Bill Text: FL S0442 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Primary Elections
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2020-03-14 - Died in Ethics and Elections [S0442 Detail]
Download: Florida-2020-S0442-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2020 SB 442 By Senator Rader 29-00026-20 2020442__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to primary elections; amending s. 3 100.061, F.S.; requiring that a universal primary 4 election open to all qualified electors, regardless of 5 political party affiliation or lack thereof, be held 6 for purposes of selecting candidates for specified 7 federal, state, local, and district offices; 8 specifying that the candidates receiving the highest 9 and next highest number of votes in the universal 10 primary election advance to the general election; 11 modifying procedures in the event of a tied vote 12 between candidates; amending s. 101.151, F.S.; 13 modifying ballot layout requirements to conform to the 14 addition of the universal primary election; amending 15 ss. 97.021, 99.061, 99.063, 99.0955, 100.051, 100.081, 16 100.111, 100.191, 101.021, 101.2512, 101.252, 17 101.5606, 101.6952, 102.131, 102.151, 102.168, 18 102.1685, 102.171, 104.071, 104.31, 105.071, 106.011, 19 106.021, 106.03, 106.12, 106.143, 106.15, 106.18, 20 112.313, and 112.3145, F.S.; conforming provisions and 21 terminology to changes made by the act; providing an 22 effective date. 23 24 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 25 26 Section 1. Section 100.061, Florida Statutes, is amended to 27 read: 28 100.061 Universal primary election.—In each year in which a 29 general election is held, a universal primary election to select 30for nomination ofcandidates for Governor and Lieutenant 31 Governor, any Cabinet office, the Legislature, United States 32 Representative, United States Senator, the office of state 33 attorney or public defender, or any county, municipal, or 34 district officeof political partiesshall be held on the 35 Tuesday 11 weeks beforeprior tothe general election. All 36 candidates for those particular offices, regardless of the 37 candidate’s party affiliation or lack of party affiliation, must 38 appear on a single ballot, and the two candidates receiving the 39 highest and next highest number of votes for that office shall, 40 regardless of their party affiliation, advance to the general 41 electionThe candidate receiving the highest number of votes42cast in each contest in the primary election shall be declared43nominatedfor such office. All qualified electors, regardless of 44 their party affiliation or lack of party affiliation, may vote 45 in the primary election for those offices. Regardless of whether 46 a candidate for an office specified in this section receives a 47 majority of the votes cast for such office in the primary 48 election, the names of the two candidates receiving the highest 49 number of votes for such office must be placed on the general 50 election ballot. If two or more candidates receive an equal and 51 highest number of votes for the same office, the name of each 52 candidate receiving an equal and highest number of votes must be 53 placed on the general election ballot. In any contest in which 54 there is a tie for second place, the candidates tying for second 55such candidatesshall draw lots to determine which candidate 56 advances to the general electionis nominated. 57 Section 2. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (2), 58 subsection (3), and paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section 59 101.151, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 60 101.151 Specifications for ballots.— 61 (2) 62 (b) In a primarygeneralelection, in addition to the names 63 printed on the ballot, a blank space mustshallbe provided 64 under each office for which a write-in candidate has qualified. 65 With respect to write-in candidates, if two or more candidates 66 are seeking election to one office, only one blank space must 67shallbe provided. 68 (c) When more than one candidate filesis nominatedfor 69 office, the candidates for such office shall qualify and run in 70 a group or district, and the group or district number mustshall71 be printed beneath the name of the office. The two candidates 72 who received the highest number of votesEach nominee of a73political party chosenin theaprimary election mustshall74 appear on the general election ballot in the same numbered group 75 or district as on the primary election ballot. 76 (3)(a) For candidates for an office that is subject to a 77 universal primary election under s. 100.061, the names of the 78 two candidates who received the highest number of votes in the 79 primary election must be arranged alphabetically as to surnames 80 on the general election ballot, together with an appropriate 81 abbreviation of the party name if the candidate is seeking 82 office with a political party affiliation. 83 (b) For any other office not otherwise subject to paragraph 84 (a): 85 1. The names of the candidates of the party that received 86 the highest number of votes for Governor in the last election in 87 which a Governor was elected mustshallbe placed first for each 88 office on the general election ballot, together with an 89 appropriate abbreviation of the party name; the names of the 90 candidates of the party that received the second highest vote 91 for Governor mustshallbe placed second for each office, 92 together with an appropriate abbreviation of the party name. 93 2.(b)Minor political party candidates shall have their 94 names appear on the general election ballot following the names 95 of recognized political parties, in the same order as they were 96 qualified, followed by the names of candidates with no party 97 affiliation, in the order as they were qualified. 98 (4)(a) The names of candidates for each office mustshall99 be arranged alphabetically as to surnames on a primary election 100 ballot, together with an appropriate abbreviation of the party 101 name if the candidate is seeking office with a political party 102 affiliation. 103 Section 3. Subsections (6), (30), (35), and (36) of section 104 97.021, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 105 97.021 Definitions.—For the purposes of this code, except 106 where the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term: 107 (6) “Candidate” means any person to whom any one or more of 108 the following applies: 109 (a) Any person who seeks to qualify fornomination or110 election by means of the petitioning process. 111 (b) Any person who seeks to qualify for election as a 112 write-in candidate. 113 (c) Any person who receives contributions or makes 114 expenditures, or gives his or her consent for any other person 115 to receive contributions or make expenditures, with a view to 116 bringing about his or her nomination or election to, or 117 retention in, public office. 118 (d) Any person who appoints a treasurer and designates a 119 primary depository. 120 (e) Any person who files qualification papers and 121 subscribes to a candidate’s oath as required by law. 122 123 However, this definition does not include any candidate for a 124 political party executive committee. 125 (30) “Primary election” or “universal primary election” 126 means an election held preceding the general election for the 127 purpose of determining the candidatesnominating a party nominee128 to be voted onforin the general election to fill a national, 129 state, county, or district office. 130 (35) “Special election” is a special election called for 131 the purpose of voting on a candidateparty nomineeto fill a 132 vacancy in the national, state, county, or district office. 133 (36) “Special primary election” is a specialnomination134 election designated by the Governor, called for the purpose of 135 determining the candidatesnominating a party nomineeto be 136 voted on in a general or special election. 