiatives; procedure for placement on ballot.—
 1088         (1) Constitutional amendments proposed by initiative shall
 1089  be placed on the ballot for the general election, provided the
 1090  initiative petition has been filed with the Secretary of State
 1091  no later than February 1 of the year the general election is
 1092  held. A petition shall be deemed to be filed with the Secretary
 1093  of State upon the date the secretary determines that valid and
 1094  verified petition forms have been signed by the constitutionally
 1095  required number and distribution of electors under this code,
 1096  subject to the right of revocation established in this section.
 1097         (3) An initiative petition form circulated for signature
 1098  may not be bundled with or attached to any other petition. Each
 1099  signature shall be dated when made and shall be valid for a
 1100  period of 2 4 years following such date, provided all other
 1101  requirements of law are met. The sponsor shall submit signed and
 1102  dated forms to the appropriate supervisor of elections for the
 1103  county of residence listed by the person signing the form for
 1104  verification of as to the number of registered electors whose
 1105  valid signatures obtained appear thereon. If a signature on a
 1106  petition is from a registered voter in another county, the
 1107  supervisor shall notify the petition sponsor of the misfiled
 1108  petition. The supervisor shall promptly verify the signatures
 1109  within 30 days after of receipt of the petition forms and
 1110  payment of the fee required by s. 99.097. The supervisor shall
 1111  promptly record, in the manner prescribed by the Secretary of
 1112  State, the date each form is received by the supervisor, and the
 1113  date the signature on the form is verified as valid. The
 1114  supervisor may verify that the signature on a form is valid only
 1115  if:
 1116         (a) The form contains the original signature of the
 1117  purported elector.
 1118         (b) The purported elector has accurately recorded on the
 1119  form the date on which he or she signed the form.
 1120         (c) The form accurately sets forth the purported elector’s
 1121  name, street address, city, county, and voter registration
 1122  number or date of birth.
 1123         (d) The purported elector is, at the time he or she signs
 1124  the form and at the time the form is verified, a duly qualified
 1125  and registered elector authorized to vote in the state county in
 1126  which his or her signature is submitted.
 1127  
 1128  The supervisor shall retain the signature forms for at least 1
 1129  year following the election in which the issue appeared on the
 1130  ballot or until the Division of Elections notifies the
 1131  supervisors of elections that the committee that which
 1132  circulated the petition is no longer seeking to obtain ballot
 1133  position.
 1134         (6)(a) An elector’s signature on a petition form may be
 1135  revoked within 150 days of the date on which he or she signed
 1136  the petition form by submitting to the appropriate supervisor of
 1137  elections a signed petition-revocation form.
 1138         (b) The petition-revocation form and the manner in which
 1139  signatures are obtained, submitted, and verified shall be
 1140  subject to the same relevant requirements and timeframes as the
 1141  corresponding petition form and processes under this code and
 1142  shall be approved by the Secretary of State before any signature
 1143  on a petition-revocation form is obtained.
 1144         (c) In those circumstances in which a petition-revocation
 1145  form for a corresponding initiative petition has not been
 1146  submitted and approved, an elector may complete and submit a
 1147  standard petition-revocation form directly to the supervisor of
 1148  elections. All other requirements and processes apply for the
 1149  submission and verification of the signatures as for initiative
 1150  petitions.
 1151         (d) Supervisors of elections shall provide petition
 1152  revocation forms to the public at all main and branch offices.
 1153         (e) The petition-revocation form shall be filed with the
 1154  supervisor of elections by February 1 preceding the next general
 1155  election or, if the initiative amendment is not certified for
 1156  ballot position in that election, by February 1 preceding the
 1157  next successive general election. The supervisor of elections
 1158  shall promptly verify the signature on the petition-revocation
 1159  form and process such revocation upon payment, in advance, of a
 1160  fee of 10 cents or the actual cost of verifying such signature,
 1161  whichever is less. The supervisor shall promptly record each
 1162  valid and verified signature on a petition-revocation form in
 1163  the manner prescribed by the Secretary of State.
 1164         (f) The division shall adopt by rule the petition
 1165  revocation forms to be used under this subsection.
 1166         (6)(7) The Department of State may adopt rules in
 1167  accordance with s. 120.54 to carry out the provisions of
 1168  subsections (1)-(5) (1)-(6).
 1169         (7)(8) No provision of this code shall be deemed to
 1170  prohibit a private person exercising lawful control over
 1171  privately owned property, including property held open to the
 1172  public for the purposes of a commercial enterprise, from
 1173  excluding from such property persons seeking to engage in
 1174  activity supporting or opposing initiative amendments.
 1175         Section 24. Effective July 1, 2012, subsections (3) and (4)
 1176  of section 101.001, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1177         101.001 Precincts and polling places; boundaries.—
 1178         (3)(a) Each supervisor of elections shall maintain a
 1179  suitable map drawn to a scale no smaller than 3 miles to the
 1180  inch and clearly delineating all major observable features such
 1181  as roads, streams, and railway lines and showing the current
 1182  geographical boundaries of each precinct, representative
 1183  district, and senatorial district, and other type of district in
 1184  the county subject to the elections process in this code.
 1185         (b) The supervisor shall provide to the department data on
 1186  all precincts in the county associated with the most recent
 1187  decennial census blocks within each precinct.
 1188         (c) The department shall maintain a searchable database
 1189  that contains the precincts and the corresponding most recent
 1190  decennial census blocks within the precincts for each county,
 1191  including a historical file that allows the census blocks to be
 1192  traced through the prior decade.
 1193         (d)(b) The supervisor of elections shall notify the
 1194  Secretary of State in writing within 10 30 days after any
 1195  reorganization of precincts and shall furnish a copy of the map
 1196  showing the current geographical boundaries and designation of
 1197  each new precinct. However, if precincts are composed of whole
 1198  census blocks, the supervisor may furnish, in lieu of a copy of
 1199  the map, a list, in an electronic format prescribed by the
 1200  Department of State, associating each census block in the county
 1201  with its precinct.
 1202         (e)(c) Any precinct established or altered under the
 1203  provisions of this section shall consist of areas bounded on all
 1204  sides only by census block boundaries from the most recent
 1205  United States Census. If the census block boundaries split or
 1206  conflict with another political boundary listed below, the
 1207  boundary listed below may be used:
 1208         1. Census block boundaries from the most recent United
 1209  States Census;
 1210         1.2. Governmental unit boundaries reported in the most
 1211  recent Boundary and Annexation Survey published by the United
 1212  States Census Bureau;
 1213         2.3. Visible features that are readily distinguishable upon
 1214  the ground, such as streets, railroads, tracks, streams, and
 1215  lakes, and that are indicated upon current census maps, official
 1216  Department of Transportation maps, official municipal maps,
 1217  official county maps, or a combination of such maps;
 1218         3.4. Boundaries of public parks, public school grounds, or
 1219  churches; or
 1220         4.5. Boundaries of counties, incorporated municipalities,
 1221  or other political subdivisions that meet criteria established
 1222  by the United States Census Bureau for block boundaries.
 1223         (d) Until July 1, 2012, a supervisor may apply for and
 1224  obtain from the Secretary of State a waiver of the requirement
 1225  in paragraph (c).
 1226         (4)(a) Within 10 days after there is any change in the
 1227  division, number, or boundaries of the precincts, or the
 1228  location of the polling places, the supervisor of elections
 1229  shall make in writing an accurate description of any new or
 1230  altered precincts, setting forth the boundary lines and shall
 1231  identify the location of each new or altered polling place. A
 1232  copy of the document describing such changes shall be posted at
 1233  the supervisor’s office.
 1234         (b) Any changes in the county precinct data shall be
 1235  provided to the department within 10 days after a change.
 1236         (c) Precinct data shall include all precincts for which
 1237  precinct-level election results and voting history results are
 1238  reported.
 1239         Section 25. Section 101.043, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1240  to read:
 1241         101.043 Identification required at polls.—
 1242         (1)(a) The precinct register, as prescribed in s. 98.461,
 1243  shall be used at the polls for the purpose of identifying the
 1244  elector at the polls before prior to allowing him or her to
 1245  vote. The clerk or inspector shall require each elector, upon
 1246  entering the polling place, to present one of the following
 1247  current and valid picture identifications:
 1248         1.(a) Florida driver’s license.
 1249         2.(b) Florida identification card issued by the Department
 1250  of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
 1251         3.(c) United States passport.
 1252         4.(d) Debit or credit card.
 1253         5.(e) Military identification.
 1254         6.(f) Student identification.
 1255         7.(g) Retirement center identification.
 1256         8.(h) Neighborhood association identification.
 1257         9.(i) Public assistance identification.
 1258         (b) If the picture identification does not contain the
 1259  signature of the elector voter, an additional identification
 1260  that provides the elector’s voter’s signature shall be required.
 1261  The address appearing on the identification presented by the
 1262  elector may not be used as the basis to confirm an elector’s
 1263  legal residence or otherwise challenge an elector’s legal
 1264  residence. The elector shall sign his or her name in the space
 1265  provided on the precinct register or on an electronic device
 1266  provided for recording the elector’s voter’s signature. The
 1267  clerk or inspector shall compare the signature with that on the
 1268  identification provided by the elector and enter his or her
 1269  initials in the space provided on the precinct register or on an
 1270  electronic device provided for that purpose and allow the
 1271  elector to vote if the clerk or inspector is satisfied as to the
 1272  identity of the elector.
 1273         (c)Once a person has presented his or her picture
 1274  identification to the clerk or inspector, the person may not be
 1275  asked to provide additional information or recite his or her
 1276  home address.
 1277         (2) If the elector fails to furnish the required
 1278  identification, the elector shall be allowed to vote a
 1279  provisional ballot. The canvassing board shall determine the
 1280  validity of the ballot pursuant to s. 101.048(2).
 1281         Section 26. Section 101.045, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1282  to read:
 1283         101.045 Electors must be registered in precinct; provisions
 1284  for change of residence or name.—
 1285         (1) A No person is not shall be permitted to vote in any
 1286  election precinct or district other than the one in which the
 1287  person has his or her legal residence and in which the person is
 1288  registered. However, a person temporarily residing outside the
 1289  county shall be registered in the precinct in which the main
 1290  office of the supervisor, as designated by the supervisor, is
 1291  located when the person has no permanent address in the county
 1292  and it is the person’s intention to remain a resident of Florida
 1293  and of the county in which he or she is registered to vote. Such
 1294  persons who are registered in the precinct in which the main
 1295  office of the supervisor, as designated by the supervisor, is
 1296  located and who are residing outside the county with no
 1297  permanent address in the county shall not be registered electors
 1298  of a municipality and therefore shall not be permitted to vote
 1299  in any municipal election.
 1300         (2)(a) An elector who moves from the precinct in which the
 1301  elector is registered may be permitted to vote in the precinct
 1302  to which he or she has moved his or her legal residence, if the
 1303  change of residence is within the same county and the provided
 1304  such elector completes an affirmation in substantially the
 1305  following form:
 1306               Change of Legal Residence of Registered             
 1307                                Voter                              
 1308  Under penalties for false swearing, I, ...(Name of voter)...,
 1309  swear (or affirm) that the former address of my legal residence
 1310  was ...(Address of legal residence)... in the municipality of
 1311  ...., in .... County, Florida, and I was registered to vote in
 1312  the .... precinct of .... County, Florida; that I have not voted
 1313  in the precinct of my former registration in this election; that
 1314  I now reside at ...(Address of legal residence)... in the
 1315  Municipality of ...., in .... County, Florida, and am therefore
 1316  eligible to vote in the .... precinct of .... County, Florida;
 1317  and I further swear (or affirm) that I am otherwise legally
 1318  registered and entitled to vote.
 1319  ...(Signature of voter whose address of legal residence has
 1320  changed)...
 1321         (b) Except for an active uniformed services voter or a
 1322  member of his or her family, an elector whose change of address
 1323  is from outside the county may not change his or her legal
 1324  residence at the polling place and vote a regular ballot;
 1325  however, such elector is entitled to vote a provisional ballot.
 1326         (c)(b) An elector whose name changes because of marriage or
 1327  other legal process may be permitted to vote, provided such
 1328  elector completes an affirmation in substantially the following
 1329  form:
 1330                    Change of Name of Registered                   
 1331                                Voter                              
 1332  Under penalties for false swearing, I, ...(New name of
 1333  voter)..., swear (or affirm) that my name has been changed
 1334  because of marriage or other legal process. My former name and
 1335  address of legal residence appear on the registration records of
 1336  precinct .... as follows:
 1337  Name............................................................
 1338  Address.........................................................
 1339  Municipality....................................................
 1340  County..........................................................
 1341  Florida, Zip....................................................
 1342  My present name and address of legal residence are as follows:
 1343  Name............................................................
 1344  Address.........................................................
 1345  Municipality....................................................
 1346  County..........................................................
 1347  Florida, Zip....................................................
 1348  and I further swear (or affirm) that I am otherwise legally
 1349  registered and entitled to vote.
 1350  ...(Signature of voter whose name has changed)...
 1351         (d)(c) Instead of the affirmation contained in paragraph
 1352  (a) or paragraph (c) (b), an elector may complete a voter
 1353  registration application that indicates the change of name or
 1354  change of address of legal residence.
 1355         (e)(d) Such affirmation or application, when completed and
 1356  presented at the precinct in which such elector is entitled to
 1357  vote, and upon verification of the elector’s registration, shall
 1358  entitle such elector to vote as provided in this subsection. If
 1359  the elector’s eligibility to vote cannot be determined, he or
 1360  she shall be entitled to vote a provisional ballot, subject to
 1361  the requirements and procedures in s. 101.048. Upon receipt of
 1362  an affirmation or application certifying a change in address of
 1363  legal residence or name, the supervisor shall as soon as
 1364  practicable make the necessary changes in the statewide voter
 1365  registration system to indicate the change in address of legal
 1366  residence or name of such elector.
 1367         Section 27. Subsection (2) of section 101.131, Florida
 1368  Statutes, is amended, and subsections (4) and (5) are added to
 1369  that section, to read:
 1370         101.131 Watchers at polls.—
 1371         (2) Each party, each political committee, and each
 1372  candidate requesting to have poll watchers shall designate, in
 1373  writing to the supervisors of elections, on a form prescribed by
 1374  the division, before prior to noon of the second Tuesday
 1375  preceding the election poll watchers for each polling room on
 1376  election day. Designations of poll watchers for early voting
 1377  areas shall be submitted in writing to the supervisor of
 1378  elections, on a form prescribed by the division, before noon at
 1379  least 14 days before early voting begins. The poll watchers for
 1380  each polling rooms room shall be approved by the supervisor of
 1381  elections on or before the Tuesday before the election. Poll
 1382  watchers for early voting areas shall be approved by the
 1383  supervisor of elections no later than 7 days before early voting
 1384  begins. The supervisor shall furnish to each election board a
 1385  list of the poll watchers designated and approved for such
 1386  polling rooms room or early voting areas area. Designation of
 1387  poll watchers shall be made by the chair of the county executive
 1388  committee of a political party, the chair of a political
 1389  committee, or the candidate requesting to have poll watchers.
 1390         (4) All poll watchers shall be allowed to enter and watch
 1391  polls in all polling rooms and early voting areas within the
 1392  county in which they have been designated if the number of poll
 1393  watchers at any particular polling place does not exceed the
 1394  number provided in this section.
 1395         (5) The supervisor of elections shall provide to each
 1396  designated poll watcher, no later than 7 days before early
 1397  voting begins, a poll watcher identification badge that
 1398  identifies the poll watcher by name. Each poll watcher must wear
 1399  his or her identification badge while in the polling room or
 1400  early voting area.
 1401         Section 28. Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section
 1402  101.151, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1403         101.151 Specifications for ballots.—
 1404         (1)(a) Marksense ballots shall be printed on paper of such
 1405  thickness that the printing cannot be distinguished from the
 1406  back and shall meet the specifications of the voting system that
 1407  will be used to tabulate the ballots.
 1408         (b) Early voting sites may employ a ballot-on-demand
 1409  production system to print individual marksense ballots,
 1410  including provisional ballots, for eligible electors pursuant to
 1411  s. 101.657. Ballot-on-demand technology may be used to produce
 1412  marksense absentee and election-day ballots. Not later than 30
 1413  days before an election, the Secretary of State may also
 1414  authorize in writing the use of ballot-on-demand technology for
 1415  the production of election-day ballots.
 1416         (2)(a) The ballot shall have the following office titles
 1417  headings under which shall appear the names of the offices and
 1418  the names of the candidates for the respective offices in the
 1419  following order:
 1420         1. The office titles of heading “President and Vice
 1421  President and thereunder the names of the candidates for
 1422  President and Vice President of the United States nominated by
 1423  the political party that received the highest vote for Governor
 1424  in the last general election of the Governor in this state. Then
 1425  shall appear the names of other candidates for President and
 1426  Vice President of the United States who have been properly
 1427  nominated.
 1428         2. The office titles Then shall follow the heading
 1429  “Congressional” and thereunder the offices of United States
 1430  Senator and Representative in Congress.;
 1431         3. The office titles then the heading “State” and
 1432  thereunder the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor;,
 1433  Attorney General;, Chief Financial Officer;, Commissioner of
 1434  Agriculture;, State Attorney, with the applicable judicial
 1435  circuit; and Public Defender, with the applicable judicial
 1436  circuit.
 1437         4.together with the names of the candidates for each
 1438  office and the title of the office which they seek; then the
 1439  heading “Legislative” and thereunder The office titles offices
 1440  of State Senator and State Representative, with the applicable
 1441  district for the office printed beneath.; then the heading
 1442  “County” and thereunder
 1443         5.The office titles of Clerk of the Circuit Court, or
 1444  Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller (whichever is
 1445  applicable and when authorized by law), Clerk of the County
 1446  Court (when authorized by law), Sheriff, Property Appraiser, Tax
 1447  Collector, District Superintendent of Schools, and Supervisor of
 1448  Elections.
 1449         6. The office titles Thereafter follows: members of the
 1450  Board of County Commissioners, with the applicable district
 1451  printed beneath each office, and such other county and district
 1452  offices as are involved in the election, in the order fixed by
 1453  the Department of State, followed, in the year of their
 1454  election, by “Party Offices,” and thereunder the offices of
 1455  state and county party executive committee members.
 1456         (b) In a general election, in addition to the names printed
 1457  on the ballot, a blank space shall be provided under each
 1458  heading for an office for which a write-in candidate has
 1459  qualified. With respect to write-in candidates, if two or more
 1460  candidates are seeking election to one office, only one blank
 1461  space shall be provided.
 1462         (c)(b) When more than one candidate is nominated for
 1463  office, the candidates for such office shall qualify and run in
 1464  a group or district, and the group or district number shall be
 1465  printed beneath the name of the office. Each nominee of a
 1466  political party chosen in a primary shall appear on the general
 1467  election ballot in the same numbered group or district as on the
 1468  primary election ballot.
 1469         (d)(c) If in any election all the offices as set forth in
 1470  paragraph (a) are not involved, those offices not to be filled
 1471  shall be omitted and the remaining offices shall be arranged on
 1472  the ballot in the order named.
 1473         (3)(a) The names of the candidates of the party that
 1474  received the highest number of votes for Governor in the last
 1475  election in which a Governor was elected shall be placed first
 1476  under the heading for each office on the general election
 1477  ballot, together with an appropriate abbreviation of the party
 1478  name; the names of the candidates of the party that received the
 1479  second highest vote for Governor shall be placed second under
 1480  the heading for each office, together with an appropriate
 1481  abbreviation of the party name.
