Florida Senate - 2026                                     SB 414
       
       
        
       By Senator Bracy Davis
       
       
       
       
       
       15-00596-26                                            2026414__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to use of campaign funds for campaign
    3         related child care expenses; amending s. 106.1405,
    4         F.S.; defining the terms “campaign-related child care
    5         expenses” and “eligible child care provider”;
    6         authorizing a candidate to use funds on deposit in his
    7         or her campaign account to pay for campaign-related
    8         child care expenses under specified conditions;
    9         requiring a candidate to maintain specified records
   10         for a specified timeframe and provide such records to
   11         the Division of Elections upon request; requiring a
   12         candidate to disclose the use of campaign funds for
   13         campaign-related child care expenses in his or her
   14         regular campaign finance reports; providing an
   15         effective date.
   16          
   17  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   18  
   19         Section 1. Section 106.1405, Florida Statutes, is amended
   20  to read:
   21         106.1405 Use of campaign funds.—
   22         (1) As used in this section, the term:
   23         (a) “Campaign-related child care expenses” means the costs
   24  associated with the care of a candidate’s dependent child due to
   25  campaign activities, such as participating in campaign events,
   26  canvassing, participating in debates, and meeting with
   27  constituents or donors.
   28         (b) “Eligible child care provider” means any individual or
   29  licensed organization that provides child care services,
   30  including center-based, family-based, and in-home care, for
   31  compensation; is legally operating under state law; and complies
   32  with all applicable state and local requirements for the
   33  provision of child care services.
   34         (2) A candidate or the spouse of a candidate may not use
   35  funds on deposit in a campaign account of such candidate to
   36  defray normal living expenses for the candidate or the
   37  candidate’s family, other than expenses actually incurred for
   38  transportation, meals, and lodging by the candidate or a family
   39  member during travel in the course of the campaign.
   40         (3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), a candidate may use
   41  funds on deposit in his or her campaign account to pay for
   42  campaign-related child care expenses if the expense would not
   43  exist were it not for the candidate’s campaign and if the
   44  following conditions are met:
   45         (a) Campaign funds may not be used for child care expenses
   46  unrelated to campaign activities, such as personal errands or
   47  routine child care.
   48         (b) The candidate maintains and provides to the division,
   49  upon request, clear records of all campaign-related child care
   50  expenses reimbursed by campaign funds, including dates, times,
   51  and descriptions of campaign events in which the candidate
   52  engaged.
   53         1. Receipts or invoices from the eligible child care
   54  provider, along with proof of payment, must be maintained for
   55  auditing purposes for at least 3 years after the campaign ends.
   56         2. A candidate shall disclose the use of campaign funds for
   57  campaign-related child care expenses in his or her regular
   58  campaign finance reports, specifying the amounts and dates of
   59  such expenses.
   60         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.