137 Section 4. Section 99.061, Florida Statutes, is amended to 138 read: 139 99.061 Method of qualifying fornomination orelection to 140 federal, state, county, or district office.— 141 (1) The provisions of any special act to the contrary 142 notwithstanding, each person seeking to qualify fornomination143orelection to a federal, state, or multicounty district office, 144 other than election to a judicial office as defined in chapter 145 105 or the office of school board member, shall file his or her 146 qualification papers with, and pay the qualifying fee, which 147 shall consist of the filing fee and election assessment, and 148 party assessment, if any has been levied, to, the Department of 149 State, or qualify by the petition process pursuant to s. 99.095 150 with the Department of State, at any time after noon of the 1st 151 day for qualifying, which shall be as follows: the 120th day 152 beforeprior tothe primary election, but not later than noon of 153 the 116th day beforeprior tothe date of the primary election, 154 for persons seeking to qualify fornomination orelection to 155 federal office or to the office of the state attorney or the 156 public defender; and noon of the 71st day beforeprior tothe 157 primary election, but not later than noon of the 67th day before 158prior tothe date of the primary election, for persons seeking 159 to qualify fornomination orelection to a state or multicounty 160 district office, other than the office of the state attorney or 161 the public defender. 162 (2) The provisions of any special act to the contrary 163 notwithstanding, each person seeking to qualify fornomination164orelection to a county office, or district office not covered 165 by subsection (1), shall file his or her qualification papers 166 with, and pay the qualifying fee, which shall consist of the 167 filing fee and election assessment, and party assessment, if any 168 has been levied, to, the supervisor of elections of the county, 169 or shall qualify by the petition process pursuant to s. 99.095 170 with the supervisor of elections, at any time after noon of the 171 1st day for qualifying, which shall be the 71st day beforeprior172tothe primary election, but not later than noon of the 67th day 173 beforeprior tothe date of the primary election. Within 30 days 174 after the closing of qualifying time, the supervisor of 175 elections shall remit to the secretary of the state executive 176 committee of the political party to which the candidate belongs 177 the amount of the filing fee, two-thirds of which shall be used 178 to promote the candidacy of candidates for county offices and 179 the candidacy of members of the Legislature. 180 (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of any special act to 181 the contrary, each person seeking to qualify for election to a 182 special district office shall qualify between noon of the 71st 183 day prior to the primary election and noon of the 67th day prior 184 to the date of the primary election. Candidates for single 185 county special districts shall qualify with the supervisor of 186 elections in the county in which the district is located. If the 187 district is a multicounty district, candidates shall qualify 188 with the Department of State. All special district candidates 189 shall qualify by paying a filing fee of $25 or qualify by the 190 petition process pursuant to s. 99.095. Notwithstanding s. 191 106.021, a candidate who does not collect contributions and 192 whose only expense is the filing fee or signature verification 193 fee is not required to appoint a campaign treasurer or designate 194 a primary campaign depository. 195 (4)(a) Each person seeking to qualify for election to 196 office as a write-in candidate shall file his or her 197 qualification papers with the respective qualifying officer at 198 any time after noon of the 1st day for qualifying, but not later 199 than noon of the last day of the qualifying period for the 200 office sought. 201 (b) Any person who is seeking election as a write-in 202 candidate isshallnotberequired to pay a filing fee, election 203 assessment, or party assessment. A write-in candidate is not 204 entitled to have his or her name printed on any ballot; however, 205 space for the write-in candidate’s name to be written in must be 206 provided on the primarygeneralelection ballot or the general 207 election ballot if the write-in candidate is seeking an office 208 that is not subject to a universal primary election. A person 209 may not qualify as a write-in candidate if the person has also 210 otherwise qualified fornomination orelection to such office. 211 (5) At the time of qualifying for office, each candidate 212 for a constitutional office shall file a full and public 213 disclosure of financial interests pursuant to s. 8, Art. II of 214 the State Constitution, which must be verified under oath or 215 affirmation pursuant to s. 92.525(1)(a), and a candidate for any 216 other office, including local elective office, shall file a 217 statement of financial interests pursuant to s. 112.3145. 218 (6) The Department of State shall certify to the supervisor 219 of elections, within 7 days after the closing date for 220 qualifying, the names of all duly qualified candidates for 221nomination orelection who have qualified with the Department of 222 State. 223 (7)(a) In order for a candidate to be qualified, the 224 following items must be received by the filing officer by the 225 end of the qualifying period: 226 1. A properly executed check drawn upon the candidate’s 227 campaign account payable to the person or entity as prescribed 228 by the filing officer in an amount not less than the fee 229 required by s. 99.092, unless the candidate obtained the 230 required number of signatures on petitions pursuant to s. 231 99.095. The filing fee for a special district candidate is not 232 required to be drawn upon the candidate’s campaign account. If a 233 candidate’s check is returned by the bank for any reason, the 234 filing officer shall immediately notify the candidate and the 235 candidate shall have until the end of qualifying to pay the fee 236 with a cashier’s check purchased from funds of the campaign 237 account. Failure to pay the fee as provided in this subparagraph 238 shall disqualify the candidate. 239 2. The candidate’s oath required by s. 99.021, which must 240 contain the name of the candidate as it is to appear on the 241 ballot; the office sought, including the district or group 242 number if applicable; and the signature of the candidate, which 243 must be verified under oath or affirmation pursuant to s. 244 92.525(1)(a). 245 3. If the candidate is running with a political party 246 affiliationoffice sought is partisan, the written statement of 247 political party affiliation required by s. 99.021(1)(b). 248 4. The completed form for the appointment of campaign 249 treasurer and designation of campaign depository, as required by 250 s. 106.021. 251 5. The full and public disclosure or statement of financial 252 interests required by subsection (5). A public officer who has 253 filed the full and public disclosure or statement of financial 254 interests with the Commission on Ethics or the supervisor of 255 elections beforeprior toqualifying for office may file a copy 256 of that disclosure at the time of qualifying. 257 (b) If the filing officer receives qualifying papers during 258 the qualifying period prescribed in this section which do not 259 include all items as required by paragraph (a) beforeprior to260 the last day of qualifying, the filing officer shall make a 261 reasonable effort to notify the candidate of the missing or 262 incomplete items andshallinform the candidate that all 263 required items must be received by the close of qualifying. A 264 candidate’s name as it is to appear on the ballot may not be 265 changed after the end of qualifying. 