 1482         (b) Minor political party candidates and candidates with no
 1483  party affiliation shall have their names appear on the general
 1484  election ballot following the names of recognized political
 1485  parties, in the same order as they were qualified, certified
 1486  followed by the names of candidates with no party affiliation,
 1487  in the order as they were qualified.
 1488         Section 29. Subsection (2) of section 101.161, Florida
 1489  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1490         101.161 Referenda; ballots.—
 1491         (2)(a) The substance and ballot title of a constitutional
 1492  amendment proposed by initiative shall be prepared by the
 1493  sponsor and approved by the Secretary of State in accordance
 1494  with rules adopted pursuant to s. 120.54. The Department of
 1495  State shall give each proposed constitutional amendment a
 1496  designating number for convenient reference. This number
 1497  designation shall appear on the ballot. Designating numbers
 1498  shall be assigned in the order of filing or certification and in
 1499  accordance with rules adopted by the Department of State. The
 1500  Department of State shall furnish the designating number, the
 1501  ballot title, and the substance of each amendment to the
 1502  supervisor of elections of each county in which such amendment
 1503  is to be voted on.
 1504         (b) Any action for a judicial determination that the ballot
 1505  title or substance embodied in a joint resolution is inaccurate,
 1506  misleading, or otherwise defective must be commenced within 30
 1507  days after the joint resolution is filed with the Secretary of
 1508  State or at least 150 days before the election at which the
 1509  amendment will appear on the ballot, whichever occurs later. The
 1510  court, including any appellate court, shall accord the case
 1511  priority over other pending cases and render a decision as
 1512  expeditiously as possible. If the court determines that the
 1513  ballot title or substance embodied in the joint resolution is
 1514  defective and further appeals are declined, abandoned, or
 1515  exhausted, the Attorney General shall promptly prepare a revised
 1516  ballot title and substance that correct the deficiencies
 1517  identified by the court, and the Department of State shall
 1518  furnish a designating number and the revised ballot title and
 1519  substance to the supervisors of elections for placement on the
 1520  ballot. A defect in the ballot title or substance embodied in
 1521  the joint resolution is not grounds to remove the proposed
 1522  amendment from the ballot.
 1523         Section 30. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
 1524  101.5605, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1525         101.5605 Examination and approval of equipment.—
 1526         (2)(a) Any person owning or interested in an electronic or
 1527  electromechanical voting system may submit it to the Department
 1528  of State for examination. The vote counting segment shall be
 1529  certified after a satisfactory evaluation testing has been
 1530  performed according to the standards adopted under s. 101.015(1)
 1531  electronic industry standards. This testing shall include, but
 1532  is not limited to, testing of all software required for the
 1533  voting system’s operation; the ballot reader; the rote
 1534  processor, especially in its logic and memory components; the
 1535  digital printer; the fail-safe operations; the counting center
 1536  environmental requirements; and the equipment reliability
 1537  estimate. For the purpose of assisting in examining the system,
 1538  the department shall employ or contract for services of at least
 1539  one individual who is expert in one or more fields of data
 1540  processing, mechanical engineering, and public administration
 1541  and shall require from the individual a written report of his or
 1542  her examination.
 1543         Section 31. Subsection (11) of section 101.5606, Florida
 1544  Statutes, is amended to read
 1545         101.5606 Requirements for approval of systems.—No
 1546  electronic or electromechanical voting system shall be approved
 1547  by the Department of State unless it is so constructed that:
 1548         (11) It is capable of automatically producing precinct
 1549  totals in printed, marked, or punched form, or a combination
 1550  thereof.
 1551         Section 32. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
 1552  101.5612, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1553         101.5612 Testing of tabulating equipment.—
 1554         (4)(a)1. For electronic or electromechanical voting systems
 1555  configured to include electronic or electromechanical tabulation
 1556  devices which are distributed to the precincts, all or a sample
 1557  of the devices to be used in the election shall be publicly
 1558  tested. If a sample is to be tested, the sample shall consist of
 1559  a random selection of at least 5 percent or 10 of the devices
 1560  for an optical scan system or 2 percent of the devices for a
 1561  touchscreen system or 10 of the devices for either system, as
 1562  applicable, whichever is greater. For touchscreen systems used
 1563  for voters having a disability, a sample of at least 2 percent
 1564  of the devices must be tested. The test shall be conducted by
 1565  processing a group of ballots, causing the device to output
 1566  results for the ballots processed, and comparing the output of
 1567  results to the results expected for the ballots processed. The
 1568  group of ballots shall be produced so as to record a
 1569  predetermined number of valid votes for each candidate and on
 1570  each measure and to include for each office one or more ballots
 1571  which have activated voting positions in excess of the number
 1572  allowed by law in order to test the ability of the tabulating
 1573  device to reject such votes.
 1574         2. If any tested tabulating device is found to have an
 1575  error in tabulation, it shall be deemed unsatisfactory. For each
 1576  device deemed unsatisfactory, the canvassing board shall take
 1577  steps to determine the cause of the error, shall attempt to
 1578  identify and test other devices that could reasonably be
 1579  expected to have the same error, and shall test a number of
 1580  additional devices sufficient to determine that all devices are
 1581  satisfactory. Upon deeming any device unsatisfactory, the
 1582  canvassing board may require all devices to be tested or may
 1583  declare that all devices are unsatisfactory.
 1584         3. If the operation or output of any tested tabulation
 1585  device, such as spelling or the order of candidates on a report,
 1586  is in error, such problem shall be reported to the canvassing
 1587  board. The canvassing board shall then determine if the reported
 1588  problem warrants its deeming the device unsatisfactory.
 1589         Section 33. Subsection (4) of section 101.5614, Florida
 1590  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1591         101.5614 Canvass of returns.—
 1592         (4) If ballot cards are used, and separate write-in ballots
 1593  or envelopes for casting write-in votes are used, write-in
 1594  ballots or the envelopes on which write-in ballots have been
 1595  cast shall be serially numbered, starting with the number one,
 1596  and the same number shall be placed on the ballot card of the
 1597  voter. This process may be completed at either the precinct by
 1598  the election board or at the central counting location. For each
 1599  ballot or ballot image and ballot envelope on which write-in
 1600  votes have been cast, the canvassing board shall compare the
 1601  write-in votes with the votes cast on the ballot card; if the
 1602  total number of votes for any office exceeds the number allowed
 1603  by law, a notation to that effect, specifying the office
 1604  involved, shall be entered on the back of the ballot card or in
 1605  a margin if voting areas are printed on both sides of the ballot
 1606  card. such votes shall not be counted. All valid votes shall be
 1607  tallied by the canvassing board.
 1608         Section 34. Subsection (6) is added to section 101.591,
 1609  Florida Statutes, to read:
 1610         101.591 Voting system audit.—
 1611         (6) If a manual recount is undertaken pursuant to s.
 1612  102.166, the canvassing board is not required to perform the
 1613  audit provided for in this section.
 1614         Section 35. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) and
 1615  subsections (3) and (4) of section 101.62, Florida Statutes, are
 1616  amended to read:
 1617         101.62 Request for absentee ballots.—
 1618         (1)(a) The supervisor shall accept a request for an
 1619  absentee ballot from an elector in person or in writing. One
 1620  request shall be deemed sufficient to receive an absentee ballot
 1621  for all elections through the end of the calendar year of the
 1622  second ensuing next regularly scheduled general election, unless
 1623  the elector or the elector’s designee indicates at the time the
 1624  request is made the elections for which the elector desires to
 1625  receive an absentee ballot. Such request may be considered
 1626  canceled when any first-class mail sent by the supervisor to the
 1627  elector is returned as undeliverable.
 1628         (b) The supervisor may accept a written or telephonic
 1629  request for an absentee ballot from the elector, or, if directly
 1630  instructed by the elector, a member of the elector’s immediate
 1631  family, or the elector’s legal guardian. For purposes of this
 1632  section, the term “immediate family” has the same meaning as
 1633  specified in paragraph (4)(c) (4)(b). The person making the
 1634  request must disclose:
 1635         1. The name of the elector for whom the ballot is
 1636  requested.
 1637         2. The elector’s address.
 1638         3. The elector’s date of birth.
 1639         4. The requester’s name.
 1640         5. The requester’s address.
 1641         6. The requester’s driver’s license number, if available.
 1642         7. The requester’s relationship to the elector.
 1643         8. The requester’s signature (written requests only).
 1644         (3) For each request for an absentee ballot received, the
 1645  supervisor shall record the date the request was made, the date
 1646  the absentee ballot was delivered to the voter or the voter’s
 1647  designee or the date the absentee ballot was delivered to the
 1648  post office or other carrier, the date the ballot was received
 1649  by the supervisor, and such other information he or she may deem
 1650  necessary. This information shall be provided in electronic
 1651  format as provided by rule adopted by the division. The
 1652  information shall be updated and made available no later than 8
 1653  a.m. noon of each day, including weekends, beginning 60 days
 1654  before the primary until 15 days after the general election and
 1655  shall be contemporaneously provided to the division. This
 1656  information shall be confidential and exempt from the provisions
 1657  of s. 119.07(1) and shall be made available to or reproduced
 1658  only for the voter requesting the ballot, a canvassing board, an
 1659  election official, a political party or official thereof, a
 1660  candidate who has filed qualification papers and is opposed in
 1661  an upcoming election, and registered political committees or
 1662  registered committees of continuous existence, for political
 1663  purposes only.
 1664         (4)(a) No later than 45 days before each presidential
 1665  preference primary election, primary election, and general
 1666  election, the supervisor of elections shall send an absentee
 1667  ballot as provided in subparagraph (c)2. (b)2. to each absent
 1668  uniformed services voter and to each overseas voter who has
 1669  requested an absentee ballot.
 1670         (b) The supervisor of elections shall mail an absentee
 1671  ballot to each absent qualified voter, other than those listed
 1672  in paragraph (a), who has requested such a ballot, between the
 1673  35th and 28th days before the presidential preference primary
 1674  election, primary election, and general election. Except as
 1675  otherwise provided in subsection (2) and after the period
 1676  described in this paragraph, the supervisor shall mail absentee
 1677  ballots within 2 business days after receiving a request for
 1678  such a ballot.
 1679         (c)(b) The supervisor shall provide an absentee ballot to
 1680  each elector by whom a request for that ballot has been made by
 1681  one of the following means:
 1682         1. By nonforwardable, return-if-undeliverable mail to the
 1683  elector’s current mailing address on file with the supervisor
 1684  or, unless the elector specifies in the request that:
 1685         a. The elector is absent from the county and does not plan
 1686  to return before the day of the election;
 1687         b. The elector is temporarily unable to occupy the
 1688  residence because of hurricane, tornado, flood, fire, or other
 1689  emergency or natural disaster; or
 1690         c. The elector is in a hospital, assisted living facility,
 1691  nursing home, short-term medical or rehabilitation facility, or
 1692  correctional facility,
 1693  
 1694  in which case the supervisor shall mail the ballot by
 1695  nonforwardable, return-if-undeliverable mail to any other
 1696  address the elector specifies in the request.
 1697         2. By forwardable mail, e-mail, or facsimile machine
 1698  transmission to absent uniformed services voters and overseas
 1699  voters. The absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter
 1700  may designate in the absentee ballot request the preferred
 1701  method of transmission. If the voter does not designate the
 1702  method of transmission, the absentee ballot shall be mailed.
 1703         3. By personal delivery before 7 p.m. on election day to
 1704  the elector, upon presentation of the identification required in
 1705  s. 101.043.
 1706         4. By delivery to a designee on election day or up to 5
 1707  days prior to the day of an election. Any elector may designate
 1708  in writing a person to pick up the ballot for the elector;
 1709  however, the person designated may not pick up more than two
 1710  absentee ballots per election, other than the designee’s own
 1711  ballot, except that additional ballots may be picked up for
 1712  members of the designee’s immediate family. For purposes of this
 1713  section, “immediate family” means the designee’s spouse or the
 1714  parent, child, grandparent, or sibling of the designee or of the
 1715  designee’s spouse. The designee shall provide to the supervisor
 1716  the written authorization by the elector and a picture
 1717  identification of the designee and must complete an affidavit.
 1718  The designee shall state in the affidavit that the designee is
 1719  authorized by the elector to pick up that ballot and shall
 1720  indicate if the elector is a member of the designee’s immediate
 1721  family and, if so, the relationship. The department shall
 1722  prescribe the form of the affidavit. If the supervisor is
 1723  satisfied that the designee is authorized to pick up the ballot
 1724  and that the signature of the elector on the written
 1725  authorization matches the signature of the elector on file, the
 1726  supervisor shall give the ballot to that designee for delivery
 1727  to the elector.
 1728         Section 36. Section 101.65, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 1729  read:
 1730         101.65 Instructions to absent electors.—The supervisor
 1731  shall enclose with each absentee ballot separate printed
 1732  instructions in substantially the following form:
 1733  
 1734         READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE MARKING BALLOT.
 1735         1. VERY IMPORTANT. In order to ensure that your absentee
 1736  ballot will be counted, it should be completed and returned as
 1737  soon as possible so that it can reach the supervisor of
 1738  elections of the county in which your precinct is located no
 1739  later than 7 p.m. on the day of the election.
 1740         2. Mark your ballot in secret as instructed on the ballot.
 1741  You must mark your own ballot unless you are unable to do so
 1742  because of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write.
 1743         3. Mark only the number of candidates or issue choices for
 1744  a race as indicated on the ballot. If you are allowed to “Vote
 1745  for One” candidate and you vote for more than one candidate,
 1746  your vote in that race will not be counted.
 1747         4. Place your marked ballot in the enclosed secrecy
 1748  envelope.
 1749         5. Insert the secrecy envelope into the enclosed mailing
 1750  envelope which is addressed to the supervisor.
 1751         6. Seal the mailing envelope and completely fill out the
 1752  Voter’s Certificate on the back of the mailing envelope.
 1753         7. VERY IMPORTANT. In order for your absentee ballot to be
 1754  counted, you must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s
 1755  Signature). An absentee ballot will be considered illegal and
 1756  not be counted if the signature on the voter’s certificate does
 1757  not match the signature on record. The signature on file at the
 1758  start of the canvass of the absentee ballots is the signature
 1759  that will be used to verify your signature on the voter’s
 1760  certificate. If you need to update your signature for this
 1761  election, send your signature update on a voter registration
 1762  application to your supervisor of elections so that it is
 1763  received no later than the start of the canvassing of absentee
 1764  ballots, which occurs no earlier than the 15th day before
 1765  election day.
 1766         8. VERY IMPORTANT. If you are an overseas voter, you must
 1767  include the date you signed the Voter’s Certificate on the line
 1768  above (Date) or your ballot may not be counted.
 1769         9. Mail, deliver, or have delivered the completed mailing
 1770  envelope. Be sure there is sufficient postage if mailed.
 1771         10. FELONY NOTICE. It is a felony under Florida law to
 1772  accept any gift, payment, or gratuity in exchange for your vote
 1773  for a candidate. It is also a felony under Florida law to vote
 1774  in an election using a false identity or false address, or under
 1775  any other circumstances making your ballot false or fraudulent.
 1776         Section 37. Subsection (1) of section 101.657, Florida
 1777  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1778         101.657 Early voting.—
 1779         (1)(a) As a convenience to the voter, the supervisor of
 1780  elections shall allow an elector to vote early in the main or
 1781  branch office of the supervisor. The supervisor shall mark,
 1782  code, indicate on, or otherwise track the voter’s precinct for
 1783  each early voted ballot. In order for a branch office to be used
 1784  for early voting, it shall be a permanent facility of the
 1785  supervisor and shall have been designated and used as such for
 1786  at least 1 year prior to the election. The supervisor may also
 1787  designate any city hall or permanent public library facility as
 1788  early voting sites; however, if so designated, the sites must be
 1789  geographically located so as to provide all voters in the county
 1790  an equal opportunity to cast a ballot, insofar as is
 1791  practicable. The results or tabulation of votes cast during
 1792  early voting may not be made before the close of the polls on
 1793  election day. Results shall be reported by precinct.
 1794         (b) The supervisor shall designate each early voting site
 1795  by no later than the 30th day prior to an election and shall
 1796  designate an early voting area, as defined in s. 97.021, at each
 1797  early voting site.
 1798         (c) All early voting sites in a county shall be open on the
 1799  same days for the same amount of time and shall allow any person
 1800  in line at the closing of an early voting site to vote.
 1801         (d) Early voting shall begin on the 7th 15th day before an
 1802  election which contains state or federal races and end on the
 1803  2nd day before the an election and. For purposes of a special
 1804  election held pursuant to s. 100.101, early voting shall begin
 1805  on the 8th day before an election and end on the 2nd day before
 1806  an election. Early voting shall be provided for 8 hours per
 1807  weekday and 8 hours in the aggregate each weekend at each site
 1808  during the applicable periods. The supervisor of elections may
 1809  provide early voting for elections that are not held in
 1810  conjunction with a state or federal election. However, the
 1811  supervisor has the discretion to determine the hours of
 1812  operation of early voting sites in those elections. Early voting
 1813  sites shall open no sooner than 7 a.m. and close no later than 7
 1814  p.m. on each applicable day.
 1815         (e) Notwithstanding the requirements of s. 100.3605,
 1816  municipalities may provide early voting in municipal elections
 1817  that are not held in conjunction with county or state elections.
 1818  If a municipality provides early voting, it may designate as
 1819  many sites as necessary and shall conduct its activities in
 1820  accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (a)-(c). The
 1821  supervisor is not required to conduct early voting if it is
 1822  provided pursuant to this subsection.
 1823         (f) Notwithstanding the requirements of s. 189.405, special
 1824  districts may provide early voting in any district election not
 1825  held in conjunction with county or state elections. If a special
 1826  district provides early voting, it may designate as many sites
 1827  as necessary and shall conduct its activities in accordance with
 1828  the provisions of paragraphs (a)-(c). The supervisor is not
 1829  required to conduct early voting if it is provided pursuant to
 1830  this subsection.
 1831         Section 38. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
 1832  101.68, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1833         101.68 Canvassing of absentee ballot.—
 1834         (2)(a) The county canvassing board may begin the canvassing
 1835  of absentee ballots at 7 a.m. on the 15th sixth day before the
 1836  election, but not later than noon on the day following the
 1837  election. In addition, for any county using electronic
 1838  tabulating equipment, the processing of absentee ballots through
 1839  such tabulating equipment may begin at 7 a.m. on the 15th sixth
 1840  day before the election. However, notwithstanding any such
 1841  authorization to begin canvassing or otherwise processing
 1842  absentee ballots early, no result shall be released until after
 1843  the closing of the polls in that county on election day. Any
 1844  supervisor of elections, deputy supervisor of elections,
 1845  canvassing board member, election board member, or election
 1846  employee who releases the results of a canvassing or processing
 1847  of absentee ballots prior to the closing of the polls in that
 1848  county on election day commits a felony of the third degree,
 1849  punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
 1850         Section 39. Subsection (2) of section 101.6923, Florida
 1851  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1852         101.6923 Special absentee ballot instructions for certain
 1853  first-time voters.—
 1854         (2) A voter covered by this section shall be provided with
 1855  printed instructions with his or her absentee ballot in
 1856  substantially the following form:
 1857  
 1858  READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE MARKING YOUR BALLOT.
 1859  FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE YOUR BALLOT NOT
 1860  TO COUNT.
 1861  
 1862         1. In order to ensure that your absentee ballot will be
 1863  counted, it should be completed and returned as soon as possible
 1864  so that it can reach the supervisor of elections of the county
 1865  in which your precinct is located no later than 7 p.m. on the
 1866  date of the election.
 1867         2. Mark your ballot in secret as instructed on the ballot.
 1868  You must mark your own ballot unless you are unable to do so
 1869  because of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write.