266 (c) The filing officer performs a ministerial function in 267 reviewing qualifying papers. In determining whether a candidate 268 is qualified, the filing officer shall review the qualifying 269 papers to determine whether all items required by paragraph (a) 270 have been properly filed and whether each item is complete on 271 its face, including whether items that must be verified have 272 been properly verified pursuant to s. 92.525(1)(a). The filing 273 officer may not determine whether the contents of the qualifying 274 papers are accurate. 275 (8) Notwithstanding the qualifying period prescribed in 276 this section, a qualifying office may accept and hold qualifying 277 papers submitted not earlier than 14 days beforeprior tothe 278 beginning of the qualifying period, to be processed and filed 279 during the qualifying period. 280 (9) Notwithstanding the qualifying period prescribed by 281 this section, in each year in which the Legislature apportions 282 the state, the qualifying period for persons seeking to qualify 283 fornomination orelection to federal office shall be between 284 noon of the 71st day beforeprior tothe primary election, but 285 not later than noon of the 67th day beforeprior tothe primary 286 election. 287 (10) The Department of State may prescribe by rule 288 requirements for filing papers to qualify as a candidate under 289 this section. 290 (11) The decision of the filing officer concerning whether 291 a candidate is qualified is exempt from the provisions of 292 chapter 120. 293 Section 5. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 99.063, 294 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 295 99.063 Candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor.— 296 (1) No later than 5 p.m. of the 9th day following the 297 primary election, each candidate for Governor who has advanced 298 from the primary election shall designate a Lieutenant Governor 299 as a running mate. Such designation must be made in writing to 300 the Department of State. 301 (2) No later than 5 p.m. of the 9th day following the 302 primary election, each designated candidate for Lieutenant 303 Governor shall file with the Department of State: 304 (a) The candidate’s oath required by s. 99.021, which must 305 contain the name of the candidate as it is to appear on the 306 ballot; the office sought; and the signature of the candidate, 307 which must be verified under oath or affirmation pursuant to s. 308 92.525(1)(a). 309 (b) If the candidate is running with a political party 310 affiliationoffice sought is partisan, the written statement of 311 political party affiliation required by s. 99.021(1)(b). 312 (c) The full and public disclosure of financial interests 313 pursuant to s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution. A public 314 officer who has filed the full and public disclosure with the 315 Commission on Ethics beforeprior toqualifying for office may 316 file a copy of that disclosure at the time of qualifying. 317 Section 6. Section 99.0955, Florida Statutes, is amended to 318 read: 319 99.0955 Candidates with no party affiliation; name on 320general electionballot.— 321 (1) Each person seeking to qualify for election as a 322 candidate with no party affiliation shall file his or her 323 qualifying papers and pay the qualifying fee or qualify by the 324 petition process pursuant to s. 99.095 with the officer and 325 during the times and under the circumstances prescribed in s. 326 99.061. Upon qualifying, the candidate is entitled to have his 327 or her name placed on the primarygeneralelection ballot, or 328 the general election ballot if the candidate is seeking an 329 office that is not subject to a universal primary election. 330 (2) The qualifying fee for candidates with no party 331 affiliation consistsshall consistof a filing fee and an 332 election assessment as prescribed in s. 99.092. Filing fees paid 333 to the Department of State shall be deposited into the General 334 Revenue Fund of the state. Filing fees paid to the supervisor of 335 elections shall be deposited into the general revenue fund of 336 the county. 337 Section 7. Section 100.051, Florida Statutes, is amended to 338 read: 339 100.051 Candidate’s name on general election ballot.—The 340 supervisor of elections of each county shall print on ballots to 341 be used in the county at the next general election the names of 342 candidates who advanced from the primary election or have been 343 nominated by a political party and the candidates who have 344 otherwise obtained a position on the general election ballot in 345 compliance with the requirements of this code. 346 Section 8. Section 100.081, Florida Statutes, is amended to 347 read: 348 100.081Nomination ofCounty commissioners at primary 349 election.—The primary election mustshallprovide for the 350 selectionnominationof candidates for the office of county 351 commissioner to advance to the general electioncommissionersby 352 the qualified electors of such county at the time and place set 353 for voting on other county officers. 354 Section 9. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) and 355 subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section 100.111, Florida 356 Statutes, are amended to read: 357 100.111 Filling vacancy.— 358 (1) 359 (b) If such a vacancy occurs beforeprior tothe first day 360 set by law for qualifying for election to office at such general 361 election, any person seekingnomination orelection to the 362 unexpired portion of the term mustshallqualify within the time 363 prescribed by law for qualifying for other offices to be filled 364 by election at such general election. 365 (c) If such a vacancy occurs beforeprior tothe primary 366 election but on or after the first day set by law for 367 qualifying, the Secretary of State mustshallset dates for 368 qualifying for the unexpired portion of the term of such office. 369 Any person seekingnomination orelection to the unexpired 370 portion of the term shall qualify within the time set by the 371 Secretary of State. If time does not permit party nominations to 372 be made in conjunction with the primary election, the Governor 373 may call a special primary election to select party nominees for 374 the unexpired portion of such term. 375 (2) Whenever there is a vacancy for which a special 376 election is required pursuant to s. 100.101, the Governor, after 377 consultation with the Secretary of State, shall fix the dates of 378 a special primary election and a special election. The two 379 candidates who receive the highest number of votesNominees of380political parties shall be chosen under the primary laws of this381statein the special primary election shall advance tobecome382candidates inthe special election. BeforePrior tosetting the 383 special election dates, the Governor shall consider any upcoming 384 elections in the jurisdiction where the special election will be 385 held. The dates fixed by the Governor shall be specific days 386 certain and mayshallnot be established by the happening of a 387 condition or stated in the alternative. However, if only two 388 candidates, excluding any write-in candidates, qualify for the 389 office for which the special election is required and the 390 special election is not held concurrently with a general 391 election, the special primary election shall be suspended and 392 the date previously fixed by the Governor for the special 393 primary election shall become the special election. The dates 394 fixed shall provide a minimum of 2 weeks between each election. 395 In the event a vacancy occurs in the office of state senator or 396 member of the House of Representatives when the Legislature is 397 in regular legislative session, the minimum times prescribed by 398 this subsection may be waived upon concurrence of the Governor, 399 the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President 400 of the Senate. If a vacancy occurs in the office of state 401 senator and no session of the Legislature is scheduled to be 402 held beforeprior tothe next general election, the Governor may 403 fix the dates for the special primary election and for the 404 special election to coincide with the dates of the primary 405 election and general election. If a vacancy in office occurs in 406 any district in the state Senate or House of Representatives or 407 in any congressional district, and no session of the 408 Legislature, or session of Congress if the vacancy is in a 409 congressional district, is scheduled to be held during the 410 unexpired portion of the term, the Governor is not required to 411 call a special election to fill such vacancy. 412 (a) The dates for candidates to qualify in such special 413 election or special primary election shall be fixed by the 414 Department of State, and candidates shall qualify not later than 415 noon of the last day so fixed. The dates fixed for qualifying 416 shall allow a minimum of 14 days between the last day of 417 qualifying and the special primary election. 418 (b) The filing of campaign expense statements by candidates 419 in such special elections or special primaries and by committees 420 making contributions or expenditures to influence the results of 421 such special primaries or special elections shall be not later 422 than such dates as shall be fixed by the Department of State, 423 and in fixing such dates the Department of State shall take into 424 consideration and be governed by the practical time limitations. 425 (c) The dates for a candidate to qualify by the petition 426 process pursuant to s. 99.095 in such special primary or special 427 election shall be fixed by the Department of State. In fixing 428 such dates the Department of State shall take into consideration 429 and be governed by the practical time limitations. Any candidate 430 seeking to qualify by the petition process in a special primary 431 election shall obtain 25 percent of the signatures required by 432 s. 99.095. 433 (d) The qualifying fees and party assessments of such 434 candidates as may qualify shall be the same as collected for the 435 same office at the last previous primary for that office. The 436 party assessment shall be paid to the appropriate executive 437 committee of the political party to which the candidate belongs. 438 (e) Each county canvassing board shall make as speedy a 439 return of the result of such special primary elections and 440 special elections as time will permit, and the Elections 441 Canvassing Commission likewise shall make as speedy a canvass 442 and declaration of the nominees as time will permit. 443 (3)(a) In the event that death, resignation, withdrawal, or 444 removal should cause a party to have a vacancy thatin445nomination whichleaves no candidate for an office from such 446 party if a candidate of such party has advanced from the primary 447 election, the filing officer before whom the candidate qualified 448 mustshallnotify the chair of the state and county political 449 party executive committee of such party and: 450 1. If the vacancyin nominationis for a candidacy for 451 statewide office, the state party chair mustshall, within 5 452 days, call a meeting of his or her executive board to consider 453 designation of a candidatenomineeto fill the vacancy. 454 2. If the vacancyin nominationis for a candidacy for the 455 office of United States Representative, state senator, state 456 representative, state attorney, or public defender, the state 457 party chair mustshallnotify the appropriate county chair or 458 chairs and, within 5 days, the appropriate county chair or 459 chairs mustshallcall a meeting of the members of the executive 460 committee in the affected county or counties to consider 461 designation of a candidatenomineeto fill the vacancy. 462 3. If the vacancyin nominationis for a candidacy for 463 county office, the state party chair mustshallnotify the 464 appropriate county chair and, within 5 days, the appropriate 465 county chair mustshallcall a meeting of his or her executive 466 committee to consider designation of a candidatenomineeto fill 467 the vacancy. 468 469 The name of any person so designated shall be submitted to the 470 filing officer before whom the candidate qualified within 7 days 471 after notice to the chair in order that the person designated 472 may have his or her name on the ballot of the ensuing general 473 election. If the name of the new candidatenomineeis submitted 474 after the certification of results of the preceding primary 475 election, however, the ballots mayshallnot be changed and the 476 former party candidate’snominee’sname will appear on the 477 ballot. Any ballots cast for the former party candidatenominee478 will be counted for the person designated by the political party 479 to replace the former party candidatenominee. If there is no 480 opposition to the party candidatenominee, the person designated 481 by the political party to replace the former party candidate 482nomineewill be elected to office at the general election. 483 (b) When, under the circumstances set forth in the 484 preceding paragraph, vacancies in candidacynominationare 485 required to be filled by committee nominations, such vacancies 486 shall be filled by party rule. In any instance in which a 487 candidatenomineeis selected by a committee to fill a vacancy 488 in candidacynomination, such candidatenomineeshall pay the 489 same filing fee and take the same oath as the nominee would have 490 taken had he or she regularly qualified for election to such 491 office. 492 (c) Any person who, at the close of qualifying as 493 prescribed in ss. 99.061 and 105.031, was qualified for 494nomination orelection to or retention in a public office to be 495 filled at the ensuing general election or who attempted to 496 qualify and failed to qualify is prohibited from qualifying as a 497 candidate to fill a vacancy in candidacynominationfor any 498 other office to be filled at that general election, even if such 499 person has withdrawn or been eliminated as a candidate for the 500 original office sought. However, this paragraph does not apply 501 to a candidate for the office of Lieutenant Governor who applies 502 to fill a vacancy in candidacynominationfor the office of 503 Governor on the same ticket or to a person who has withdrawn or 504 been eliminated as a candidate and who is subsequently 505 designated as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor under s. 506 99.063. 507 (4) A vacancy in candidacynominationis not created if an 508 order of a court that has become final determines that a nominee 509 did not properly qualify or did not meet the necessary 510 qualifications to hold the office for which he or she sought to 511 qualify. 512 Section 10. Section 100.191, Florida Statutes, is amended 513 to read: 514 100.191 General election laws applicable to special 515 elections; returns.—All laws that are applicable to general 516 elections are applicable to special elections or special primary 517 elections to fill a vacancy in office or candidacynomination. 518 The Elections Canvassing Commission shall immediately, upon 519 receipt of returns from the county in which a special election 520 is held, proceed to canvass the returns and determine and 521 declare the result thereof. 522 Section 11. Section 101.021, Florida Statutes, is amended 523 to read: 524 101.021 Elector to vote the primary ballot of the political 525 party in which he or she is registered; exception.