 1870         3. Mark only the number of candidates or issue choices for
 1871  a race as indicated on the ballot. If you are allowed to “Vote
 1872  for One” candidate and you vote for more than one, your vote in
 1873  that race will not be counted.
 1874         4. Place your marked ballot in the enclosed secrecy
 1875  envelope and seal the envelope.
 1876         5. Insert the secrecy envelope into the enclosed envelope
 1877  bearing the Voter’s Certificate. Seal the envelope and
 1878  completely fill out the Voter’s Certificate on the back of the
 1879  envelope.
 1880         a. You must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s
 1881  Signature).
 1882         b. If you are an overseas voter, you must include the date
 1883  you signed the Voter’s Certificate on the line above (Date) or
 1884  your ballot may not be counted.
 1885         c. An absentee ballot will be considered illegal and will
 1886  not be counted if the signature on the Voter’s Certificate does
 1887  not match the signature on record. The signature on file at the
 1888  start of the canvass of the absentee ballots is the signature
 1889  that will be used to verify your signature on the Voter’s
 1890  Certificate. If you need to update your signature for this
 1891  election, send your signature update on a voter registration
 1892  application to your supervisor of elections so that it is
 1893  received no later than the start of canvassing of absentee
 1894  ballots, which occurs no earlier than the 15th day before
 1895  election day.
 1896         6. Unless you meet one of the exemptions in Item 7., you
 1897  must make a copy of one of the following forms of
 1898  identification:
 1899         a. Identification which must include your name and
 1900  photograph: United States passport; debit or credit card;
 1901  military identification; student identification; retirement
 1902  center identification; neighborhood association identification;
 1903  or public assistance identification; or
 1904         b. Identification which shows your name and current
 1905  residence address: current utility bill, bank statement,
 1906  government check, paycheck, or government document (excluding
 1907  voter identification card).
 1908         7. The identification requirements of Item 6. do not apply
 1909  if you meet one of the following requirements:
 1910         a. You are 65 years of age or older.
 1911         b. You have a temporary or permanent physical disability.
 1912         c. You are a member of a uniformed service on active duty
 1913  who, by reason of such active duty, will be absent from the
 1914  county on election day.
 1915         d. You are a member of the Merchant Marine who, by reason
 1916  of service in the Merchant Marine, will be absent from the
 1917  county on election day.
 1918         e. You are the spouse or dependent of a member referred to
 1919  in paragraph c. or paragraph d. who, by reason of the active
 1920  duty or service of the member, will be absent from the county on
 1921  election day.
 1922         f. You are currently residing outside the United States.
 1923         8. Place the envelope bearing the Voter’s Certificate into
 1924  the mailing envelope addressed to the supervisor. Insert a copy
 1925  of your identification in the mailing envelope. DO NOT PUT YOUR
 1926  IDENTIFICATION INSIDE THE SECRECY ENVELOPE WITH THE BALLOT OR
 1927  INSIDE THE ENVELOPE WHICH BEARS THE VOTER’S CERTIFICATE OR YOUR
 1928  BALLOT WILL NOT COUNT.
 1929         9. Mail, deliver, or have delivered the completed mailing
 1930  envelope. Be sure there is sufficient postage if mailed.
 1931         10. FELONY NOTICE. It is a felony under Florida law to
 1932  accept any gift, payment, or gratuity in exchange for your vote
 1933  for a candidate. It is also a felony under Florida law to vote
 1934  in an election using a false identity or false address, or under
 1935  any other circumstances making your ballot false or fraudulent.
 1936         Section 40. Subsection (3) of section 101.75, Florida
 1937  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1938         101.75 Municipal elections; change of dates for cause.—
 1939         (3) Notwithstanding any provision of local law or municipal
 1940  charter, the governing body of a municipality may, by ordinance,
 1941  move the date of any municipal election to a date concurrent
 1942  with any statewide or countywide election. The dates for
 1943  qualifying for the election moved by the passage of such
 1944  ordinance shall be specifically provided for in the ordinance
 1945  and shall run for no less than 14 days. The term of office for
 1946  any elected municipal official shall commence as provided by the
 1947  relevant municipal charter or ordinance.
 1948         Section 41. Subsection (4) of section 102.141, Florida
 1949  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1950         102.141 County canvassing board; duties.—
 1951         (4) The canvassing board shall report all early voting and
 1952  all tabulated absentee results to the Department of State within
 1953  30 minutes after the polls close. Thereafter, the canvassing
 1954  board shall report, with the exception of provisional ballot
 1955  results, updated precinct election results to the department at
 1956  least every 45 minutes until all results are completely
 1957  reported. The supervisor of elections shall notify the
 1958  department immediately of any circumstances that do not permit
 1959  periodic updates as required. Results shall be submitted in a
 1960  format prescribed by the department submit by 11:59 p.m. on
 1961  election night the preliminary returns it has received to the
 1962  Department of State in a format provided by the department.
 1963         Section 42. Subsection (4) of section 102.168, Florida
 1964  Statutes, is amended, and subsection (8) is added to that
 1965  section, to read:
 1966         102.168 Contest of election.—
 1967         (4) The county canvassing board responsible for canvassing
 1968  the election is an indispensable and proper party defendant in
 1969  county and local elections.; The Elections Canvassing Commission
 1970  is an indispensable and proper party defendant in federal,
 1971  state, and multicounty elections and in elections for justice of
 1972  the Supreme Court, judge of a district court of appeal, and
 1973  judge of a circuit court. races; and The successful candidate is
 1974  an indispensable party to any action brought to contest the
 1975  election or nomination of a candidate.
 1976         (8) In any contest that requires a review of the canvassing
 1977  board’s decision on the legality of an absentee ballot pursuant
 1978  to s. 101.68 based upon a comparison of the signature on the
 1979  voter’s certificate and the signature of the elector in the
 1980  registration records, the circuit court may not review or
 1981  consider any evidence other than the signatures on the voter’s
 1982  certificate and the signature of the elector in the registration
 1983  records. The court’s review of such issue shall be to determine
 1984  only if the canvassing board abused its discretion in making its
 1985  decision.
 1986         Section 43. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
 1987  103.021, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1988         103.021 Nomination for presidential electors.—Candidates
 1989  for presidential electors shall be nominated in the following
 1990  manner:
 1991         (4)(a) A minor political party that is affiliated with a
 1992  national party holding a national convention to nominate
 1993  candidates for President and Vice President of the United States
 1994  may have the names of its candidates for President and Vice
 1995  President of the United States printed on the general election
 1996  ballot by filing with the Department of State a certificate
 1997  naming the candidates for President and Vice President and
 1998  listing the required number of persons to serve as electors.
 1999  Notification to the Department of State under this subsection
 2000  shall be made by September 1 of the year in which the election
 2001  is held. When the Department of State has been so notified, it
 2002  shall order the names of the candidates nominated by the minor
 2003  political party to be included on the ballot and shall permit
 2004  the required number of persons to be certified as electors in
 2005  the same manner as other party candidates. As used in this
 2006  section, the term “national party” means a political party that
 2007  is registered with and recognized as a qualified national
 2008  committee of a political party by the Federal Election
 2009  Commission established and admitted to the ballot in at least
 2010  one state other than Florida.
 2011         Section 44. Section 103.095, Florida Statutes, is created
 2012  to read:
 2013         103.095 Minor political parties.—
 2014         (1) Any group of citizens organized for the general
 2015  purposes of electing to office qualified persons and determining
 2016  public issues under the democratic processes of the United
 2017  States may become a minor political party of this state by
 2018  filing with the department a certificate showing the name of the
 2019  organization, the names and addresses of its current officers,
 2020  including the members of its executive committee, accompanied by
 2021  a completed uniform statewide voter registration application as
 2022  specified in s. 97.052 for each of its current officers and
 2023  members of its executive committee which reflect their
 2024  affiliation with the proposed minor political party, and a copy
 2025  of its constitution, bylaws, and rules and regulations.
 2026         (2) Each elector registered to vote in the minor political
 2027  party in which he or she has so designated has a fundamental
 2028  right to fully and meaningfully participate in the business and
 2029  affairs of the minor political party without any monetary
 2030  encumbrance. The constitution, bylaws, rules, regulations, or
 2031  other equivalent documents must reflect this fundamental right
 2032  and must provide for and contain reasonable provisions that, at
 2033  a minimum, prescribe procedures to: prescribe its membership;
 2034  conduct its meetings according to generally accepted
 2035  parliamentary practices; timely notify its members as to the
 2036  time, date, and place of all of its meetings; timely publish
 2037  notice on its public and functioning website as to the time,
 2038  date, and place of all of its meetings; elect its officers;
 2039  remove its officers; make party nominations when required by
 2040  law; conduct campaigns for party nominees; raise and expend
 2041  party funds; select delegates to its national convention, if
 2042  applicable; select presidential electors, if applicable; and
 2043  alter or amend all of its governing documents.
 2044         (3) The members of the executive committee must elect a
 2045  chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer, all of whom shall
 2046  be members of the minor political party and no member may hold
 2047  more than one office, except that one person may hold the
 2048  offices of secretary and treasurer.
 2049         (4) Upon approval of the minor political party’s filing,
 2050  the department shall process the voter registration applications
 2051  submitted by the minor political party’s officers and members of
 2052  its executive committee. It shall be the duty of the minor
 2053  political party to notify the department of any changes in the
 2054  filing certificate within 5 days after such changes.
 2055         (5) The Division of Elections shall adopt rules to
 2056  prescribe the manner in which political parties, including minor
 2057  political parties, may have their filings with the Department of
 2058  State canceled. Such rules shall, at a minimum, provide for:
 2059         (a) Notice, which must contain the facts and conduct that
 2060  warrant the intended action, including, but not limited to, the
 2061  failure to have any voters registered in the party, the failure
 2062  to notify the department of replacement officers, the failure to
 2063  file campaign finance reports, the failure to adopt and file
 2064  with the department all governing documents containing the
 2065  provisions specified in subsection (2), and limited activity.
 2066         (b) Adequate opportunity to respond.
 2067         (c) Appeal of the decision to the Florida Elections
 2068  Commission. Such appeals are exempt from the confidentiality
 2069  provisions of s. 106.25.
 2070         (6) The requirements of this section are retroactive for
 2071  any minor political party registered with the department on July
 2072  1, 2011, and must be complied with within 180 days after the
 2073  department provides notice to the minor political party of the
 2074  requirements contained in this section. Failure of the minor
 2075  political party to comply with the requirements within 180 days
 2076  after receipt of the notice shall automatically result in the
 2077  cancellation of the minor political party’s registration.
 2078         Section 45. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 103.101,
 2079  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 2080         103.101 Presidential preference primary.—
 2081         (1)(a) There shall be a Presidential Preference Primary
 2082  Date Selection Committee composed of the Secretary of State, who
 2083  shall be a nonvoting chair; three members, no more than two of
 2084  whom may be from the same political party, appointed by the
 2085  Governor; three members, no more than two of whom may be from
 2086  the same political party, appointed by the Speaker of the House
 2087  of Representatives; and three members, no more than two of whom
 2088  may be from the same political party, appointed by the President
 2089  of the Senate. No later than October 1 of the year preceding the
 2090  presidential preference primary, the committee shall meet and
 2091  set a date for the presidential preference primary. The date
 2092  selected may be no earlier than the first Tuesday in January and
 2093  no later than the first Tuesday in March in the year of the
 2094  presidential preference primary. The presidential preference
 2095  primary shall be held in each year the number of which is a
 2096  multiple of four.
 2097         (b) Each political party other than a minor political party
 2098  shall, on the date selected by the Presidential Preference
 2099  Primary Date Selection Committee last Tuesday in January in each
 2100  year the number of which is a multiple of 4, elect one person to
 2101  be the candidate for nomination of such party for President of
 2102  the United States or select delegates to the national nominating
 2103  convention, as provided by party rule. Any party rule directing
 2104  the vote of delegates at a national nominating convention shall
 2105  reasonably reflect the results of the presidential preference
 2106  primary, if one is held.
 2107         (2)(a) There shall be a Presidential Candidate Selection
 2108  Committee composed of the Secretary of State, who shall be a
 2109  nonvoting chair; the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
 2110  the President of the Senate; the minority leader of each house
 2111  of the Legislature; and the chair of each political party
 2112  required to have a presidential preference primary under this
 2113  section.
 2114         (b) By October 31 of the year preceding the presidential
 2115  preference primary, each political party shall submit to the
 2116  Secretary of State a list of its presidential candidates to be
 2117  placed on the presidential preference primary ballot or
 2118  candidates entitled to have delegates appear on the presidential
 2119  preference primary ballot. The Secretary of State shall prepare
 2120  and publish a list of the names of the presidential candidates
 2121  submitted not later than on the first Tuesday after the first
 2122  Monday in November of the year preceding the presidential
 2123  preference primary. The Secretary of State shall submit such
 2124  list of names of presidential candidates to the selection
 2125  committee on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in
 2126  November of the year preceding the presidential preference
 2127  primary. Each person designated as a presidential candidate
 2128  shall have his or her name appear, or have his or her delegates’
 2129  names appear, on the presidential preference primary ballot
 2130  unless all committee members of the same political party as the
 2131  candidate agree to delete such candidate’s name from the ballot.
 2132         (c) The selection committee shall meet in Tallahassee on
 2133  the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of the year
 2134  preceding the presidential preference primary. The selection
 2135  committee shall publicly announce and submit to the Department
 2136  of State no later than 5 p.m. on the following day the names of
 2137  presidential candidates who shall have their names appear, or
 2138  who are entitled to have their delegates’ names appear, on the
 2139  presidential preference primary ballot. The Department of State
 2140  shall immediately notify each presidential candidate listed
 2141  designated by the Secretary of State committee. Such
 2142  notification shall be in writing, by registered mail, with
 2143  return receipt requested.
 2144         Section 46. Section 103.141, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2145  to read:
 2146         103.141 Removal of county executive committee member for
 2147  violation of oath.—
 2148         (1)If Where the county executive committee by at least a
 2149  two-thirds majority vote of the members of the committee,
 2150  attending a meeting held after due notice has been given and at
 2151  which meeting a quorum is present, determines an incumbent
 2152  county executive committee member is to be guilty of an offense
 2153  involving a violation of the member’s oath of office, the said
 2154  member so violating his or her oath shall be removed from office
 2155  and the office shall be deemed vacant. Provided, However, if the
 2156  county committee wrongfully removes a county committee member
 2157  and the committee member so wrongfully removed files suit in the
 2158  circuit court alleging his or her removal was wrongful and wins
 2159  the said suit, the committee member shall be restored to office
 2160  and the county committee shall pay the costs incurred by the
 2161  wrongfully removed committee member in bringing the suit,
 2162  including reasonable attorney’s fees.
 2163         (2)Any officer, county committeeman, county
 2164  committeewoman, precinct committeeman, precinct committeewoman,
 2165  or member of a county executive committee may be removed from
 2166  office pursuant to s. 103.161.
 2167         Section 47. Section 103.161, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
 2168         Section 48. Section 104.29, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2169  read:
 2170         104.29 Inspectors refusing to allow watchers while ballots
 2171  are counted.—The inspectors or other election officials at the
 2172  polling place shall, after the polls close at all times while
 2173  the ballots are being counted, allow as many as three persons
 2174  near to them to see whether the ballots are being reconciled
 2175  correctly. read and called and the votes correctly tallied, and
 2176  Any official who denies this privilege or interferes therewith
 2177  commits is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree,
 2178  punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
 2179         Section 49. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section
 2180  105.031, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2181         105.031 Qualification; filing fee; candidate’s oath; items
 2182  required to be filed.—
 2183         (4) CANDIDATE’S OATH.—
 2184         (b) All candidates for judicial office shall subscribe to
 2185  an oath or affirmation in writing to be filed with the
 2186  appropriate qualifying officer upon qualifying. A printed copy
 2187  of the oath or affirmation shall be furnished to the candidate
 2188  by the qualifying officer and shall be in substantially the
 2189  following form:
 2190  
 2191  State of Florida
 2192  County of ....
 2193         Before me, an officer authorized to administer oaths,
 2194  personally appeared ...(please print name as you wish it to
 2195  appear on the ballot)..., to me well known, who, being sworn,
 2196  says he or she: is a candidate for the judicial office of ....;
 2197  that his or her legal residence is .... County, Florida; that he
 2198  or she is a qualified elector of the state and of the
 2199  territorial jurisdiction of the court to which he or she seeks
 2200  election; that he or she is qualified under the constitution and
 2201  laws of Florida to hold the judicial office to which he or she
 2202  desires to be elected or in which he or she desires to be
 2203  retained; that he or she has taken the oath required by ss.
 2204  876.05-876.10, Florida Statutes; that he or she has qualified
 2205  for no other public office in the state, the term of which
 2206  office or any part thereof runs concurrent to the office he or
 2207  she seeks; and that he or she has resigned from any office which
 2208  he or she is required to resign pursuant to s. 99.012, Florida
 2209  Statutes; and that he or she will support the Constitution of
 2210  the United States and the Constitution of the State of Florida.
 2211  
 2212                                    ...(Signature of candidate)...
 2213                                                   ...(Address)...
 2214  
 2215  Sworn to and subscribed before me this .... day of ....,
 2216  ...(year)..., at .... County, Florida.
 2217  
 2218  ...(Signature and title of officer administering oath)...
 2219         Section 50. Subsection (3), paragraph (b) of subsection
 2220  (5), subsection (15), and paragraph (c) of subsection (16) of
 2221  section 106.011, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 2222         106.011 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the following
 2223  terms have the following meanings unless the context clearly
 2224  indicates otherwise:
 2225         (3) “Contribution” means:
 2226         (a) A gift, subscription, conveyance, deposit, loan,
 2227  payment, or distribution of money or anything of value,
 2228  including contributions in kind having an attributable monetary
 2229  value in any form, made for the purpose of influencing the
 2230  results of an election or making an electioneering
 2231  communication.
 2232         (b) A transfer of funds between political committees,
 2233  between committees of continuous existence, between
 2234  electioneering communications organizations, or between any
 2235  combination of these groups.
 2236         (c) The payment, by any person other than a candidate or
 2237  political committee, of compensation for the personal services
 2238  of another person which are rendered to a candidate or political
 2239  committee without charge to the candidate or committee for such
 2240  services.
 2241         (d) The transfer of funds by a campaign treasurer or deputy
 2242  campaign treasurer between a primary depository and a separate
 2243  interest-bearing account or certificate of deposit, and the term
 2244  includes any interest earned on such account or certificate.
 2245  
 2246  Notwithstanding the foregoing meanings of “contribution,” the
 2247  term may word shall not be construed to include services,
 2248  including, but not limited to, legal and accounting services,
 2249  provided without compensation by individuals volunteering a
 2250  portion or all of their time on behalf of a candidate or
 2251  political committee. This definition shall not be construed to
 2252  include editorial endorsements.