—In a primary 526 election, a qualified elector is entitled to vote only the 527 official primary election ballot of the political party 528 designated in the elector’s registration, and no other. It is 529 unlawful for any elector to vote in a presidential preference 530 primary or for any candidate running for a political party 531 executive committeenominationfrom a party other than that in 532 which such elector is registered. 533 Section 12. Subsection (1) of section 101.2512, Florida 534 Statutes, is amended to read: 535 101.2512 Candidates’ names on general election ballots.— 536 (1) The supervisor of elections shall print on the general 537 election ballot the names of candidates who received the highest 538 and the next highest number of votes in a universalnominated by539 primary election or special primary election, regardless of the 540 candidates’ party affiliation or lack of party affiliation, or 541 the names of candidates selected by the appropriate executive 542 committee of any political party pursuant to the requirements of 543 this code. 544 Section 13. Section 101.252, Florida Statutes, is amended 545 to read: 546 101.252 Candidates entitled to have names printed on 547 certain ballots; exception.— 548 (1) Any candidatefor nominationwho has qualified as 549 prescribed by law is entitled to have his or her name printed on 550 the official primary election ballot. However, when there is 551 only one candidate who hasof any political partyqualified for 552 an office, the name of the candidate mayshallnot be printed on 553 the primary or general election ballotsballot, and such 554 candidate isshall bedeclared elected tonominated forthe 555 office. 556 (2) Any candidate for party executive committee member who 557 has qualified as prescribed by law is entitled to have his or 558 her name printed on the primary election ballot. However, when 559 there is only one candidate of any political party qualified for 560 such an office, the name of the candidate mayshallnot be 561 printed on the primary election ballot, and such candidate is 562shall bedeclared elected to the state or county executive 563 committee. 564 Section 14. Subsection (6) of section 101.5606, Florida 565 Statutes, is amended to read: 566 101.5606 Requirements for approval of systems.—No 567 electronic or electromechanical voting system shall be approved 568 by the Department of State unless it is so constructed that: 569 (6) It allowspermitseach voter at a primary election to 570 vote in contests that are subject to a universal primary 571 election, contests that are limited to registrants ofonly for572the candidates seeking nomination bythe political party in 573 which such voter is registered, for any candidate for 574 nonpartisan office, and for any question upon which the voter is 575 entitled to vote. 576 Section 15. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 577 101.6952, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 578 101.6952 Vote-by-mail ballots for absent uniformed services 579 and overseas voters.— 580 (2) 581 (b)1. In an election for federal office, an elector may 582 designate a candidate by writing the name of a candidate on the 583 ballot. Except for a primary or special primary election, the 584 elector may alternatively designate a candidate by writing the 585 name of a political party on the ballot. A written designation 586 of the political party shall be counted as a vote for the 587 candidate of that party if there is such a party candidate in 588 the race. 589 2. In a state or local election, an elector may vote in the 590 section of the federal write-in absentee ballot designated for 591 nonfederal races by writing on the ballot the title of each 592 office and by writing on the ballot the name of the candidate 593 for whom the elector is voting. Except for a primary, special 594 primary, or nonpartisan election, the elector may alternatively 595 designate a candidate by writing the name of a political party 596 on the ballot. A written designation of the political party 597 shall be counted as a vote for the candidate of that party if 598 there is such a party candidate in the race. If the candidates 599 who advanced to the general or special election have the same 600 party affiliation, the designation may not count for any 601 candidate unless there is a valid, additional designation of the 602 candidate’s name. In addition, the elector may vote on any 603 ballot measure presented in such election by identifying the 604 ballot measure on which he or she desires to vote and specifying 605 his or her vote on the measure. For purposes of this section, a 606 vote cast in a judicial merit retention election shall be 607 treated in the same manner as a ballot measure in which the only 608 allowable responses are “Yes” or “No.” 609 Section 16. Section 102.131, Florida Statutes, is amended 610 to read: 611 102.131 Returns before canvassing commission.—If any 612 returns shall appear to be irregular or false so that the 613 Elections Canvassing Commission is unable to determine the true 614 vote for any office,nomination,constitutional amendment, or 615 other measure presented to the electors, the commission shall so 616 certify and shall not include the returns in its determination, 617 canvass, and declaration. In determining the true vote, the 618 Elections Canvassing Commission doesin determining the true619vote shallnot have authority to look beyond the county returns. 620 The Department of State shall file in its office all the 621 returns, together with other documents and papers received by it 622 or the commission. The commission shall canvass the returns for 623 presidential electors and representatives to Congress separately 624 from their canvass of returns for state officers. 625 Section 17. Section 102.151, Florida Statutes, is amended 626 to read: 627 102.151 County canvassing board to issue certificates; 628 supervisor to give notice to Department of State.—The county 629 canvassing board shall make and sign duplicate certificates 630 containing the total number of votes cast for each person 631nominated orelected or who advanced to the general or special 632 election, the names of persons for whom such votes were cast, 633 and the number of votes cast for each candidateor nominee. One 634 of such certificates which relates to offices for which the 635 candidatesor nomineeshave been voted for in more than one 636 county shall be immediately transmitted to the Department of 637 State, and the second copy filed in the supervisor’s office. The 638 supervisor shall transmit to the Department of State, 639 immediately after the county canvassing board has canvassed the 640 returns of the election, a list containing the names of all 641 county and district officersnominated orelected or who have 642 advanced to the general or special election, the office for 643 which each wasnominated orelected or has advanced, and the 644 mailing address of each. 645 Section 18. Subsections (1), (3), (4), and (5) of section 646 102.168, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 647 102.168 Contest of election.— 648 (1) Except as provided in s. 102.171, the certification of 649 electionor nominationof any person to office or the 650 certification of a candidate to advance to the general or 651 special election, or of the result on any question submitted by 652 referendum, may be contested in the circuit court by any 653 unsuccessful candidate for such officeor nominationthereto or 654 by any elector qualified to vote in the election related to such 655 candidacy, or by any taxpayer, respectively. 656 (3) The complaint mustshallset forth the grounds on which 657 the contestant intends to establish his or her right to such 658 office or set aside the result of the election on a submitted 659 referendum. The grounds for contesting an election under this 660 section are: 661 (a) Misconduct, fraud, or corruption on the part of any 662 election official or any member of the canvassing board 663 sufficient to change or place in doubt the result of the 664 election. 