 2253         (5)
 2254         (b) An expenditure for the purpose of expressly advocating
 2255  the election or defeat of a candidate which is made by the
 2256  national, state, or county executive committee of a political
 2257  party, including any subordinate committee of a national, state,
 2258  or county committee of a political party, or by any political
 2259  committee or committee of continuous existence, or any other
 2260  person, shall not be considered an independent expenditure if
 2261  the committee or person:
 2262         1. Communicates with the candidate, the candidate’s
 2263  campaign, or an agent of the candidate acting on behalf of the
 2264  candidate, including any pollster, media consultant, advertising
 2265  agency, vendor, advisor, or staff member, concerning the
 2266  preparation of, use of, or payment for, the specific expenditure
 2267  or advertising campaign at issue; or
 2268         2. Makes a payment in cooperation, consultation, or concert
 2269  with, at the request or suggestion of, or pursuant to any
 2270  general or particular understanding with the candidate, the
 2271  candidate’s campaign, a political committee supporting the
 2272  candidate, or an agent of the candidate relating to the specific
 2273  expenditure or advertising campaign at issue; or
 2274         3. Makes a payment for the dissemination, distribution, or
 2275  republication, in whole or in part, of any broadcast or any
 2276  written, graphic, or other form of campaign material prepared by
 2277  the candidate, the candidate’s campaign, or an agent of the
 2278  candidate, including any pollster, media consultant, advertising
 2279  agency, vendor, advisor, or staff member; or
 2280         4. Makes a payment based on information about the
 2281  candidate’s plans, projects, or needs communicated to a member
 2282  of the committee or person by the candidate or an agent of the
 2283  candidate, provided the committee or person uses the information
 2284  in any way, in whole or in part, either directly or indirectly,
 2285  to design, prepare, or pay for the specific expenditure or
 2286  advertising campaign at issue; or
 2287         5. After the last day of the qualifying period prescribed
 2288  for the candidate for statewide or legislative office, consults
 2289  about the candidate’s plans, projects, or needs in connection
 2290  with the candidate’s pursuit of election to office and the
 2291  information is used in any way to plan, create, design, or
 2292  prepare an independent expenditure or advertising campaign,
 2293  with:
 2294         a. Any officer, director, employee, or agent of a national,
 2295  state, or county executive committee of a political party that
 2296  has made or intends to make expenditures in connection with or
 2297  contributions to the candidate; or
 2298         b. Any person whose professional services have been
 2299  retained by a national, state, or county executive committee of
 2300  a political party that has made or intends to make expenditures
 2301  in connection with or contributions to the candidate; or
 2302         6. After the last day of the qualifying period prescribed
 2303  for the candidate for statewide or legislative office, retains
 2304  the professional services of any person also providing those
 2305  services to the candidate in connection with the candidate’s
 2306  pursuit of election to office; or
 2307         7. Arranges, coordinates, or directs the expenditure, in
 2308  any way, with the candidate or an agent of the candidate.
 2309         (15) “Unopposed candidate” means a candidate for nomination
 2310  or election to an office who, after the last day on which any
 2311  person, including a write-in candidate, may qualify, is without
 2312  opposition in the election at which the office is to be filled
 2313  or who is without such opposition after such date as a result of
 2314  any primary election or of withdrawal by other candidates
 2315  seeking the same office. A candidate is not an unopposed
 2316  candidate if there is a vacancy to be filled under s. 100.111(3)
 2317  s. 100.111(4), if there is a legal proceeding pending regarding
 2318  the right to a ballot position for the office sought by the
 2319  candidate, or if the candidate is seeking retention as a justice
 2320  or judge.
 2321         (16) “Candidate” means any person to whom any one or more
 2322  of the following apply:
 2323         (c) Any person who receives contributions or makes
 2324  expenditures, or consents for any other person to receive
 2325  contributions or make expenditures, with a view to bring about
 2326  his or her nomination or election to, or retention in, public
 2327  office. However, this definition does not include any candidate
 2328  for a political party executive committee. Expenditures related
 2329  to potential candidate polls as provided in s. 106.17 are not
 2330  contributions or expenditures for purposes of this subsection.
 2331         Section 51. Subsection (3) of section 106.021, Florida
 2332  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2333         106.021 Campaign treasurers; deputies; primary and
 2334  secondary depositories.—
 2335         (3) No contribution or expenditure, including contributions
 2336  or expenditures of a candidate or of the candidate’s family,
 2337  shall be directly or indirectly made or received in furtherance
 2338  of the candidacy of any person for nomination or election to
 2339  political office in the state or on behalf of any political
 2340  committee except through the duly appointed campaign treasurer
 2341  of the candidate or political committee, subject to the
 2342  following exceptions:
 2343         (a) Independent expenditures;
 2344         (b) Reimbursements to a candidate or any other individual
 2345  for expenses incurred in connection with the campaign or
 2346  activities of the political committee by a check drawn upon the
 2347  campaign account and reported pursuant to s. 106.07(4). After
 2348  July 1, 2004, The full name and address of each person to whom
 2349  the candidate or other individual made payment for which
 2350  reimbursement was made by check drawn upon the campaign account
 2351  shall be reported pursuant to s. 106.07(4), together with the
 2352  purpose of such payment;
 2353         (c) Expenditures made indirectly through a treasurer for
 2354  goods or services, such as communications media placement or
 2355  procurement services, campaign signs, insurance, or other
 2356  expenditures that include multiple integral components as part
 2357  of the expenditure and reported pursuant to s. 106.07(4)(a)13.;
 2358  or
 2359         (d) Expenditures made directly by any political committee
 2360  or political party regulated by chapter 103 for obtaining time,
 2361  space, or services in or by any communications medium for the
 2362  purpose of jointly endorsing three or more candidates, and any
 2363  such expenditure shall not be considered a contribution or
 2364  expenditure to or on behalf of any such candidates for the
 2365  purposes of this chapter.
 2366         Section 52. Section 106.022, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2367  to read:
 2368         106.022 Appointment of a registered agent; duties.—
 2369         (1) Each political committee, committee of continuous
 2370  existence, or electioneering communications organization shall
 2371  have and continuously maintain in this state a registered office
 2372  and a registered agent and must file with the filing officer
 2373  division a statement of appointment for the registered office
 2374  and registered agent. The statement of appointment must:
 2375         (a) Provide the name of the registered agent and the street
 2376  address and phone number for the registered office;
 2377         (b) Identify the entity for whom the registered agent
 2378  serves;
 2379         (c) Designate the address the registered agent wishes to
 2380  use to receive mail;
 2381         (d) Include the entity’s undertaking to inform the filing
 2382  officer division of any change in such designated address;
 2383         (e) Provide for the registered agent’s acceptance of the
 2384  appointment, which must confirm that the registered agent is
 2385  familiar with and accepts the obligations of the position as set
 2386  forth in this section; and
 2387         (f) Contain the signature of the registered agent and the
 2388  entity engaging the registered agent.
 2389         (2) An entity may change its appointment of registered
 2390  agent and registered office under this section by executing a
 2391  written statement of change and filing it with the filing
 2392  officer. The statement must satisfy that identifies the former
 2393  registered agent and registered address and also satisfies all
 2394  of the requirements of subsection (1).
 2395         (3) A registered agent may resign his or her appointment as
 2396  registered agent by executing a written statement of resignation
 2397  and filing it with the filing officer division. An entity
 2398  without a registered agent may not make expenditures or accept
 2399  contributions until it files a written statement of change as
 2400  required in subsection (2).
 2401         Section 53. Subsection (1) of section 106.023, Florida
 2402  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2403         106.023 Statement of candidate.—
 2404         (1) Each candidate must file a statement with the
 2405  qualifying officer within 10 days after filing the appointment
 2406  of campaign treasurer and designation of campaign depository,
 2407  stating that the candidate has read and understands the
 2408  requirements of this chapter. Such statement shall be provided
 2409  by the filing officer and shall be in substantially the
 2410  following form:
 2411  
 2412                       STATEMENT OF CANDIDATE                      
 2413  
 2414         I, ...., candidate for the office of ...., have been
 2415  provided access to received, read, and understand the
 2416  requirements of Chapter 106, Florida Statutes.
 2417  
 2418  ...(Signature of candidate)...                      ...(Date)...
 2419  
 2420  Willful failure to file this form is a violation of ss.
 2421  106.19(1)(c) and 106.25(3), F.S.
 2422         Section 54. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
 2423  106.025, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2424         106.025 Campaign fund raisers.—
 2425         (1)
 2426         (c) Any tickets or advertising for such a campaign fund
 2427  raiser is exempt from the requirements of s. 106.143 shall
 2428  contain the following statement: “The purchase of a ticket for,
 2429  or a contribution to, the campaign fund raiser is a contribution
 2430  to the campaign of ...(name of the candidate for whose benefit
 2431  the campaign fund raiser is held)....” Such tickets or
 2432  advertising shall also comply with other provisions of this
 2433  chapter relating to political advertising.
 2434         Section 55. Subsection (1) and paragraph (d) of subsection
 2435  (3) of section 106.03, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 2436         106.03 Registration of political committees and
 2437  electioneering communications organizations.—
 2438         (1)(a) Each political committee that receives anticipates
 2439  receiving contributions or makes making expenditures during a
 2440  calendar year in an aggregate amount exceeding $500 or that
 2441  seeks is seeking the signatures of registered electors in
 2442  support of an initiative shall file a statement of organization
 2443  as provided in subsection (3) within 10 days after its
 2444  organization or, if later, within 10 days after the date on
 2445  which it has information that causes the committee to anticipate
 2446  that it will receive contributions or make expenditures in
 2447  excess of $500. If a political committee is organized within 10
 2448  days of any election, it shall immediately file the statement of
 2449  organization required by this section.
 2450         (b)1. Each group electioneering communications organization
 2451  that receives contributions or makes expenditures during a
 2452  calendar year in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000 shall file
 2453  a statement of organization as an electioneering communications
 2454  organization provided in subparagraph 2. by expedited delivery
 2455  within 24 hours after its organization or, if later, within 24
 2456  hours after the date on which it receives contributions or makes
 2457  expenditures for an electioneering communication in excess of
 2458  $5,000, if such expenditures are made within the timeframes
 2459  specified in s. 106.011(18)(a)2. If the group makes expenditures
 2460  for an electioneering communication in excess of $5,000 before
 2461  the timeframes specified in s. 106.011(18)(a)2., it shall file
 2462  the statement of organization within 24 hours after the 30th day
 2463  before a primary or special primary election, or within 24 hours
 2464  after the 60th day before any other election, whichever is
 2465  applicable.
 2466         2.a. In a statewide, legislative, or multicounty election,
 2467  an electioneering communications organization shall file a
 2468  statement of organization with the Division of Elections.
 2469         b. In a countywide election or any election held on less
 2470  than a countywide basis, except as described in sub-subparagraph
 2471  c., an electioneering communications organization shall file a
 2472  statement of organization with the supervisor of elections of
 2473  the county in which the election is being held.
 2474         c. In a municipal election, an electioneering
 2475  communications organization shall file a statement of
 2476  organization with the officer before whom municipal candidates
 2477  qualify.
 2478         d. Any electioneering communications organization that
 2479  would be required to file a statement of organization in two or
 2480  more locations by reason of the organization’s intention to
 2481  support or oppose candidates at state or multicounty and local
 2482  levels of government need only file a statement of organization
 2483  with the Division of Elections.
 2484         (3)
 2485         (d) Any political committee which would be required under
 2486  this subsection to file a statement of organization in two or
 2487  more locations by reason of the committee’s intention to support
 2488  or oppose candidates or issues at state or multicounty and local
 2489  levels of government need file only with the Division of
 2490  Elections.
 2491         Section 56. Subsection (4) of section 106.04, Florida
 2492  Statutes, is amended, present subsections (7) and (8) of that
 2493  section are amended and renumbered as subsections (8) and (9),
 2494  respectively, and a new subsection (7) is added to that section,
 2495  to read:
 2496         106.04 Committees of continuous existence.—
 2497         (4)(a) Each committee of continuous existence shall file an
 2498  annual report with the Division of Elections during the month of
 2499  January. Such annual reports shall contain the same information
 2500  and shall be accompanied by the same materials as original
 2501  applications filed pursuant to subsection (2). However, the
 2502  charter or bylaws need not be filed if the annual report is
 2503  accompanied by a sworn statement by the chair that no changes
 2504  have been made to such charter or bylaws since the last filing.
 2505         (b)1. Each committee of continuous existence shall file
 2506  regular reports with the Division of Elections at the same times
 2507  and subject to the same filing conditions as are established by
 2508  s. 106.07(1) and (2) for candidates’ reports. In addition, when
 2509  a special election is called to fill a vacancy in office, a
 2510  committee of continuous existence that makes a contribution or
 2511  expenditure to influence the results of such special election or
 2512  the preceding special primary election must file campaign
 2513  finance reports with the filing officer on the dates set by the
 2514  Department of State pursuant to s. 100.111.
 2515         2. Any committee of continuous existence failing to so file
 2516  a report with the Division of Elections or applicable filing
 2517  officer pursuant to this paragraph on the designated due date
 2518  shall be subject to a fine for late filing as provided by this
 2519  section.
 2520         (c) All committees of continuous existence shall file their
 2521  reports with the Division of Elections. Reports shall be filed
 2522  in accordance with s. 106.0705 and shall contain the following
 2523  information:
 2524         1. The full name, address, and occupation of each person
 2525  who has made one or more contributions, including contributions
 2526  that represent the payment of membership dues, to the committee
 2527  during the reporting period, together with the amounts and dates
 2528  of such contributions. For corporations, the report must provide
 2529  as clear a description as practicable of the principal type of
 2530  business conducted by the corporation. However, if the
 2531  contribution is $100 or less, the occupation of the contributor
 2532  or principal type of business need not be listed. However, for
 2533  any contributions that represent the payment of dues by members
 2534  in a fixed amount aggregating no more than $250 per calendar
 2535  year, pursuant to the schedule on file with the Division of
 2536  Elections, only the aggregate amount of such contributions need
 2537  be listed, together with the number of members paying such dues
 2538  and the amount of the membership dues.
 2539         2. The name and address of each political committee or
 2540  committee of continuous existence from which the reporting
 2541  committee received, or the name and address of each political
 2542  committee, committee of continuous existence, or political party
 2543  to which it made, any transfer of funds, together with the
 2544  amounts and dates of all transfers.
 2545         3. Any other receipt of funds not listed pursuant to
 2546  subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2., including the sources and
 2547  amounts of all such funds.
 2548         4. The name and address of, and office sought by, each
 2549  candidate to whom the committee has made a contribution during
 2550  the reporting period, together with the amount and date of each
 2551  contribution.
 2552         5. The full name and address of each person to whom
 2553  expenditures have been made by or on behalf of the committee
 2554  within the reporting period; the amount, date, and purpose of
 2555  each such expenditure; and the name and address, and office
 2556  sought by, each candidate on whose behalf such expenditure was
 2557  made.
 2558         6. The full name and address of each person to whom an
 2559  expenditure for personal services, salary, or reimbursement for
 2560  authorized expenses has been made, including the full name and
 2561  address of each entity to whom the person made payment for which
 2562  reimbursement was made by check drawn upon the committee
 2563  account, together with the amount and purpose of such payment.
 2564         7. Transaction information from each credit card purchase
 2565  statement that will be included in the next report following
 2566  receipt thereof by the committee. Receipts for each credit card
 2567  purchase shall be retained by the treasurer with the records for
 2568  the committee account.
 2569         8. The total sum of expenditures made by the committee
 2570  during the reporting period.
 2571         (d) The treasurer of each committee shall certify as to the
 2572  correctness of each report and shall bear the responsibility for
 2573  its accuracy and veracity. Any treasurer who willfully certifies
 2574  to the correctness of a report while knowing that such report is
 2575  incorrect, false, or incomplete commits a misdemeanor of the
 2576  first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s.
 2577  775.083.
 2578         (7) Any change in information previously submitted to the
 2579  division shall be reported within 10 days following the change.
 2580         (8)(7) If a committee of continuous existence ceases to
 2581  meet the criteria prescribed by subsection (1), the Division of
 2582  Elections shall revoke its certification until such time as the
 2583  criteria are again met. The Division of Elections shall adopt
 2584  promulgate rules to prescribe the manner in which the such
 2585  certification of a committee of continuous existence shall be
 2586  revoked. Such rules shall, at a minimum, provide for:
 2587         (a) Notice, which must shall contain the facts and conduct
 2588  that warrant the intended action.
 2589         (b) Adequate opportunity to respond.
 2590         (c) Appeal of the decision to the Florida Elections
 2591  Commission. Such appeals are shall be exempt from the
 2592  confidentiality provisions of s. 106.25.
 2593         (9)(8)(a) Any committee of continuous existence failing to
 2594  file a report on the designated due date is shall be subject to
 2595  a fine. The fine shall be $50 per day for the first 3 days late
 2596  and, thereafter, $500 per day for each late day, not to exceed
 2597  25 percent of the total receipts or expenditures, whichever is
 2598  greater, for the period covered by the late report. However, for
 2599  the reports immediately preceding each primary and general
 2600  election, including a special primary election and a special
 2601  general election, the fine shall be $500 per day for each late
 2602  day, not to exceed 25 percent of the total receipts or
 2603  expenditures, whichever is greater, for the period covered by
 2604  the late report. The fine shall be assessed by the filing
 2605  officer, and the moneys collected shall be deposited into:
 2606         1.In The General Revenue Fund, in the case of fines
 2607  collected by the Division of Elections.
 2608         2. The general revenue fund of the political subdivision,
 2609  in the case of fines collected by a county or municipal filing
 2610  officer. No separate fine shall be assessed for failure to file
 2611  a copy of any report required by this section.
 2612         (b) Upon determining that a report is late, the filing
 2613  officer shall immediately notify the treasurer of the committee
 2614  or the committee’s registered agent as to the failure to file a
 2615  report by the designated due date and that a fine is being
 2616  assessed for each late day. Upon receipt of the report, the
 2617  filing officer shall determine the amount of fine which is due
 2618  and shall notify the treasurer of the committee. Notice is
 2619  deemed complete upon proof of delivery of written notice to the
 2620  mailing or street address on record with the filing officer. The
 2621  filing officer shall determine the amount of the fine due based
 2622  upon the earliest of the following:
 2623         1. When the report is actually received by such officer.
 2624         2. When the report is postmarked.
 2625         3. When the certificate of mailing is dated.
 2626         4. When the receipt from an established courier company is
 2627  dated.
 2628  
 2629  Such fine shall be paid to the filing officer within 20 days
 2630  after receipt of the notice of payment due, unless appeal is
 2631  made to the Florida Elections Commission pursuant to paragraph
 2632  (c). An officer or member of a committee is shall not be
 2633  personally liable for such fine.
 2634         (c) Any treasurer of a committee may appeal or dispute the
 2635  fine, based upon unusual circumstances surrounding the failure
 2636  to file on the designated due date, and may request and is shall
 2637  be entitled to a hearing before the Florida Elections
 2638  Commission, which may shall have the authority to waive the fine
 2639  in whole or in part. Any such request must shall be made within
 2640  20 days after receipt of the notice of payment due. In such
 2641  case, the treasurer of The committee shall file the appeal with
 2642  , within the 20-day period, notify the filing officer in writing
 2643  of his or her intention to bring the matter before the
 2644  commission, with a copy provided to the filing officer.
 2645         (d) The filing officer shall notify the Florida Elections
 2646  Commission of the repeated late filing by a committee of
 2647  continuous existence, the failure of a committee of continuous
 2648  existence to file a report after notice, or the failure to pay
 2649  the fine imposed.
 2650         Section 57. Section 106.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2651  read:
 2652         106.07 Reports; certification and filing.—
 2653         (1) Each campaign treasurer designated by a candidate or
 2654  political committee pursuant to s. 106.021 shall file regular
 2655  reports of all contributions received, and all expenditures
 2656  made, by or on behalf of such candidate or political committee.
 2657  Except for the third calendar quarter immediately preceding a
 2658  general election, reports shall be filed on the 10th day
 2659  following the end of each calendar quarter from the time the
 2660  campaign treasurer is appointed, except that, if the 10th day
 2661  following the end of a calendar quarter occurs on a Saturday,
 2662  Sunday, or legal holiday, the report shall be filed on the next
 2663  following day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.
 2664  Quarterly reports shall include all contributions received and
 2665  expenditures made during the calendar quarter which have not
 2666  otherwise been reported pursuant to this section.
 2667         (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), following the last
 2668  day of qualifying for office, the reports shall also be filed on
 2669  the 32nd, 18th, and 4th days immediately preceding the primary
 2670  and on the 46th, 32nd, 18th, and 4th days immediately preceding
 2671  the election, for a candidate who is opposed in seeking
 2672  nomination or election to any office, for a political committee,
 2673  or for a committee of continuous existence.
 2674         (b) Following the last day of qualifying for office, Any
 2675  statewide candidate who has requested to receive contributions
 2676  pursuant to from the Florida Election Campaign Financing Act
 2677  Trust Fund or any statewide candidate in a race with a candidate
 2678  who has requested to receive contributions pursuant to from the
 2679  act trust fund shall also file reports on the 4th, 11th, 18th,
 2680  25th, and 32nd days prior to the primary election, and on the
 2681  4th, 11th, 18th, 25th, 32nd, 39th, 46th, and 53rd days prior to
 2682  the general election.
 2683         (c) Following the last day of qualifying for office, any
 2684  unopposed candidate need only file a report within 90 days after
 2685  the date such candidate became unopposed. Such report shall
 2686  contain all previously unreported contributions and expenditures
 2687  as required by this section and shall reflect disposition of
 2688  funds as required by s. 106.141.
 2689         (d)1. When a special election is called to fill a vacancy
 2690  in office, all political committees and committees of continuous
 2691  existence making contributions or expenditures to influence the
 2692  results of such special election or the preceding special
 2693  primary election shall file campaign treasurers’ reports with
 2694  the filing officer on the dates set by the Department of State
 2695  pursuant to s. 100.111.
 2696         2. When an election is called for an issue to appear on the
 2697  ballot at a time when no candidates are scheduled to appear on
 2698  the ballot, all political committees making contributions or
 2699  expenditures in support of or in opposition to such issue shall
 2700  file reports on the 18th and 4th days prior to such election.
 2701         (e) The filing officer shall provide each candidate with a
 2702  schedule designating the beginning and end of reporting periods
 2703  as well as the corresponding designated due dates.
 2704         (2)(a)1. All reports required of a candidate by this
 2705  section shall be filed with the officer before whom the
 2706  candidate is required by law to qualify. All candidates who file
 2707  with the Department of State shall file their reports pursuant
 2708  to s. 106.0705. Except as provided in s. 106.0705, reports shall
 2709  be filed not later than 5 p.m. of the day designated; however,
 2710  any report postmarked by the United States Postal Service no
 2711  later than midnight of the day designated shall be deemed to
 2712  have been filed in a timely manner. Any report received by the
 2713  filing officer within 5 days after the designated due date that
 2714  was delivered by the United States Postal Service shall be
 2715  deemed timely filed unless it has a postmark that indicates that
 2716  the report was mailed after the designated due date. A
 2717  certificate of mailing obtained from and dated by the United
 2718  States Postal Service at the time of mailing, or a receipt from
 2719  an established courier company, which bears a date on or before
 2720  the date on which the report is due, shall be proof of mailing
 2721  in a timely manner. Reports shall contain information of all
 2722  previously unreported contributions received and expenditures
 2723  made as of the preceding Friday, except that the report filed on
 2724  the Friday immediately preceding the election shall contain
 2725  information of all previously unreported contributions received
 2726  and expenditures made as of the day preceding that designated
 2727  due date. All such reports shall be open to public inspection.
 2728         2. This subsection does not prohibit the governing body of
 2729  a political subdivision, by ordinance or resolution, from
 2730  imposing upon its own officers and candidates electronic filing
 2731  requirements not in conflict with s. 106.0705. Expenditure of
 2732  public funds for such purpose is deemed to be for a valid public
 2733  purpose.
 2734         (b)1. Any report that which is deemed to be incomplete by
 2735  the officer with whom the candidate qualifies shall be accepted
 2736  on a conditional basis., and The campaign treasurer shall be
 2737  notified by certified registered mail or by another method using
 2738  a common carrier that provides a proof of delivery of the notice
 2739  as to why the report is incomplete and within 7 be given 3 days
 2740  after from receipt of such notice must to file an addendum to
 2741  the report providing all information necessary to complete the
 2742  report in compliance with this section. Failure to file a
 2743  complete report after such notice constitutes a violation of
 2744  this chapter.
 2745         2. Notice is deemed complete upon proof of delivery of a
 2746  written notice to the mailing or street address of the campaign
 2747  treasurer or registered agent of record with the filing officer.
 2748  In lieu of the notice by registered mail as required in
 2749  subparagraph 1., the qualifying officer may notify the campaign
 2750  treasurer by telephone that the report is incomplete and request
 2751  the information necessary to complete the report. If, however,
 2752  such information is not received by the qualifying officer
 2753  within 3 days after the telephone request therefor, notice shall
 2754  be sent by registered mail as provided in subparagraph 1.
 2755         (3) Reports required of a political committee shall be
 2756  filed with the agency or officer before whom such committee
 2757  registers pursuant to s. 106.03(3) and shall be subject to the
 2758  same filing conditions as established for candidates’ reports.
 2759  Incomplete reports by political committees shall be treated in
 2760  the manner provided for incomplete reports by candidates in
 2761  subsection (2).
 2762         (4)(a) Each report required by this section must shall
 2763  contain:
 2764         1. The full name, address, and occupation, if any of each
 2765  person who has made one or more contributions to or for such
 2766  committee or candidate within the reporting period, together
 2767  with the amount and date of such contributions. For
 2768  corporations, the report must provide as clear a description as
 2769  practicable of the principal type of business conducted by the
 2770  corporation. However, if the contribution is $100 or less or is
 2771  from a relative, as defined in s. 112.312, provided that the
 2772  relationship is reported, the occupation of the contributor or
 2773  the principal type of business need not be listed.
 2774         2. The name and address of each political committee from
 2775  which the reporting committee or the candidate received, or to
 2776  which the reporting committee or candidate made, any transfer of
 2777  funds, together with the amounts and dates of all transfers.
 2778         3. Each loan for campaign purposes to or from any person or
 2779  political committee within the reporting period, together with
 2780  the full names, addresses, and occupations, and principal places
 2781  of business, if any, of the lender and endorsers, if any, and
 2782  the date and amount of such loans.
 2783         4. A statement of each contribution, rebate, refund, or
 2784  other receipt not otherwise listed under subparagraphs 1.
 2785  through 3.
 2786         5. The total sums of all loans, in-kind contributions, and
 2787  other receipts by or for such committee or candidate during the
 2788  reporting period. The reporting forms shall be designed to
 2789  elicit separate totals for in-kind contributions, loans, and
 2790  other receipts.
 2791         6. The full name and address of each person to whom
 2792  expenditures have been made by or on behalf of the committee or
 2793  candidate within the reporting period; the amount, date, and
 2794  purpose of each such expenditure; and the name and address of,
 2795  and office sought by, each candidate on whose behalf such
 2796  expenditure was made. However, expenditures made from the petty
 2797  cash fund provided by s. 106.12 need not be reported
 2798  individually.
 2799         7. The full name and address of each person to whom an
 2800  expenditure for personal services, salary, or reimbursement for
 2801  authorized expenses as provided in s. 106.021(3) has been made
 2802  and which is not otherwise reported, including the amount, date,
 2803  and purpose of such expenditure. However, expenditures made from
 2804  the petty cash fund provided for in s. 106.12 need not be
 2805  reported individually. Receipts for reimbursement for authorized
 2806  expenditures shall be retained by the treasurer along with the
 2807  records for the campaign account.
 2808         8. The total amount withdrawn and the total amount spent
 2809  for petty cash purposes pursuant to this chapter during the
 2810  reporting period.
 2811         9. The total sum of expenditures made by such committee or
 2812  candidate during the reporting period.
 2813         10. The amount and nature of debts and obligations owed by
 2814  or to the committee or candidate, which relate to the conduct of
 2815  any political campaign.
 2816         11. Transaction information for each credit card purchase.
 2817  A copy of each credit card statement which shall be included in
 2818  the next report following receipt thereof by the candidate or
 2819  political committee. Receipts for each credit card purchase
 2820  shall be retained by the treasurer with the records for the
 2821  campaign account.
 2822         12. The amount and nature of any separate interest-bearing
 2823  accounts or certificates of deposit and identification of the
 2824  financial institution in which such accounts or certificates of
 2825  deposit are located.
 2826         13. The primary purposes of an expenditure made indirectly
 2827  through a campaign treasurer pursuant to s. 106.021(3) for goods
 2828  and services such as communications media placement or
 2829  procurement services, campaign signs, insurance, and other
 2830  expenditures that include multiple components as part of the
 2831  expenditure. The primary purpose of an expenditure shall be that
 2832  purpose, including integral and directly related components,
 2833  that comprises 80 percent of such expenditure.
 2834         (b) The filing officer shall make available to any
 2835  candidate or committee a reporting form which the candidate or
 2836  committee may use to indicate contributions received by the
 2837  candidate or committee but returned to the contributor before
 2838  deposit.
 2839         (5) The candidate and his or her campaign treasurer, in the
 2840  case of a candidate, or the political committee chair and
 2841  campaign treasurer of the committee, in the case of a political
 2842  committee, shall certify as to the correctness of each report;
 2843  and each person so certifying shall bear the responsibility for
 2844  the accuracy and veracity of each report. Any campaign
 2845  treasurer, candidate, or political committee chair who willfully
 2846  certifies the correctness of any report while knowing that such
 2847  report is incorrect, false, or incomplete commits a misdemeanor
 2848  of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s.
 2849  775.083.
 2850         (6) The campaign depository shall return all checks drawn
 2851  on the account to the campaign treasurer who shall retain the
 2852  records pursuant to s. 106.06. The records maintained by the
 2853  campaign depository with respect to any campaign account
 2854  regulated by this chapter are such account shall be subject to
 2855  inspection by an agent of the Division of Elections or the
 2856  Florida Elections Commission at any time during normal banking
 2857  hours, and such depository shall furnish certified copies of any
 2858  of such records to the Division of Elections or Florida
 2859  Elections Commission upon request.
 2860         (7) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter,
 2861  in any reporting period during which a candidate, political
 2862  committee, or committee of continuous existence has not received
 2863  funds, made any contributions, or expended any reportable funds,
 2864  the filing of the required report for that period is waived.
 2865  However, the next report filed must specify that the report
 2866  covers the entire period between the last submitted report and
 2867  the report being filed, and any candidate, political committee,
 2868  or committee of continuous existence not reporting by virtue of
 2869  this subsection on dates prescribed elsewhere in this chapter
 2870  shall notify the filing officer in writing on the prescribed
 2871  reporting date that no report is being filed on that date.
 2872         (8)(a) Any candidate or political committee failing to file
 2873  a report on the designated due date is shall be subject to a
 2874  fine as provided in paragraph (b) for each late day, and, in the
 2875  case of a candidate, such fine shall be paid only from personal
 2876  funds of the candidate. The fine shall be assessed by the filing
 2877  officer and the moneys collected shall be deposited:
 2878         1. In the General Revenue Fund, in the case of a candidate
 2879  for state office or a political committee that registers with
 2880  the Division of Elections; or
 2881         2. In the general revenue fund of the political
 2882  subdivision, in the case of a candidate for an office of a
 2883  political subdivision or a political committee that registers
 2884  with an officer of a political subdivision.
 2885  
 2886  No separate fine shall be assessed for failure to file a copy of
 2887  any report required by this section.
 2888         (b) Upon determining that a report is late, the filing
 2889  officer shall immediately notify the candidate or chair of the
 2890  political committee as to the failure to file a report by the
 2891  designated due date and that a fine is being assessed for each
 2892  late day. The fine shall be $50 per day for the first 3 days
 2893  late and, thereafter, $500 per day for each late day, not to
 2894  exceed 25 percent of the total receipts or expenditures,
 2895  whichever is greater, for the period covered by the late report.
 2896  However, for the reports immediately preceding each special
 2897  primary election, special election, primary election, and
 2898  general election, the fine shall be $500 per day for each late
 2899  day, not to exceed 25 percent of the total receipts or
 2900  expenditures, whichever is greater, for the period covered by
 2901  the late report. For reports required under s. 106.141(7), the
 2902  fine is $50 per day for each late day, not to exceed 25 percent
 2903  of the total receipts or expenditures, whichever is greater, for
 2904  the period covered by the late report. Upon receipt of the
 2905  report, the filing officer shall determine the amount of the
 2906  fine which is due and shall notify the candidate or chair or
 2907  registered agent of the political committee. The filing officer
 2908  shall determine the amount of the fine due based upon the
 2909  earliest of the following:
 2910         1. When the report is actually received by such officer.
 2911         2. When the report is postmarked.
 2912         3. When the certificate of mailing is dated.
 2913         4. When the receipt from an established courier company is
 2914  dated.
 2915         5. When the electronic receipt issued pursuant to s.
 2916  106.0705 or other electronic filing system authorized in this
 2917  section is dated.
 2918  
 2919  Such fine shall be paid to the filing officer within 20 days
 2920  after receipt of the notice of payment due, unless appeal is
 2921  made to the Florida Elections Commission pursuant to paragraph
 2922  (c). Notice is deemed complete upon proof of delivery of written
 2923  notice to the mailing or street address on record with the
 2924  filing officer. In the case of a candidate, such fine shall not
 2925  be an allowable campaign expenditure and shall be paid only from
 2926  personal funds of the candidate. An officer or member of a
 2927  political committee shall not be personally liable for such
 2928  fine.
 2929         (c) Any candidate or chair of a political committee may
 2930  appeal or dispute the fine, based upon, but not limited to,
 2931  unusual circumstances surrounding the failure to file on the
 2932  designated due date, and may request and shall be entitled to a
 2933  hearing before the Florida Elections Commission, which shall
 2934  have the authority to waive the fine in whole or in part. The
 2935  Florida Elections Commission must consider the mitigating and
 2936  aggravating circumstances contained in s. 106.265(1) when
 2937  determining the amount of a fine, if any, to be waived. Any such
 2938  request shall be made within 20 days after receipt of the notice
 2939  of payment due. In such case, the candidate or chair of the
 2940  political committee shall, within the 20-day period, notify the
 2941  filing officer in writing of his or her intention to bring the
 2942  matter before the commission.
 2943         (d) The appropriate filing officer shall notify the Florida
 2944  Elections Commission of the repeated late filing by a candidate
 2945  or political committee, the failure of a candidate or political
 2946  committee to file a report after notice, or the failure to pay
 2947  the fine imposed. The commission shall investigate only those
 2948  alleged late filing violations specifically identified by the
 2949  filing officer and as set forth in the notification. Any other
 2950  alleged violations must be separately stated and reported by the
 2951  division to the commission under s. 106.25(2).
 2952         (9) The Department of State may prescribe by rule the
 2953  requirements for filing campaign treasurers’ reports as set
 2954  forth in this chapter.
 2955         Section 58. Subsections (8) and (9) of section 106.0703,
 2956  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 2957         106.0703 Electioneering communications organizations;
 2958  reporting requirements; certification and filing; penalties.—
 2959         (8) An electioneering communications organization shall,
 2960  within 2 days after receiving its initial password or secure
 2961  sign-on from the Department of State allowing confidential
 2962  access to the department’s electronic campaign finance filing
 2963  system, electronically file the periodic reports that would have
 2964  been required pursuant to this section for reportable activities
 2965  that occurred since the date of the last general election.
 2966         (8)(9) Electioneering communications organizations shall
 2967  not use credit cards.
 2968         Section 59. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (2) and
 2969  subsections (3) and (7) of section 106.0705, Florida Statutes,
 2970  are amended to read:
 2971         106.0705 Electronic filing of campaign treasurer’s
 2972  reports.—
 2973         (2)(a) Each individual candidate who is required to file
 2974  reports with the division pursuant to s. 106.07 or s. 106.141
 2975  with the division must file such reports with the division by
 2976  means of the division’s electronic filing system.
 2977         (c) Each person or organization that is required to file
 2978  reports with the division under s. 106.071 must file such
 2979  reports with the division by means of the division’s electronic
 2980  filing system.
 2981         (3) Reports filed pursuant to this section shall be
 2982  completed and filed through the electronic filing system not
 2983  later than midnight of the day designated. Reports not filed by
 2984  midnight of the day designated are late filed and are subject to
 2985  the penalties under s. 106.04(9) s. 106.04(8), s. 106.07(8), s.
 2986  106.0703(7), or s. 106.29(3), as applicable.
 2987         (7) Notwithstanding anything in law to the contrary, any
 2988  report required to have been filed under this section for the
 2989  period ended March 31, 2005, shall be deemed to have been timely
 2990  filed if the report is filed under this section on or before
 2991  June 1, 2005.
 2992         Section 60. Subsections (3) and (6) of section 106.08,
 2993  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 2994         106.08 Contributions; limitations on.—
 2995         (3)(a) Any contribution received by a candidate with
 2996  opposition in an election or by the campaign treasurer or a
 2997  deputy campaign treasurer of such a candidate on the day of that
 2998  election or less than 5 days prior to the day of that election
 2999  must be returned by him or her to the person or committee
 3000  contributing it and may not be used or expended by or on behalf
 3001  of the candidate.
 3002         (b) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c), any
 3003  contribution received by a candidate or by the campaign
 3004  treasurer or a deputy campaign treasurer of a candidate after
 3005  the date at which the candidate withdraws his or her candidacy,
 3006  or after the date the candidate is defeated, becomes unopposed,
 3007  or is elected to office must be returned to the person or
 3008  committee contributing it and may not be used or expended by or
 3009  on behalf of the candidate.
 3010         (c) With respect to any campaign for an office in which an
 3011  independent or minor party candidate has filed as required in s.
 3012  99.0955 or s. 99.096, but whose qualification is pending a
 3013  determination by the Department of State or supervisor of
 3014  elections as to whether or not the required number of petition
 3015  signatures was obtained:
 3016         1. The department or supervisor shall, no later than 3 days
 3017  after that determination has been made, notify in writing all
 3018  other candidates for that office of that determination.
 3019         2. Any contribution received by a candidate or the campaign
 3020  treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer of a candidate after the
 3021  candidate has been notified in writing by the department or
 3022  supervisor that he or she has become unopposed as a result of an
 3023  independent or minor party candidate failing to obtain the
 3024  required number of petition signatures shall be returned to the
 3025  person, political committee, or committee of continuous
 3026  existence contributing it and shall not be used or expended by
 3027  or on behalf of the candidate.
 3028         (6)(a) A political party may not accept any contribution
 3029  that has been specifically designated for the partial or
 3030  exclusive use of a particular candidate. Any contribution so
 3031  designated must be returned to the contributor and may not be
 3032  used or expended by or on behalf of the candidate.
 3033         (b)1. A political party may not accept any in-kind
 3034  contribution that fails to provide a direct benefit to the
 3035  political party. A “direct benefit” includes, but is not limited
 3036  to, fundraising or furthering the objectives of the political
 3037  party.
 3038         2.a. An in-kind contribution to a state political party may
 3039  be accepted only by the chairperson of the state political party
 3040  or by the chairperson’s designee or designees whose names are on
 3041  file with the division in a form acceptable to the division
 3042  prior to the date of the written notice required in sub
 3043  subparagraph b. An in-kind contribution to a county political
 3044  party may be accepted only by the chairperson of the county
 3045  political party or by the county chairperson’s designee or
 3046  designees whose names are on file with the supervisor of
 3047  elections of the respective county prior to the date of the
 3048  written notice required in sub-subparagraph b.
 3049         b. A person making an in-kind contribution to a state
 3050  political party or county political party must provide prior
 3051  written notice of the contribution to a person described in sub
 3052  subparagraph a. The prior written notice must be signed and
 3053  dated and may be provided by an electronic or facsimile message.