665 (b) Ineligibility of the successful candidate for the 666nomination oroffice, or who advances to the general election or 667 special election, in dispute. 668 (c) Receipt of a number of illegal votes or rejection of a 669 number of legal votes sufficient to change or place in doubt the 670 result of the election. 671 (d) Proof that any elector, election official, or 672 canvassing board member was given or offered a bribe or reward 673 in money, property, or any other thing of value for the purpose 674 of procuring the successful candidate’s advancementnomination675 or election or determining the result on any question submitted 676 by referendum. 677 (4) The canvassing board responsible for canvassing the 678 election is an indispensable party defendant in county and local 679 elections. The Elections Canvassing Commission is an 680 indispensable party defendant in federal, state, and multicounty 681 elections and in elections for justice of the Supreme Court, 682 judge of a district court of appeal, and judge of a circuit 683 court. The successful candidate is an indispensable party to any 684 action brought to contest the election or nomination of a 685 candidate. 686 (5) A statement of the grounds of contest may not be 687 rejected, nor the proceedings dismissed, by the court for any 688 want of form if the grounds of contest provided in the statement 689 are sufficient to clearly inform the defendant of the particular 690 proceeding or cause for which the nomination or election is 691 contested. 692 Section 19. Section 102.1685, Florida Statutes, is amended 693 to read: 694 102.1685 Venue.—The venue for contesting thea nomination695orelection of a candidate to office, the advancement of a 696 candidate for office to the general election or a special 697 election, or the results of a referendum isshall bein the 698 county in which the contestant qualified or in the county in 699 which the question was submitted for referendum or, if the 700 election or referendum covered more than one county, then in 701 Leon County. 702 Section 20. Section 102.171, Florida Statutes, is amended 703 to read: 704 102.171 Contest of election to Legislature.—The 705 jurisdiction to hear any contest of the election of a member to 706 either house of the Legislature is vested in the applicable 707 house, as each house, pursuant to s. 2, Art. III of the State 708 Constitution, is the sole judge of the qualifications, 709 elections, and returns of its members. Therefore, the 710 certification of election of any person to the office of member 711 of either house of the Legislature may only be contested in the 712 applicable house by an unsuccessful candidate for such office, 713 in accordance with the rules of that house.This section does714not apply to any contest of the nomination of any person for the715office of member of either house of the Legislature at any716primary or special primary election in which only those717qualified electors who are registered members of the political718party holding such primary election may vote, as provided for in719s. 5(b), Art. VI of the State Constitution. This section does720apply to any contest of a primary or special primary election721for the office of member of either house of the Legislature in722which all qualified electors may vote, as provided for in s.7235(b), Art. VI of the State Constitution, and the recipient of724the most votes is deemed to be elected according to applicable725law.726 Section 21. Subsection (1) of section 104.071, Florida 727 Statutes, is amended to read: 728 104.071 Remuneration by candidate for services, support, 729 etc.; penalty.— 730 (1) It is unlawful for any person supporting a candidate, 731 or for any candidate, in order to aid or promote thenomination732orelection of such candidate in any election, directly or 733 indirectly to: 734 (a) Promise to appoint another person, promise to secure or 735 aid in securing appointment,nominationor election of another 736 person to any public or private position, or to any position of 737 honor, trust, or emolument, except one who has publicly 738 announced or defined what his or her choice or purpose in 739 relation to any election in which he or she may be called to 740 take part, if elected. 741 (b) Give, or promise to give, pay, or loan, any money or 742 other thing of value to the owner, editor, publisher, or agent, 743 of any communication media, as well as newspapers, to advocate 744 or oppose, through such media, any candidate for nomination in745any election orany candidate for election, and no such owner, 746 editor, or agent shall give, solicit, or accept such payment or 747 reward. It shall likewise be unlawful for any owner, editor, 748 publisher, or agent of any poll-taking or poll-publishing 749 concern to advocate or oppose through such pollany candidate750for nomination in any election orany candidate for election in 751 return for the giving or promising to give, pay, or loan any 752 money or other thing of value to said owner, editor, publisher, 753 or agent of any poll-taking or poll-publishing concern. 754 (c) Give, pay, expend, or contribute any money or thing of 755 value for the furtherance of the candidacy of any other 756 candidate. 757 (d) Furnish, give, or deliver to another person any money 758 or other thing of value for any purpose prohibited by the 759 election laws. 760 761 This subsection doesshallnot prohibit a candidate from 762 furnishing complimentary tickets to the candidate’s campaign 763 fund raiser to other candidates. 764 Section 22. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 765 104.31, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 766 104.31 Political activities of state, county, and municipal 767 officers and employees.— 768 (1) No officer or employee of the state, or of any county 769 or municipality thereof, except as hereinafter exempted from 770 provisions hereof, shall: 771 (a) Use his or her official authority or influence for the 772 purpose of interfering with an electionor a nomination of773officeor coercing or influencing another person’s vote or 774 affecting the result thereof. 775 776 The provisions of this section shall not be construed so as to 777 prevent any person from becoming a candidate for and actively 778 campaigning for any elective office in this state. All such 779 persons shall retain the right to vote as they may choose and to 780 express their opinions on all political subjects and candidates. 781 The provisions of paragraph (a) shall not be construed so as to 782 limit the political activity in a general, special, primary, 783 bond, referendum, or other election of any kind or nature, of 784 elected officials or candidates for public office in the state 785 or of any county or municipality thereof; and the provisions of 786 paragraph (a) shall not be construed so as to limit the 787 political activity in general or special elections of the 788 officials appointed as the heads or directors of state 789 administrative agencies, boards, commissions, or committees or 790 of the members of state boards, commissions, or committees, 791 whether they be salaried, nonsalaried, or reimbursed for 792 expense. In the event of a dual capacity of any member of a 793 state board, commission, or committee, any restrictive 794 provisions applicable to either capacity shall apply. The 795 provisions of paragraph (a) shall not be construed so as to 796 limit the political activity in a general, special, primary, 797 bond, referendum, or other election of any kind or nature of the 798 Governor, the elected members of the Governor’s Cabinet, or the 799 members of the Legislature. The provisions of paragraphs (b) and 800 (c) shall apply to all officers and employees of the state or of 801 any county or municipality thereof, whether elected, appointed, 802 or otherwise employed, or whether the activity shall be in 803 connection with a primary, general, special, bond, referendum, 804 or other election of any kind or nature. 