 3054  However, prior written notice is not required for an in-kind
 3055  contribution that consists of food and beverage in an aggregate
 3056  amount not exceeding $1,500 which is consumed at a single
 3057  sitting or event if such in-kind contribution is accepted in
 3058  advance by a person specified in sub-subparagraph a.
 3059         c. A person described in sub-subparagraph a. may accept an
 3060  in-kind contribution requiring prior written notice only in a
 3061  writing that is signed and dated before the in-kind contribution
 3062  is made. Failure to obtain the required written acceptance of an
 3063  in-kind contribution to a state or county political party
 3064  constitutes a refusal of the contribution.
 3065         d. A copy of each prior written acceptance required under
 3066  sub-subparagraph c. must be filed with the division at the time
 3067  the regular reports of contributions and expenditures required
 3068  under s. 106.29 are filed by the state executive committee and
 3069  county executive committee. A state executive committee and an
 3070  affiliated party committee must file with the division. A county
 3071  executive committee must file with the county’s supervisor of
 3072  elections.
 3073         e. An in-kind contribution may not be given to a state or
 3074  county political party unless the in-kind contribution is made
 3075  as provided in this subparagraph.
 3076         Section 61. Section 106.09, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 3077  read:
 3078         106.09 Cash contributions and contribution by cashier’s
 3079  checks.—
 3080         (1)(a) A person may not make an aggregate or accept a cash
 3081  contribution or contribution by means of a cashier’s check to
 3082  the same candidate or committee in excess of $50 per election.
 3083         (b) A person may not accept an aggregate cash contribution
 3084  or contribution by means of a cashier’s check from the same
 3085  contributor in excess of $50 per election.
 3086         (2)(a) Any person who makes or accepts a contribution in
 3087  excess of $50 in violation of subsection (1) this section
 3088  commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as
 3089  provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
 3090         (b) Any person who knowingly and willfully makes or accepts
 3091  a contribution in excess of $5,000 in violation of subsection
 3092  (1) this section commits a felony of the third degree,
 3093  punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
 3094         Section 62. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and paragraph
 3095  (a) of subsection (2) of section 106.11, Florida Statutes, are
 3096  amended, and subsection (6) is added to that section, to read:
 3097         106.11 Expenses of and expenditures by candidates and
 3098  political committees.—Each candidate and each political
 3099  committee which designates a primary campaign depository
 3100  pursuant to s. 106.021(1) shall make expenditures from funds on
 3101  deposit in such primary campaign depository only in the
 3102  following manner, with the exception of expenditures made from
 3103  petty cash funds provided by s. 106.12:
 3104         (1)
 3105         (b) The checks for such account shall contain, as a
 3106  minimum, the following information:
 3107         1. The statement “Campaign Account of ...(name of candidate
 3108  or political committee)... Campaign Account.”
 3109         2. The account number and the name of the bank.
 3110         3. The exact amount of the expenditure.
 3111         4. The signature of the campaign treasurer or deputy
 3112  treasurer.
 3113         5. The exact purpose for which the expenditure is
 3114  authorized.
 3115         6. The name of the payee.
 3116         (2)(a) For purposes of this section, debit cards are
 3117  considered bank checks, if:
 3118         1. Debit cards are obtained from the same bank that has
 3119  been designated as the candidate’s or political committee’s
 3120  primary campaign depository.
 3121         2. Debit cards are issued in the name of the treasurer,
 3122  deputy treasurer, or authorized user and state “Campaign Account
 3123  of ...(name of candidate or political committee)... Campaign
 3124  Account.”
 3125         3. No more than three debit cards are requested and issued.
 3126         4. Before a debit card is used, a list of all persons
 3127  authorized to use the card is filed with the division.
 3128         5. All debit cards issued to a candidate’s campaign or a
 3129  political committee expire no later than midnight of the last
 3130  day of the month of the general election.
 3131         4.6. The person using the debit card does not receive cash
 3132  as part of, or independent of, any transaction for goods or
 3133  services.
 3134         5.7. All receipts for debit card transactions contain:
 3135         a. The last four digits of the debit card number.
 3136         b. The exact amount of the expenditure.
 3137         c. The name of the payee.
 3138         d. The signature of the campaign treasurer, deputy
 3139  treasurer, or authorized user.
 3140         e. The exact purpose for which the expenditure is
 3141  authorized.
 3142  
 3143  Any information required by this subparagraph but not included
 3144  on the debit card transaction receipt may be handwritten on, or
 3145  attached to, the receipt by the authorized user before
 3146  submission to the treasurer.
 3147         (6) A candidate who makes a loan to his or her campaign and
 3148  reports the loan as required by s. 106.07 may be reimbursed for
 3149  the loan at any time the campaign account has sufficient funds
 3150  to repay the loan and satisfy its other obligations.
 3151         Section 63. Subsection (4) of section 106.141, Florida
 3152  Statutes, is amended to read:
 3153         106.141 Disposition of surplus funds by candidates.—
 3154         (4)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), any candidate
 3155  required to dispose of funds pursuant to this section shall, at
 3156  the option of the candidate, dispose of such funds by any of the
 3157  following means, or any combination thereof:
 3158         1. Return pro rata to each contributor the funds that have
 3159  not been spent or obligated.
 3160         2. Donate the funds that have not been spent or obligated
 3161  to a charitable organization or organizations that meet the
 3162  qualifications of s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
 3163         3. Give not more than $10,000 of the funds that have not
 3164  been spent or obligated to the political party of which such
 3165  candidate is a member, except that a candidate for the Florida
 3166  Senate may give not more than $30,000 of such funds to the
 3167  political party of which the candidate is a member.
 3168         4. Give the funds that have not been spent or obligated:
 3169         a. In the case of a candidate for state office, to the
 3170  state, to be deposited in either the Election Campaign Financing
 3171  Trust Fund or the General Revenue Fund, as designated by the
 3172  candidate; or
 3173         b. In the case of a candidate for an office of a political
 3174  subdivision, to such political subdivision, to be deposited in
 3175  the general fund thereof.
 3176         (b) Any candidate required to dispose of funds pursuant to
 3177  this section who has received contributions pursuant to from the
 3178  Florida Election Campaign Financing Act Trust Fund shall, after
 3179  all monetary commitments pursuant to s. 106.11(5)(b) and (c)
 3180  have been met, return all surplus campaign funds to the General
 3181  Revenue Election Campaign Financing Trust Fund.
 3182         Section 64. Section 106.143, Florida Statutes, is amended
 3183  to read:
 3184         106.143 Political advertisements circulated prior to
 3185  election; requirements.—
 3186         (1)(a) Any political advertisement that is paid for by a
 3187  candidate, except a write-in candidate, and that is published,
 3188  displayed, or circulated before, or on the day of, any election
 3189  must prominently state:
 3190         1. “Political advertisement paid for and approved by
 3191  ...(name of candidate)..., ...(party affiliation)..., for
 3192  ...(office sought)...”; or
 3193         2. “Paid by ...(name of candidate)..., ...(party
 3194  affiliation)..., for ...(office sought)....”
 3195         (b) Any political advertisement that is paid for by a
 3196  write-in candidate and that is published, displayed, or
 3197  circulated before, or on the day of, any election must
 3198  prominently state:
 3199         1. “Political advertisement paid for and approved by
 3200  ...(name of candidate)..., write-in candidate, for ...(office
 3201  sought)...”; or
 3202         2. “Paid by ...(name of candidate)..., write-in candidate,
 3203  for ...(office sought)....”
 3204         (c)(b) Any other political advertisement published,
 3205  displayed, or circulated before, or on the day of, any election
 3206  must prominently:
 3207         1. Be marked “paid political advertisement” or with the
 3208  abbreviation “pd. pol. adv.”
 3209         2. State the name and address of the persons paying for
 3210  sponsoring the advertisement.
 3211         3.a.(I) State whether the advertisement and the cost of
 3212  production is paid for or provided in kind by or at the expense
 3213  of the entity publishing, displaying, broadcasting, or
 3214  circulating the political advertisement.; or
 3215         (II) State who provided or paid for the advertisement and
 3216  cost of production, if different from the source of sponsorship.
 3217         b. This subparagraph does not apply if the source of the
 3218  sponsorship is patently clear from the content or format of the
 3219  political advertisement.
 3220         (d)(c) Any political advertisement made pursuant to s.
 3221  106.021(3)(d) must be marked “paid political advertisement” or
 3222  with the abbreviation “pd. pol. adv.” and must prominently state
 3223  the name and address of the political committee or political
 3224  party paying for the advertisement., “Paid for and sponsored by
 3225  ...(name of person paying for political advertisement)....
 3226  Approved by ...(names of persons, party affiliation, and offices
 3227  sought in the political advertisement)....”
 3228         (2) Political advertisements made as in-kind contributions
 3229  from a political party must prominently state: “Paid political
 3230  advertisement paid for by in-kind by ...(name of political
 3231  party).... Approved by ...(name of person, party affiliation,
 3232  and office sought in the political advertisement)....”
 3233         (3)(2) Any political advertisement of a candidate running
 3234  for partisan office shall express the name of the political
 3235  party of which the candidate is seeking nomination or is the
 3236  nominee. If the candidate for partisan office is running as a
 3237  candidate with no party affiliation, any political advertisement
 3238  of the candidate must state that the candidate has no party
 3239  affiliation. A political advertisement of a candidate running
 3240  for nonpartisan office may not state the candidate’s political
 3241  party affiliation. This section does not prohibit a political
 3242  advertisement from stating the candidate’s partisan-related
 3243  experience. A candidate for nonpartisan office is prohibited
 3244  from campaigning based on party affiliation.
 3245         (4)(3) It is unlawful for any candidate or person on behalf
 3246  of a candidate to represent that any person or organization
 3247  supports such candidate, unless the person or organization so
 3248  represented has given specific approval in writing to the
 3249  candidate to make such representation. However, this subsection
 3250  does not apply to:
 3251         (a) Editorial endorsement by any newspaper, radio or
 3252  television station, or other recognized news medium.
 3253         (b) Publication by a party committee advocating the
 3254  candidacy of its nominees.
 3255         (5)(4)(a) Any political advertisement not paid for by a
 3256  candidate, including those paid for by a political party, other
 3257  than an independent expenditure, offered by or on behalf of a
 3258  candidate must be approved in advance by the candidate. Such
 3259  political advertisement must expressly state that the content of
 3260  the advertisement was approved by the candidate, unless the
 3261  political advertisement is published, displayed, or circulated
 3262  in compliance with subparagraph (1)(a)2., and must state who
 3263  paid for the advertisement. The candidate shall provide a
 3264  written statement of authorization to the newspaper, radio
 3265  station, television station, or other medium for each such
 3266  advertisement submitted for publication, display, broadcast, or
 3267  other distribution.
 3268         (b) Any person who makes an independent expenditure for a
 3269  political advertisement shall provide a written statement that
 3270  no candidate has approved the advertisement to the newspaper,
 3271  radio station, television station, or other medium for each such
 3272  advertisement submitted for publication, display, broadcast, or
 3273  other distribution. The advertisement must also contain a
 3274  statement that no candidate has approved the advertisement.
 3275         (c) This subsection does not apply to campaign messages
 3276  used by a candidate and his or her supporters if those messages
 3277  are designed to be worn by a person.
 3278         (6)(5) No political advertisement of a candidate who is not
 3279  an incumbent of the office for which the candidate is running
 3280  shall use the word “re-elect.” Additionally, such advertisement
 3281  must include the word “for” between the candidate’s name and the
 3282  office for which the candidate is running, in order that
 3283  incumbency is not implied. This subsection does not apply to
 3284  bumper stickers or items designed to be worn by a person.
 3285         (7) Political advertisements paid for by a political party
 3286  or an affiliated party committee may use names and abbreviations
 3287  as registered under s. 103.081 in the disclaimer.
 3288         (8)(6) This section does not apply to novelty items having
 3289  a retail value of $10 or less which support, but do not oppose,
 3290  a candidate or issue.
 3291         (9)(7) Any political advertisement which is published,
 3292  displayed, or produced in a language other than English may
 3293  provide the information required by this section in the language
 3294  used in the advertisement.
 3295         (10)(8) This section does not apply to any campaign message
 3296  or political advertisement used by a candidate and the
 3297  candidate’s supporters or by a political committee if the
 3298  message or advertisement is:
 3299         (a) Designed to be worn by a person.
 3300         (b) Placed as a paid link on an Internet website, provided
 3301  the message or advertisement is no more than 200 characters in
 3302  length and the link directs the user to another Internet website
 3303  that complies with subsection (1).
 3304         (c) Placed as a graphic or picture link where compliance
 3305  with the requirements of this section is not reasonably
 3306  practical due to the size of the graphic or picture link and the
 3307  link directs the user to another Internet website that complies
 3308  with subsection (1).
 3309         (d) Placed at no cost on an Internet website for which
 3310  there is no cost to post content for public users.
 3311         (e) Placed or distributed on an unpaid profile or account
 3312  which is available to the public without charge or on a social
 3313  networking Internet website, as long as the source of the
 3314  message or advertisement is patently clear from the content or
 3315  format of the message or advertisement. A candidate or political
 3316  committee may prominently display a statement indicating that
 3317  the website or account is an official website or account of the
 3318  candidate or political committee and is approved by the
 3319  candidate or political committee. A website or account may not
 3320  be marked as official without prior approval by the candidate or
 3321  political committee.
 3322         (f) Distributed as a text message or other message via
 3323  Short Message Service, provided the message is no more than 200
 3324  characters in length or requires the recipient to sign up or opt
 3325  in to receive it.
 3326         (g) Connected with or included in any software application
 3327  or accompanying function, provided that the user signs up, opts
 3328  in, downloads, or otherwise accesses the application from or
 3329  through a website that complies with subsection (1).
 3330         (h) Sent by a third-party user from or through a campaign
 3331  or committee’s website, provided the website complies with
 3332  subsection (1).
 3333         (i) Contained in or distributed through any other
 3334  technology-related item, service, or device for which compliance
 3335  with subsection (1) is not reasonably practical due to the size
 3336  or nature of such item, service, or device as available, or the
 3337  means of displaying the message or advertisement makes
 3338  compliance with subsection (1) impracticable.
 3339         (11)(9) Any person who willfully violates any provision of
 3340  this section is subject to the civil penalties prescribed in s.
 3341  106.265.
 3342         Section 65. Section 106.1437, Florida Statutes, is amended
 3343  to read:
 3344         106.1437 Miscellaneous advertisements.—Any advertisement,
 3345  other than a political advertisement, independent expenditure,
 3346  or electioneering communication, on billboards, bumper stickers,
 3347  radio, or television, or in a newspaper, a magazine, or a
 3348  periodical, intended to influence public policy or the vote of a
 3349  public official, shall clearly designate the sponsor of such
 3350  advertisement by including a clearly readable statement of
 3351  sponsorship. If the advertisement is broadcast on television,
 3352  the advertisement shall also contain a verbal statement of
 3353  sponsorship. This section does shall not apply to an editorial
 3354  endorsement. For purposes of this chapter, an expenditure made
 3355  for, or in furtherance of, a miscellaneous advertisement is not
 3356  considered to be a contribution to or on behalf of a candidate,
 3357  and does not constitute an independent expenditure. Such
 3358  expenditures are not subject to the limitations applicable to
 3359  independent expenditures.
 3360         Section 66. Section 106.17, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 3361  read:
 3362         106.17 Polls and surveys relating to candidacies.—Any
 3363  candidate, political committee, committee of continuous
 3364  existence, electioneering communication organization, or state
 3365  or county executive committee of a political party may authorize
 3366  or conduct a political poll, survey, index, or measurement of
 3367  any kind relating to candidacy for public office so long as the
 3368  candidate, political committee, committee of continuous
 3369  existence, electioneering communication organization, or
 3370  political party maintains complete jurisdiction over the poll in
 3371  all its aspects. State and county executive committees of a
 3372  political party or an affiliated party committee may authorize
 3373  and conduct political polls for the purpose of determining the
 3374  viability of potential candidates. Such poll results may be
 3375  shared with potential candidates, and expenditures incurred by
 3376  state and county executive committees or an affiliated party
 3377  committee for potential candidate polls are not contributions to
 3378  the potential candidates.
 3379         Section 67. Subsection (4) is added to section 106.19,
 3380  Florida Statutes, to read:
 3381         106.19 Violations by candidates, persons connected with
 3382  campaigns, and political committees.—
 3383         (4) Except as otherwise expressly stated, the failure by a
 3384  candidate to comply with the requirements of this chapter has no
 3385  effect upon whether the candidate has qualified for the office
 3386  the candidate is seeking.
 3387         Section 68. Subsections (2) and (3), paragraph (i) of
 3388  subsection (4), and subsection (5) of section 106.25, Florida
 3389  Statutes, are amended to read:
 3390         106.25 Reports of alleged violations to Florida Elections
 3391  Commission; disposition of findings.—
 3392         (2) The commission shall investigate all violations of this
 3393  chapter and chapter 104, but only after having received either a
 3394  sworn complaint or information reported to it under this
 3395  subsection by the Division of Elections. Such sworn complaint
 3396  must be based upon personal information or information other
 3397  than hearsay. Any person, other than the division, having
 3398  information of any violation of this chapter or chapter 104
 3399  shall file a sworn complaint with the commission. The commission
 3400  shall investigate only those alleged violations specifically
 3401  contained within the sworn complaint. If any complainant fails
 3402  to allege all violations that arise from the facts or
 3403  allegations alleged in a complaint, the commission shall be
 3404  barred from investigating a subsequent complaint from such
 3405  complainant that is based upon such facts or allegations that
 3406  were raised or could have been raised in the first complaint. If
 3407  the complaint includes allegations of violations relating to
 3408  expense items reimbursed by a candidate, committee, or
 3409  organization to the campaign account before a sworn complaint is
 3410  filed, the commission shall be barred from investigating such
 3411  allegations. Such sworn complaint shall state whether a
 3412  complaint of the same violation has been made to any state
 3413  attorney. Within 5 days after receipt of a sworn complaint, the
 3414  commission shall transmit a copy of the complaint to the alleged
 3415  violator. The respondent shall have 14 days after receipt of the
 3416  complaint to file an initial response, and the executive
 3417  director may not determine the legal sufficiency of the
 3418  complaint during that time period. If the executive director
 3419  finds that the complaint is legally sufficient, the respondent
 3420  shall be notified of such finding by letter, which sets forth
 3421  the statutory provisions alleged to have been violated and the
 3422  alleged factual basis that supports the finding. All sworn
 3423  complaints alleging violations of the Florida Election Code over
 3424  which the commission has jurisdiction shall be filed with the
 3425  commission within 2 years after the alleged violations. The
 3426  period of limitations is tolled on the day a sworn complaint is
 3427  filed with the commission. The complainant may withdraw the
 3428  sworn complaint at any time prior to a probable cause hearing if
 3429  good cause is shown. Withdrawal shall be requested in writing,
 3430  signed by the complainant, and witnessed by a notary public,
 3431  stating the facts and circumstances constituting good cause. The
 3432  executive director shall prepare a written recommendation
 3433  regarding disposition of the request which shall be given to the
 3434  commission together with the request. “Good cause” shall be
 3435  determined based upon the legal sufficiency or insufficiency of
 3436  the complaint to allege a violation and the reasons given by the
 3437  complainant for wishing to withdraw the complaint. If withdrawal
 3438  is permitted, the commission must close the investigation and
 3439  the case. No further action may be taken. The complaint will
 3440  become a public record at the time of withdrawal.
 3441         (3) For the purposes of commission jurisdiction, a
 3442  violation shall mean the willful performance of an act
 3443  prohibited by this chapter or chapter 104 or the willful failure
 3444  to perform an act required by this chapter or chapter 104. The
 3445  commission may not by rule determine what constitutes
 3446  willfulness or further define the term “willful” for purposes of
 3447  this chapter or chapter 104. Willfulness is a determination of
 3448  fact; however, at the request of the respondent at any time
 3449  after probable cause is found, willfulness may be considered and
 3450  determined in an informal hearing before the commission.
 3451         (4) The commission shall undertake a preliminary
 3452  investigation to determine if the facts alleged in a sworn
 3453  complaint or a matter initiated by the division constitute
 3454  probable cause to believe that a violation has occurred.
 3455         (i)1. Upon a commission finding of probable cause, the
 3456  counsel for the commission shall attempt to reach a consent
 3457  agreement with the respondent. At any time, the commission may
 3458  enter into a consent order with a respondent without requiring
 3459  the respondent to admit to a violation of law within the
 3460  jurisdiction of the commission.
 3461         2. A consent agreement is not binding upon either party
 3462  unless and until it is signed by the respondent and by counsel
 3463  for the commission upon approval by the commission.
 3464         3. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the
 3465  commission from entering into a consent agreement with a
 3466  respondent prior to a commission finding of probable cause if a
 3467  respondent indicates in writing a desire to enter into
 3468  negotiations directed towards reaching such a consent agreement.
 3469  Any consent agreement reached under this subparagraph is subject
 3470  to the provisions of subparagraph 2. and shall have the same
 3471  force and effect as a consent agreement reached after the
 3472  commission finding of probable cause.
 3473  
 3474  In a case where probable cause is found, the commission shall
 3475  make a preliminary determination to consider the matter or to
 3476  refer the matter to the state attorney for the judicial circuit
 3477  in which the alleged violation occurred. Notwithstanding any
 3478  other provisions of this section, the commission may, at its
 3479  discretion, dismiss any complaint at any stage of disposition if
 3480  it determines that the public interest would not be served by
 3481  proceeding further, in which case the commission shall issue a
 3482  public report stating with particularity its reasons for the
 3483  dismissal.
 3484         (5) Unless A person alleged by the Elections Commission to
 3485  have committed a violation of this chapter or chapter 104 may
 3486  elect, as a matter of right elects, within 30 days after the
 3487  date of the filing of the commission’s allegations, to have a
 3488  formal administrative or informal hearing conducted before the
 3489  commission, or elects to resolve the complaint by consent order,
 3490  such person shall be entitled to a formal administrative hearing
 3491  conducted by an administrative law judge in the Division of
 3492  Administrative Hearings. The administrative law judge in such
 3493  proceedings shall enter a final order, which may include the
 3494  imposition of civil penalties, subject to appeal as provided in
 3495  s. 120.68. If the person does not elect to have a hearing by an
 3496  administrative law judge and does not elect to resolve the
 3497  complaint by a consent order, the person is entitled to a formal
 3498  or informal hearing conducted before the commission.
 3499         Section 69. Subsection (1) of section 106.26, Florida
 3500  Statutes, is amended to read:
 3501         106.26 Powers of commission; rights and responsibilities of
 3502  parties; findings by commission.—
 3503         (1) The commission shall, pursuant to rules adopted and
 3504  published in accordance with chapter 120, consider all sworn
 3505  complaints filed with it and all matters reported to it by the
 3506  Division of Elections. In order to carry out the
 3507  responsibilities prescribed by this chapter, the commission is
 3508  empowered to subpoena and bring before it, or its duly
 3509  authorized representatives, any person in the state, or any
 3510  person doing business in the state, or any person who has filed
 3511  or is required to have filed any application, document, papers,
 3512  or other information with an office or agency of this state or a
 3513  political subdivision thereof and to require the production of
 3514  any papers, books, or other records relevant to any
 3515  investigation, including the records and accounts of any bank or
 3516  trust company doing business in this state. Duly authorized
 3517  representatives of the commission are empowered to administer
 3518  all oaths and affirmations in the manner prescribed by law to
 3519  witnesses who shall appear before them concerning any relevant
 3520  matter. Should any witness fail to respond to the lawful
 3521  subpoena of the commission or, having responded, fail to answer
 3522  all lawful inquiries or to turn over evidence that has been
 3523  subpoenaed, the commission may file a complaint in the before
 3524  any circuit court where the witness resides of the state setting
 3525  up such failure on the part of the witness. On the filing of
 3526  such complaint, the court shall take jurisdiction of the witness
 3527  and the subject matter of said complaint and shall direct the
 3528  witness to respond to all lawful questions and to produce all
 3529  documentary evidence in the witness’s possession which is
 3530  lawfully demanded. The failure of any witness to comply with
 3531  such order of the court shall constitute a direct and criminal
 3532  contempt of court, and the court shall punish said witness
 3533  accordingly. However, the refusal by a witness to answer
 3534  inquiries or turn over evidence on the basis that such testimony
 3535  or material will tend to incriminate such witness shall not be
 3536  deemed refusal to comply with the provisions of this chapter.
 3537  The sheriffs in the several counties shall make such service and
 3538  execute all process or orders when required by the commission.
 3539  Sheriffs shall be paid for these services by the commission as
 3540  provided for in s. 30.231. Any person who is served with a
 3541  subpoena to attend a hearing of the commission also shall be
 3542  served with a general statement informing him or her of the
 3543  subject matter of the commission’s investigation or inquiry and
 3544  a notice that he or she may be accompanied at the hearing by
 3545  counsel of his or her own choosing.
 3546         Section 70. Subsections (1) through (4) of section 106.265,
 3547  Florida Statutes, are amended and renumbered, and present
 3548  subsection (5) of that section is renumbered as subsection (6),
 3549  to read:
 3550         106.265 Civil penalties.—
 3551         (1) The commission or, in cases referred to the Division of
 3552  Administrative Hearings pursuant to s. 106.25(5), the
 3553  administrative law judge is authorized upon the finding of a
 3554  violation of this chapter or chapter 104 to impose civil
 3555  penalties in the form of fines not to exceed $1,000 per count,
 3556  or, if applicable, to impose a civil penalty as provided in s.
 3557  104.271 or s. 106.19.
 3558         (2) In determining the amount of such civil penalties, the
 3559  commission or administrative law judge shall consider, among
 3560  other mitigating and aggravating circumstances:
 3561         (a) The gravity of the act or omission;
 3562         (b) Any previous history of similar acts or omissions;
 3563         (c) The appropriateness of such penalty to the financial
 3564  resources of the person, political committee, committee of
 3565  continuous existence, electioneering communications
 3566  organization, or political party; and
 3567         (d) Whether the person, political committee, committee of
 3568  continuous existence, electioneering communications
 3569  organization, or political party has shown good faith in
 3570  attempting to comply with the provisions of this chapter or
 3571  chapter 104.
 3572         (3)(2) If any person, political committee, committee of
 3573  continuous existence, electioneering communications
 3574  organization, or political party fails or refuses to pay to the
 3575  commission any civil penalties assessed pursuant to the
 3576  provisions of this section, the commission shall be responsible
 3577  for collecting the civil penalties resulting from such action.
 3578         (4)(3) Any civil penalty collected pursuant to the
 3579  provisions of this section shall be deposited into the General
 3580  Revenue Fund Election Campaign Financing Trust Fund.
 3581         (5)(4)Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
 3582  chapter, Any fine assessed pursuant to the provisions of this
 3583  chapter shall, which fine is designated to be deposited or which
 3584  would otherwise be deposited into the General Revenue Fund of
 3585  the state, shall be deposited into the Election Campaign
 3586  Financing Trust Fund.
 3587         Section 71. Subsection (1) and paragraph (b) of subsection
 3588  (3) of section 106.29, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 3589         106.29 Reports by political parties; restrictions on
 3590  contributions and expenditures; penalties.—
 3591         (1) The state executive committee and each county executive
 3592  committee of each political party regulated by chapter 103 shall
 3593  file regular reports of all contributions received and all
 3594  expenditures made by such committee. However, the reports need
 3595  not include contributions and expenditures that are reported to
 3596  the Federal Election Commission. In addition, when a special
 3597  election is called to fill a vacancy in office, each state
 3598  executive committee, each affiliated party committee, and each
 3599  county executive committee making contributions or expenditures
 3600  to influence the results of the special election or the
 3601  preceding special primary election must file campaign
 3602  treasurers’ reports on the dates set by the Department of State
 3603  pursuant to s. 100.111. Such reports shall contain the same
 3604  information as do reports required of candidates by s. 106.07
 3605  and shall be filed on the 10th day following the end of each
 3606  calendar quarter, except that, during the period from the last
 3607  day for candidate qualifying until the general election, such
 3608  reports shall be filed on the Friday immediately preceding each
 3609  special primary election, special election, both the primary
 3610  election, and the general election. In addition to the reports
 3611  filed under this section, the state executive committee and each
 3612  county executive committee shall file a copy of each prior
 3613  written acceptance of an in-kind contribution given by the
 3614  committee during the preceding calendar quarter as required
 3615  under s. 106.08(6). Each state executive committee shall file
 3616  the original and one copy of its reports with the Division of
 3617  Elections. Each county executive committee shall file its
 3618  reports with the supervisor of elections in the county in which
 3619  such committee exists. Any state or county executive committee
 3620  failing to file a report on the designated due date shall be
 3621  subject to a fine as provided in subsection (3). No separate
 3622  fine shall be assessed for failure to file a copy of any report
 3623  required by this section.
 3624         (3)
 3625         (b) Upon determining that a report is late, the filing
 3626  officer shall immediately notify the chair of the executive
 3627  committee as to the failure to file a report by the designated
 3628  due date and that a fine is being assessed for each late day.
 3629  The fine shall be $1,000 for a state executive committee, and
 3630  $50 for a county executive committee, per day for each late day,
 3631  not to exceed 25 percent of the total receipts or expenditures,
 3632  whichever is greater, for the period covered by the late report.
 3633  However, if an executive committee fails to file a report on the
 3634  Friday immediately preceding the special election or general
 3635  election, the fine shall be $10,000 per day for each day a state
 3636  executive committee is late and $500 per day for each day a
 3637  county executive committee is late. Upon receipt of the report,
 3638  the filing officer shall determine the amount of the fine which
 3639  is due and shall notify the chair. Notice is deemed complete
 3640  upon proof of delivery of written notice to the mailing or
 3641  street address on record with the filing officer. The filing
 3642  officer shall determine the amount of the fine due based upon
 3643  the earliest of the following:
 3644         1. When the report is actually received by such officer.
 3645         2. When the report is postmarked.
 3646         3. When the certificate of mailing is dated.
 3647         4. When the receipt from an established courier company is
 3648  dated.
 3649         5. When the electronic receipt issued pursuant to s.
 3650  106.0705 is dated.
 3651  
 3652  Such fine shall be paid to the filing officer within 20 days
 3653  after receipt of the notice of payment due, unless appeal is
 3654  made to the Florida Elections Commission pursuant to paragraph
 3655  (c). An officer or member of an executive committee shall not be
 3656  personally liable for such fine.
 3657         Section 72. Subsection (5) of section 106.35, Florida
 3658  Statutes, is amended to read:
 3659         106.35 Distribution of funds.—
 3660         (5) The division shall adopt rules providing for the weekly
 3661  reports and certification and distribution of funds pursuant
 3662  thereto required by this section. Such rules shall, at a
 3663  minimum, provide for:
 3664         (a) Specifications for printed campaign treasurer’s reports
 3665  outlining the format for such reports, including size of paper,
 3666  typeface, color of print, and placement of required information
 3667  on the form.
 3668         (b)1. specifications for electronically transmitted
 3669  campaign treasurer’s reports outlining communication parameters
 3670  and protocol, data record formats, and provisions for ensuring
 3671  security of data and transmission.
 3672         2. All electronically transmitted campaign treasurer’s
 3673  reports must also be filed in printed format. Printed format
 3674  shall not include campaign treasurer’s reports submitted by
 3675  electronic facsimile transmission.
 3676         Section 73. Paragraph (b) of subsection (12) of section
 3677  112.312, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 3678         112.312 Definitions.—As used in this part and for purposes
 3679  of the provisions of s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution,
 3680  unless the context otherwise requires:
 3681         (12)
 3682         (b) “Gift” does not include:
 3683         1. Salary, benefits, services, fees, commissions, gifts, or
 3684  expenses associated primarily with the donee’s employment,
 3685  business, or service as an officer or director of a corporation
 3686  or organization.
 3687         2. Contributions or expenditures reported pursuant to
 3688  chapter 106, contributions or expenditures reported pursuant to
 3689  federal election law, campaign-related personal services
 3690  provided without compensation by individuals volunteering their
 3691  time, or any other contribution or expenditure by a political
 3692  party.
 3693         3. An honorarium or an expense related to an honorarium
 3694  event paid to a person or the person’s spouse.
 3695         4. An award, plaque, certificate, or similar personalized
 3696  item given in recognition of the donee’s public, civic,
 3697  charitable, or professional service.
 3698         5. An honorary membership in a service or fraternal
 3699  organization presented merely as a courtesy by such
 3700  organization.
 3701         6. The use of a public facility or public property, made
 3702  available by a governmental agency, for a public purpose.
 3703         7. Transportation provided to a public officer or employee
 3704  by an agency in relation to officially approved governmental
 3705  business.
 3706         8. Gifts provided directly or indirectly by a state,
 3707  regional, or national organization which promotes the exchange
 3708  of ideas between, or the professional development of,
 3709  governmental officials or employees, and whose membership is
 3710  primarily composed of elected or appointed public officials or
 3711  staff, to members of that organization or officials or staff of
 3712  a governmental agency that is a member of that organization.
 3713         Section 74. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section
 3714  112.3215, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 3715         112.3215 Lobbying before the executive branch or the
 3716  Constitution Revision Commission; registration and reporting;
 3717  investigation by commission.—
 3718         (1) For the purposes of this section:
 3719         (d) “Expenditure” means a payment, distribution, loan,
 3720  advance, reimbursement, deposit, or anything of value made by a
 3721  lobbyist or principal for the purpose of lobbying. The term
 3722  “expenditure” does not include contributions or expenditures
 3723  reported pursuant to chapter 106 or contributions or
 3724  expenditures reported pursuant to federal election law,
 3725  campaign-related personal services provided without compensation
 3726  by individuals volunteering their time, any other contribution
 3727  or expenditure made by or to a political party, or any other
 3728  contribution or expenditure made by an organization that is
 3729  exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. s. 527 or s. 501(c)(4).
 3730         Section 75. Subsection (1) of section 876.05, Florida
 3731  Statutes, is amended to read:
 3732         876.05 Public employees; oath.—
 3733         (1) All persons who now or hereafter are employed by or who
 3734  now or hereafter are on the payroll of the state, or any of its
 3735  departments and agencies, subdivisions, counties, cities, school
 3736  boards and districts of the free public school system of the
 3737  state or counties, or institutions of higher learning, and all
 3738  candidates for public office, except candidates for federal
 3739  office, are required to take an oath before any person duly
 3740  authorized to take acknowledgments of instruments for public
 3741  record in the state in the following form:
 3742  
 3743         I, ...., a citizen of the State of Florida and of the
 3744  United States of America, and being employed by or an officer of
 3745  .... and a recipient of public funds as such employee or
 3746  officer, do hereby solemnly swear or affirm that I will support
 3747  the Constitution of the United States and of the State of
 3748  Florida.
 3749         Section 76. Section 876.07, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
 3750         Section 77. If any provision of this act or its application
 3751  to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity
 3752  does not affect other provisions or applications of the act
 3753  which can be given effect without the invalid provision or
 3754  application, and to this end the provisions of this act are
 3755  severable.
 3756         Section 78. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
 3757  act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.
 3758  
 3759  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
 3760         And the title is amended as follows:
 3761         Delete everything before the enacting clause
 3762  and insert:
 3763                        A bill to be entitled                      
 3764         An act relating to elections; amending s. 97.012,
 3765         F.S.; expanding the list of responsibilities of the
 3766         Secretary of State when acting in his or her capacity
 3767         as chief election officer; amending s. 97.021, F.S.;
 3768         redefining the term “minor political party”; amending
 3769         s. 97.025, F.S.; replacing a requirement for the
 3770         Department of State to print copies of a pamphlet
 3771         containing the Election Code with a requirement that
 3772         the pamphlet be made available; amending s. 97.0575,
 3773         F.S.; requiring that third-party voter registration
 3774         organizations register with the Division of Elections
 3775         and provide the division with certain information;
 3776         requiring that the division or a supervisor of
 3777         elections make voter registration forms available to
 3778         third-party voter registration organizations;
 3779         requiring that such forms contain certain information;
 3780         requiring that the division maintain a database of
 3781         certain information; requiring supervisors of
 3782         elections to provide specified information to the
 3783         division in a format and at times required by the
 3784         division; requiring that such information be updated
 3785         and made public daily at a specified time; requiring
 3786         third-party voter registration organizations to
 3787         deliver collected voter registration applications
 3788         within a specified period; revising penalty provisions
 3789         to conform; specifying grounds for an affirmative
 3790         defense to a violation of timely submission
 3791         requirements; providing for the referral of violations
 3792         to the Attorney General; authorizing the Attorney
 3793         General to initiate a civil action; providing that an
 3794         action for relief may include a permanent or temporary
 3795         injunction, a restraining order, or any other
 3796         appropriate order; requiring that the division adopt
 3797         rules for specified purposes; providing for
 3798         retroactive application of certain requirements
 3799         applicable to third-party voter registration
 3800         organizations; deleting provisions providing for fines
 3801         to be in addition to criminal penalties; deleting
 3802         provisions providing a continuing appropriation of the
 3803         proceeds of fines; amending s. 97.071, F.S.; requiring
 3804         that voter information cards contain the address of
 3805         the polling place of the registered voter; requiring a
 3806         supervisor of elections to issue a new voter
 3807         information card to a voter upon a change in a voter’s
 3808         address of legal residence or a change in a voter’s
 3809         polling place address; providing instructions for
 3810         implementation by the supervisors of elections;
 3811         amending s. 97.073, F.S.; requiring a supervisor to
 3812         notify an applicant within 5 business days regarding
 3813         disposition of the voter registration applications;
 3814         amending s. 97.1031, F.S.; revising the methods by
 3815         which a person must update his or her voter
 3816         registration due to a change of address; revising
 3817         procedures for an elector to change his or her party
 3818         affiliation; requiring an elector to notify the
 3819         supervisor of elections when the elector changes his
 3820         or her name; amending s. 98.075, F.S.; revising
 3821         procedures for the removal of deceased persons and
 3822         other potentially ineligible persons from the
 3823         statewide voter registration system; amending s.
 3824         98.093, F.S.; revising requirements for the Department
 3825         of Corrections to provide the Department of State with
 3826         information relating to convicted felons; requiring
 3827         the Florida Parole Commission to regularly furnish
 3828         data to the Department of State relating to persons
 3829         who have been granted clemency; amending s. 98.0981,
 3830         F.S.; providing timeframes and formats for voting
 3831         history information to be sent by the supervisors of
 3832         elections to the department; providing timeframes and
 3833         formats for voting history information to be sent by
 3834         the department to the President of the Senate, the
 3835         Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
 3836         respective minority leaders; requiring submission of
 3837         precinct-level information in a certain format by a
 3838         time certain; amending s. 99.012, F.S.; providing that
 3839         a person may not be qualified as a candidate for an
 3840         election or appear on the ballot unless the person
 3841         complies with certain requirements; amending s.