805 Section 23. Subsection (1) of section 105.071, Florida 806 Statutes, is amended to read: 807 105.071 Candidates for judicial office; limitations on 808 political activity.—A candidate for judicial office shall not: 809 (1) Participate in any partisan political party activities, 810 except that such candidate may register to vote as a member of 811 any political party and may vote in any party primary limited to 812 membersfor candidates for nominationof the party in which she 813 or he is registered to vote. 814 815 A candidate for judicial office or retention therein who 816 violates the provisions of this section is liable for a civil 817 fine of up to $1,000 to be determined by the Florida Elections 818 Commission. 819 Section 24. Subsections (3) and (18) of section 106.011, 820 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 821 106.011 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the following 822 terms have the following meanings unless the context clearly 823 indicates otherwise: 824 (3) “Candidate” means a person to whom any of the following 825 applies: 826 (a) A person who seeks to qualify fornomination or827 election by means of the petitioning process. 828 (b) A person who seeks to qualify for election as a write 829 in candidate. 830 (c) A person who receives contributions or makes 831 expenditures, or consents for any other person to receive 832 contributions or make expenditures, with a view to bring about 833 his or hernomination orelection to, or retention in, public 834 office. 835 (d) A person who appoints a treasurer and designates a 836 primary depository. 837 (e) A person who files qualification papers and subscribes 838 to a candidate’s oath as required by law. 839 840 However, this definition does not include any candidate for a 841 political party executive committee. Expenditures related to 842 potential candidate polls as provided in s. 106.17 are not 843 contributions or expenditures for purposes of this subsection. 844 (18) “Unopposed candidate” means a candidate fornomination845orelection to an office who, after the last day on which a 846 person, including a write-in candidate, may qualify, is without 847 opposition in the election at which the office is to be filled 848 or who is without such opposition after such date as a result of 849 a primary election or of withdrawal by other candidates seeking 850 the same office. A candidate is not an unopposed candidate if 851 there is a vacancy to be filled under s. 100.111(3), if there is 852 a legal proceeding pending regarding the right to a ballot 853 position for the office sought by the candidate, or if the 854 candidate is seeking retention as a justice or judge. 855 Section 25. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and subsection 856 (3) of section 106.021, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 857 106.021 Campaign treasurers; deputies; primary and 858 secondary depositories.— 859 (1)(a) Each candidate fornomination orelection to office 860 and each political committee shall appoint a campaign treasurer. 861 Each person who seeks to qualify fornomination orelection to, 862 or retention in, office shall appoint a campaign treasurer and 863 designate a primary campaign depository before qualifying for 864 office. Any person who seeks to qualify for electionor865nominationto any office by means of the petitioning process 866 shall appoint a treasurer and designate a primary depository on 867 or before the date he or she obtains the petitions. At the same 868 time a candidate designates a campaign depository and appoints a 869 treasurer, the candidate shall also designate the office for 870 which he or she is a candidate. If the candidate is running for 871 an office that will be grouped on the ballot with two or more 872 similar offices to be filled at the same election, the candidate 873 must indicate for which group or district office he or she is 874 running. This subsection does not prohibit a candidate, at a 875 later date, from changing the designation of the office for 876 which he or she is a candidate. However, if a candidate changes 877 the designated office for which he or she is a candidate, the 878 candidate must notify all contributors in writing of the intent 879 to seek a different office and offer to return pro rata, upon 880 their request, those contributions given in support of the 881 original office sought. This notification shall be given within 882 15 days after the filing of the change of designation and shall 883 include a standard form developed by the Division of Elections 884 for requesting the return of contributions. The notice 885 requirement does not apply to any change in a numerical 886 designation resulting solely from redistricting. If, within 30 887 days after being notified by the candidate of the intent to seek 888 a different office, the contributor notifies the candidate in 889 writing that the contributor wishes his or her contribution to 890 be returned, the candidate shall return the contribution, on a 891 pro rata basis, calculated as of the date the change of 892 designation is filed. Up to a maximum of the contribution limits 893 specified in s. 106.08, a candidate who runs for an office other 894 than the office originally designated may use any contribution 895 that a donor does not request be returned within the 30-day 896 period for the newly designated office, provided the candidate 897 disposes of any amount exceeding the contribution limit pursuant 898 to the options in s. 106.11(5)(b) and (c) or s. 106.141(4)(a)1., 899 2., or 4.; notwithstanding, the full amount of the contribution 900 for the original office shall count toward the contribution 901 limits specified in s. 106.08 for the newly designated office. A 902 person may not accept any contribution or make any expenditure 903 with a view to bringing about his or hernomination,election,904 or retention in public office, or authorize another to accept 905 such contributions or make such expenditure on the person’s 906 behalf, unless such person has appointed a campaign treasurer 907 and designated a primary campaign depository. A candidate for an 908 office voted upon statewide may appoint not more than 15 deputy 909 campaign treasurers, and any other candidate or political 910 committee may appoint not more than 3 deputy campaign 911 treasurers. The names and addresses of the campaign treasurer 912 and deputy campaign treasurers so appointed shall be filed with 913 the officer before whom such candidate is required to qualify or 914 with whom such political committee is required to register 915 pursuant to s. 106.03. 916 (3) No contribution or expenditure, including contributions 917 or expenditures of a candidate or of the candidate’s family, 918 shall be directly or indirectly made or received in furtherance 919 of the candidacy of any person fornomination orelection to 920 political office in the state or on behalf of any political 921 committee except through the duly appointed campaign treasurer 922 of the candidate or political committee, subject to the 923 following exceptions: 924 (a) Independent expenditures; 925 (b) Reimbursements to a candidate or any other individual 926 for expenses incurred in connection with the campaign or 927 activities of the political committee by a check drawn upon the 928 campaign account and reported pursuant to s. 106.07(4). The full 929 name of each person to whom the candidate or other individual 930 made payment for which reimbursement was made by check drawn 931 upon the campaign account shall be reported pursuant to s. 932 106.07(4), together with the purpose of such payment; 933 (c) Expenditures made indirectly through a treasurer for 934 goods or services, such as communications media placement or 935 procurement services, campaign signs, insurance, or other 936 expenditures that include multiple integral components as part 937 of the expenditure and reported pursuant to s. 106.07(4)(a)13.; 938 or 939 (d) Expenditures made directly by any affiliated party 940 committee or political party regulated by chapter 103 for 941 obtaining time, space, or services in or by any communications 942 medium for the purpose of jointly endorsing three or more 943 candidates, and any such expenditure may not be considered a 944 contribution or expenditure to or on behalf of any such 945 candidates for the purposes of this chapter. 