 3842         99.021, F.S.; revising the candidate oath requirement
 3843         for a person seeking to qualify for nomination or
 3844         election or as a candidate of a political party;
 3845         removing a requirement for the qualifying officer to
 3846         provide a printed copy of the candidate oath; removing
 3847         a requirement for taking the public employee oath;
 3848         clarifying that candidates for Unites States President
 3849         and Vice President need not subscribe certain oaths;
 3850         correcting references for other oaths; amending s.
 3851         99.061, F.S.; revising the timeframe for a candidate
 3852         to pay a qualifying fee under certain circumstances;
 3853         requiring checks to be payable as prescribed by the
 3854         filing officer; requiring signatures on certain oaths
 3855         to be verified; removing a requirement for a public
 3856         employee oath; requiring the filing of a verified
 3857         notarized financial disclosure statement; clarifying
 3858         the time for qualifying papers to be received;
 3859         providing that the qualifying officer performs a
 3860         ministerial duty only; exempting a decision by the
 3861         qualifying officer from the Administrative Procedure
 3862         Act; amending s. 99.063, F.S.; requiring a candidate’s
 3863         oath to be verified; deleting a requirement for a
 3864         candidate to file a loyalty oath with the Department
 3865         of State by a certain date; amending s. 99.092, F.S.;
 3866         providing for the transfer of the election assessment
 3867         to the Elections Commission Trust Fund; amending s.
 3868         99.093, F.S.; providing for the election assessments
 3869         paid by a person seeking to qualify for a municipal
 3870         office to be forwarded by the qualifying officer to
 3871         the Florida Elections Commission; amending s. 99.095,
 3872         F.S.; allowing a candidate to obtain the required
 3873         number of signatures from any registered voter
 3874         regardless of district boundaries in a year of
 3875         apportionment; amending s. 99.097, F.S.; providing for
 3876         the Department of State to adopt rules to verify
 3877         petitions through random sampling; creating exceptions
 3878         for certain petitions from the authorization to use
 3879         random sampling to verify petitions; revising criteria
 3880         that a supervisor of elections must use to determine
 3881         whether a petition may be counted as valid; providing
 3882         that an exemption from paying fees to verify petitions
 3883         does not apply if a person has been paid to solicit
 3884         signatures; providing that contributions received
 3885         after the filing of an undue burden oath must first be
 3886         used to pay fees for verifying petitions; amending s.
 3887         100.061, F.S.; increasing the time period between a
 3888         primary election and a general election; amending s.
 3889         100.101, F.S.; conforming a provision to changes made
 3890         by the act; amending s. 100.111, F.S.; deleting
 3891         provisions relating to vacancies in a state or county
 3892         office because an incumbent qualified as a candidate
 3893         for federal office; providing for a filing officer,
 3894         rather than the Department of State, to notify a
 3895         political party that it may nominate a person for
 3896         office if certain events cause the party to have a
 3897         vacancy in nomination; revising provisions relating to
 3898         the filling of a vacancy in a nomination; deleting a
 3899         defined term; providing that a vacancy in nomination
 3900         is not created as the result of certain court orders;
 3901         amending s. 100.371, F.S.; deleting provisions
 3902         relating to a right to revoke a signature on an
 3903         initiative petition; reducing the time period for
 3904         which a signed and dated initiative petition form is
 3905         valid; requiring an initiative sponsor to submit an
 3906         initiative form to the supervisor of elections for the
 3907         county of residence of the person signing the form for
 3908         verification; providing procedures for misfiled
 3909         petitions; revising criteria for a supervisor of
 3910         elections to verify a signature on an initiative
 3911         petition form; deleting provisions relating to
 3912         petition signature revocations; amending s. 101.001,
 3913         F.S.; requiring the supervisors of elections to
 3914         provide the department with precinct data including
 3915         specified information; requiring the department to
 3916         maintain a searchable database containing certain
 3917         precinct and census block information; requiring
 3918         supervisors of elections to notify the department of
 3919         precinct changes within a specified time; deleting a
 3920         waiver; amending s. 101.043, F.S.; replacing
 3921         references to the word “voter” with “elector”;
 3922         providing that the address on an elector’s
 3923         identification may not be used to confirm or challenge
 3924         an elector’s legal residence; prohibiting a clerk or
 3925         inspector from requesting additional information from
 3926         a person once the person has presented his or her
 3927         picture identification; amending s. 101.045, F.S.;
 3928         permitting a change of residence at the polling place
 3929         for a person changing residence within a county;
 3930         providing that a person whose change of address is
 3931         from outside the county may not change his or her
 3932         legal residence at the polling place or vote a regular
 3933         ballot but may vote a provisional ballot; providing an
 3934         exception; amending s. 101.131, F.S.; revising
 3935         procedures for the designation of poll watchers;
 3936         requiring that the Division of Elections prescribe a
 3937         form for the designation of poll watchers; providing
 3938         conditions under which poll watchers are authorized to
 3939         enter polling areas and watch polls; requiring that a
 3940         supervisor of elections provide identification to poll
 3941         watchers by a specified period before early voting
 3942         begins; requiring that poll watchers display such
 3943         identification while in a polling place; amending s.
 3944         101.151, F.S.; authorizing the use of ballot-on-demand
 3945         technology to produce election-day ballots; deleting a
 3946         requirement that the use of such technology be
 3947         authorized in writing by the Secretary of State;
 3948         revising provisions relating to ballot headings and
 3949         the order of candidates appearing on a ballot;
 3950         amending s. 101.161, F.S.; specifying a time period to
 3951         initiate an action to challenge an amendment to the
 3952         State Constitution proposed by the Legislature;
 3953         requiring the court, including an appellate court, to
 3954         accord the case priority over other cases; requiring
 3955         the Attorney General to revise a ballot title or
 3956         ballot summary for an amendment proposed by the
 3957         Legislature under certain circumstances; requiring the
 3958         Department of State to furnish a designating number
 3959         and the revised ballot title and substance to the
 3960         supervisors of elections; providing that a defect in a
 3961         ballot title or ballot summary in an amendment
 3962         proposed by the Legislature is not grounds to remove
 3963         the amendment from the ballot; amending s. 101.5605,
 3964         F.S.; requiring an electromechanical voting system to
 3965         satisfy the standards for certification adopted by
 3966         rule of the Department of State; amending s. 101.5606,
 3967         F.S.; deleting requirements for electromechanical
 3968         voting systems to have the capability to produce
 3969         precinct totals in marked or punched form; amending s.
 3970         101.5612, F.S.; revising the sample size of
 3971         electromechanical voting systems that include the
 3972         electronic or electromechanical tabulation devices to
 3973         be tested; amending s. 101.5614, F.S.; deleting
 3974         provisions relating to the use of ballot cards and
 3975         write-in ballots or envelopes; amending s. 101.591,
 3976         F.S.; removing the audit requirement by the canvassing
 3977         board if a manual recount is undertaken; amending s.
 3978         101.62, F.S.; extending the validity of an absentee
 3979         ballot request to include all elections to the end of
 3980         the calendar year of the second ensuing regularly
 3981         scheduled general election; revising the timeframe for
 3982         supervisors to electronically update absentee ballot
 3983         request information; specifying types of elections for
 3984         which a supervisor of elections must send an absentee
 3985         ballot to uniformed services voters and overseas
 3986         voters; specifying a time period during which a
 3987         supervisor of elections must begin mailing absentee
 3988         ballots; removing requirements that an elector provide
 3989         certain information when requesting an absentee ballot
 3990         from the county supervisor of elections; amending s.
 3991         101.65, F.S.; revising the form of the instructions to
 3992         absent electors; stating that an absentee ballot is
 3993         considered illegal if the signature on the voter’s
 3994         certificate does not match the signature on record;
 3995         providing instructions for updating a signature on a
 3996         voter registration application; amending s. 101.657,
 3997         F.S.; reducing the early voting period for elections
 3998         with state or federal races; removing timetables with
 3999         respect to early voting in special elections; removing
 4000         restrictions with respect to daily hours of operation
 4001         of early voting sites; authorizing a supervisor of
 4002         elections to provide early voting for elections not
 4003         held in conjunction with a state or federal election;
 4004         amending s. 101.68, F.S.; extending the time for
 4005         canvassing and processing absentee ballots to 15 days
 4006         before the election; amending s. 101.6923, F.S.;
 4007         revising the form of the special absentee ballot
 4008         instructions for certain first-time voters; stating
 4009         that an absentee ballot is considered illegal if the
 4010         signature on the voter’s certificate does not match
 4011         the signature on record; providing instructions for
 4012         updating a signature on a voter registration
 4013         application; amending s. 101.75, F.S.; deleting a
 4014         requirement for the dates of the qualifying period for
 4015         certain municipal elections to run for no less than 14
 4016         days; amending s. 102.141, F.S.; requiring the
 4017         canvassing board to report all early voting and all
 4018         tabulated absentee results to the department by a time
 4019         certain; requiring periodic updates; amending s.
 4020         102.168, F.S.; revising provisions specifying
 4021         indispensable parties in a contest of an election;
 4022         providing that in an election contest involving the
 4023         review of a signature on an absentee ballot by a
 4024         canvassing board, a circuit court may not review or
 4025         consider evidence other than the signature on the
 4026         voter’s certificate and the elector’s signatures in
 4027         the registration records; providing for the reversal
 4028         of the determination by the canvassing board if the
 4029         court determines that the board abused its discretion;
 4030         amending s. 103.021, F.S.; revising a definition;
 4031         creating s. 103.095, F.S.; providing a procedure for
 4032         the registration of a minor political party; requiring
 4033         the Division of Elections to adopt rules to prescribe
 4034         the manner in which political parties may have their
 4035         filings cancelled; amending s. 103.101, F.S.; creating
 4036         a Presidential Preference Primary Date Selection
 4037         Committee; providing membership; requiring for the
 4038         committee to meet by a date certain and to set a date
 4039         for the presidential preference primary; amending s.
 4040         103.141, F.S.; revising procedures for the removal of
 4041         an officer, county committeeman, county
 4042         committeewoman, precinct committeeman, precinct
 4043         committeewoman, or member of a county executive
 4044         committee; repealing s. 103.161, F.S., which relates
 4045         to the removal or suspension of officers or members of
 4046         a state or county executive committee; amending s.
 4047         104.29, F.S.; revising provisions authorizing persons
 4048         to view whether ballots are being correctly
 4049         reconciled; amending s. 105.031, F.S.; revising the
 4050         oath for candidates for judicial office; amending s.
 4051         106.011, F.S.; revising the definitions of the terms
 4052         “contribution,” “independent expenditure,” “unopposed
 4053         candidate,” and “candidate”; conforming a cross
 4054         reference to changes made by the act; amending s.
 4055         106.021, F.S.; deleting requirements to report the
 4056         address of certain persons receiving a reimbursement
 4057         by a check drawn on a campaign account; amending s.
 4058         106.022, F.S.; requiring a political committee,
 4059         committee of continuous existence, or electioneering
 4060         communications organization to file a statement of
 4061         appointment with the filing officer rather than with
 4062         the Division of Elections; authorizing an entity to
 4063         change its appointment of registered agent or
 4064         registered office by filing a written statement with
 4065         the filing officer; requiring a registered agent who
 4066         resigns to execute a written statement of resignation
 4067         and file it with the filing officer; amending s.
 4068         106.023, F.S.; revising the form of the statement of
 4069         candidate to require a candidate to acknowledge that
 4070         he or she has been provided access to and understands
 4071         the requirements of ch. 106, F.S.; amending s.
 4072         106.025, F.S.; exempting tickets or advertising for a
 4073         campaign fundraiser from requirements of s. 106.143,
 4074         F.S.; amending s. 106.03, F.S.; revising requirements
 4075         for groups making expenditures for electioneering
 4076         communications to file a statement of organization;
 4077         amending s. 106.04, F.S.; transferring a requirement
 4078         that certain committees of continuous existence file
 4079         campaign finance reports in special elections;
 4080         subjecting a committee of continuous existence that
 4081         fails to file a report or to timely file a report with
 4082         the Division of Elections or a county or municipal
 4083         filing officer to a fine; requiring a committee of
 4084         continuous existence to include transaction
 4085         information from credit card purchases in a report
 4086         filed with the Division of Elections; requiring a
 4087         committee of continuous existence to report changes in
 4088         information previously reported to the Division of
 4089         Elections within 10 days after the change; requiring
 4090         the Division of Elections to revoke the certification
 4091         of a committee of continuous existence that fails to
 4092         file or report certain information; requiring the
 4093         division to adopt rules to prescribe the manner in
 4094         which the certification is revoked; increasing the
 4095         amount of a fine to be levied on a committee of
 4096         continuous existence that fails to timely file certain
 4097         reports; providing for the deposit of the proceeds of
 4098         the fines; including the registered agent of a
 4099         committee of continuous existence as a person whom the
 4100         filing officer may notify that a report has not been
 4101         filed; providing criteria for deeming delivery
 4102         complete of a notice of fine; requiring a committee of
 4103         continuous existence that appeals a fine to provide a
 4104         copy of the appeal with the filing officer; amending
 4105         s. 106.07, F.S.; creating an exception for reports due
 4106         in the third calendar quarter immediately preceding a
 4107         general election from a requirement that the campaign
 4108         treasurer report contributions received and
 4109         expenditures made on the 10th day following the end of
 4110         each calendar quarter; revising reporting requirements
 4111         for a statewide candidate who receives funding under
 4112         the Florida Election Campaign Financing Act and
 4113         candidates in a race with a candidate who has
 4114         requested funding under that act; deleting a
 4115         requirement for a committee of continuous existence to
 4116         file a campaign treasurer’s report relating to
 4117         contributions or expenditures to influence the results
 4118         of a special election; revising the methods by which a
 4119         campaign treasurer may be notified of the
 4120         determination that a report is incomplete to include
 4121         certified mail and other methods using a common
 4122         carrier that provides proof of delivery of the notice;
 4123         extending the time the campaign treasurer has to file
 4124         an addendum to the report after receipt of notice of
 4125         why the report is incomplete; providing criteria for
 4126         deeming delivery complete of a notice of incomplete
 4127         report; deleting a provision allowing for notification
 4128         by telephone of an incomplete report; revising the
 4129         information that must be included in a report to
 4130         include transaction information for credit card
 4131         purchases; deleting a requirement for a campaign
 4132         depository to return checks drawn on the account to
 4133         the campaign treasurer; specifying the amount of a
 4134         fine for the failure to timely file reports after a
 4135         special primary election or special election;
 4136         specifying that the registered agent of a political
 4137         committee is a person whom a filing officer may notify
 4138         of the amount of the fine for filing a late report;
 4139         providing criteria for deeming delivery complete of a
 4140         notice of late report and resulting fine; amending s.
 4141         106.0703, F.S.; deleting a requirement that an
 4142         electioneering communications organization file
 4143         electronically file certain periodic reports with the
 4144         Department of State; amending s. 106.0705, F.S.;
 4145         requiring certain individuals to electronically file
 4146         certain reports with the Division of Elections;
 4147         conforming a cross-reference to changes made by the
 4148         act; deleting an obsolete provision; amending s.
 4149         106.08, F.S.; deleting a requirement for the
 4150         Department of State to notify candidates as to whether
 4151         an independent or minor party candidate has obtained
 4152         the required number of petition signatures; deleting a
 4153         requirement for certain unopposed candidates to return
 4154         contributions; specifying the entities with which a
 4155         political party’s state executive committee and county
 4156         executive committees and affiliated party committees
 4157         must file a written acceptance of an in-kind
 4158         contribution; amending s. 106.09, F.S.; specifying
 4159         that the limitations on contributions by cash or
 4160         cashier’s check apply to the aggregate amount of
 4161         contributions to a candidate or committee per
 4162         election; amending s. 106.11, F.S.; revising the
 4163         statement that must be contained on checks from a
 4164         campaign account; deleting requirements relating to
 4165         the use of debit cards; authorizing a campaign for a
 4166         candidate to reimburse the candidate’s loan to the
 4167         campaign when the campaign account has sufficient
 4168         funds; amending s. 106.141, F.S.; deleting a limit on
 4169         the amount of surplus funds that a candidate may give
 4170         to his or her political party; requiring candidates
 4171         receiving public financing to return all surplus funds
 4172         to the General Revenue Fund after paying certain
 4173         monetary obligations and expenses; amending s.
 4174         106.143, F.S.; specifying disclosure statements that
 4175         must be included in political advertisements paid for
 4176         by a write-in candidate; revising the disclosure
 4177         statements that must be included in certain political
 4178         advertisements; clarifying the type of political
 4179         advertisements that must be approved in advance by a
 4180         candidate; deleting an exemption from the requirement
 4181         to obtain a candidate’s approval for messages designed
 4182         to be worn; authorizing a disclaimer for paid
 4183         political advertisements to contain certain registered
 4184         names and abbreviations; amending s. 106.1437, F.S.;
 4185         providing that expenditures for a miscellaneous
 4186         advertisement are not considered to be a contribution
 4187         to or on behalf of a candidate and do not constitute
 4188         an independent expenditure; amending s. 106.17, F.S.;
 4189         providing that the cost of certain polls are not
 4190         contributions to a candidate; amending s. 106.19,
 4191         F.S.; providing that a candidate’s failure to comply
 4192         with ch. 106, F.S., has no effect on whether the
 4193         candidate has qualified for office; amending s.
 4194         106.25, F.S.; authorizing a person who is the subject
 4195         of a complaint filed with the Florida Elections
 4196         Commission to file a response before the executive
 4197         director of the commission determines whether the
 4198         complaint is legally sufficient; prohibiting the
 4199         commission from determining by rule what constitutes
 4200         willfulness or defining the term “willful”;
 4201         authorizing the commission to enter into consent
 4202         orders without requiring the respondent to admit to a
 4203         violation of law; authorizing an administrative law
 4204         judge to impose civil penalties for violations of ch.
 4205         104 or ch. 106, F.S.; amending s. 106.26, F.S.;
 4206         requiring the commission to enforce certain witness
 4207         subpoenas in the circuit court where the witness
 4208         resides; amending s. 106.265, F.S.; authorizing an
 4209         administrative law judge to assess civil penalties
 4210         upon a finding of a violation of the election code or
 4211         campaign financing laws; providing for civil penalties
 4212         to be assessed against an electioneering
 4213         communications organization; removing reference to the
 4214         expired Election Campaign Financing Trust Fund;
 4215         directing that moneys from penalties and fines be
 4216         deposited into the General Revenue Fund; amending s.
 4217         106.29, F.S.; requiring state and county executive
 4218         committees and affiliated party committees that make
 4219         contributions or expenditures to influence the results
 4220         of a special election or special primary election to
 4221         file campaign treasurer’s reports; amending campaign
 4222         finance reporting dates, to conform; deleting a
 4223         requirement that each state executive committee file
 4224         the original and one copy of its reports with the
 4225         Division of Elections; revising the due date for
 4226         filing a report; providing criteria for deeming
 4227         delivery complete of a notice of fine; amending s.
 4228         106.35, F.S.; deleting a requirement that the Division
 4229         of Election adopt rules relating to the format and
 4230         filing of certain printed campaign treasurer’s
 4231         reports; amending s. 112.312, F.S.; excluding
 4232         contributions or expenditures reported pursuant to
 4233         federal election law from the definition of the term
 4234         “gift”; amending s. 112.3215, F.S.; excluding
 4235         contributions or expenditures reported pursuant to
 4236         federal election law from the definition of the term
 4237         “expenditure”; amending s. 876.05, F.S.; deleting a
 4238         requirement for all candidates for public office to
 4239         record an oath to support the Constitution of the
 4240         United States and of the State of Florida; repealing
 4241         s. 876.07, F.S., relating to a requirement that a
 4242         person make an oath to support the Constitution of the
 4243         United States and of the State of Florida in order to
 4244         be qualified as a candidate for office; providing for
 4245         severability of the act; providing effective dates.