946 Section 26. Subsection (2) of section 106.03, Florida 947 Statutes, is amended to read: 948 106.03 Registration of political committees and 949 electioneering communications organizations.— 950 (2) The statement of organization mustshallinclude all of 951 the following: 952 (a) The name, mailing address, and street address of the 953 committee or electioneering communications organization.;954 (b) The names, street addresses, and relationships of 955 affiliated or connected organizations, including any affiliated 956 sponsors.;957 (c) The area, scope, or jurisdiction of the committee or 958 electioneering communications organization.;959 (d) The name, mailing address, street address, and position 960 of the custodian of books and accounts.;961 (e) The name, mailing address, street address, and position 962 of other principal officers, including the treasurer and deputy 963 treasurer, if any.;964 (f) The name, address, office sought, and party affiliation 965 of: 966 1. Each candidate whom the committee is supporting; and 967 2. Any other individual, if any, whom the committee is 968 supporting fornomination for election, orelection,to any 969 public officewhatever.;970 (g) Any issue or issues the committee is supporting or 971 opposing.;972 (h) If the committee is supporting the entire ticket of any 973 party, a statement to that effect and the name of the party.;974 (i) A statement of whether the committee is a continuing 975 one.;976 (j) Plans for the disposition of residual funds which will 977 be made in the event of dissolution.;978 (k) A listing of all banks, safe-deposit boxes, or other 979 depositories used for committee or electioneering communications 980 organization funds.;981 (l) A statement of the reports required to be filed by the 982 committee or the electioneering communications organization with 983 federal officials, if any, and the names, addresses, and 984 positions of such officials.; and985 (m) A statement of whether the electioneering 986 communications organization was formed as a newly created 987 organization during the current calendar quarter or was formed 988 from an organization existing beforeprior tothe current 989 calendar quarter. For purposes of this subsection, calendar 990 quarters end the last day of March, June, September, and 991 December. 992 Section 27. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 993 106.12, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 994 106.12 Petty cash funds allowed.— 995 (2) Following the close of the last day for qualifying and 996 until the last election in a given election period in which the 997 political committee participates, the campaign treasurer of each 998 political committee is authorized to withdraw the following 999 amount each week from the primary depository campaign account 1000 for the purpose of providing a petty cash fund for the political 1001 committee, and, following the close of the last day for 1002 qualifying and until the election at which such candidate is 1003 eliminated or elected to office, or the time at which the 1004 candidate becomes unopposed, the campaign treasurer of each 1005 candidate is authorized to withdraw the following amount each 1006 week from the primary depository campaign account for the 1007 purpose of providing a petty cash fund for the candidate: 1008 (a) For all candidates fornomination orelection on a 1009 statewide basis, $500 per week. 1010 Section 28. Subsection (3) of section 106.143, Florida 1011 Statutes, is amended to read: 1012 106.143 Political advertisements circulated prior to 1013 election; requirements.— 1014 (3) Any political advertisement of a candidate running for 1015 partisan office who is running with a party affiliation must 1016 includeshall expressthe name of suchthepolitical partyof1017which the candidate is seeking nomination or is the nominee. If 1018 the candidate for partisan office is running as a candidate with 1019 no party affiliation, any political advertisement of the 1020 candidate must state that the candidate has no party 1021 affiliation. A political advertisement of a candidate running 1022 for nonpartisan office may not state the candidate’s political 1023 party affiliation. This section does not prohibit a political 1024 advertisement from stating the candidate’s partisan-related 1025 experience. A candidate for nonpartisan office is prohibited 1026 from campaigning based on party affiliation. 1027 Section 29. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 106.15, 1028 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 1029 106.15 Certain acts prohibited.— 1030 (2) No candidate, in the furtherance of his or her 1031 candidacy fornomination orelection to public office in any 1032 election, shall use any state-owned aircraft or motor vehicle, 1033 as provided in chapter 287, solely for the purpose of furthering 1034 his or her candidacy. However, in the event a candidate uses any 1035 state-owned aircraft or motor vehicle to conduct official state 1036 business and while on such trip performs any function in the 1037 furtherance of his or her candidacy fornomination orelection 1038 to public office in any election, the candidate shall prorate 1039 the expenses incurred and reimburse the appropriate agency for 1040 any trip not exclusively for state business and shall pay either 1041 a prorated share of all fixed and variable expenses related to 1042 the ownership, operation, and use of such aircraft or one-half 1043 of the total fixed and variable expenses related to the 1044 ownership, operation, and use of such aircraft, whichever is 1045 greater. The reimbursement shall be made from the campaign 1046 account of the candidate. 1047 (3) A candidate may not, in the furtherance of his or her 1048 candidacy fornomination orelection to public office in any 1049 election, use the services of any state, county, municipal, or 1050 district officer or employee during working hours. 1051 Section 30. Subsection (2) of section 106.18, Florida 1052 Statutes, is amended to read: 1053 106.18 When a candidate’s name to be omitted from ballot.— 1054 (2) Any candidate whose name is removed from the ballot 1055 pursuant to subsection (1) is disqualified as a candidate for 1056 office. If the disqualification of such candidate results in a 1057 vacancy in candidacynomination, such vacancy shall be filled by 1058 a person other than such candidate in the manner provided by 1059 law. 1060 Section 31. Subsection (2) of section 112.313, Florida 1061 Statutes, is amended to read: 1062 112.313 Standards of conduct for public officers, employees 1063 of agencies, and local government attorneys.— 1064 (2) SOLICITATION OR ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS.—No public officer, 1065 employee of an agency, local government attorney, or candidate 1066 fornomination orelection shall solicit or accept anything of 1067 value to the recipient, including a gift, loan, reward, promise 1068 of future employment, favor, or service, based upon any 1069 understanding that the vote, official action, or judgment of the 1070 public officer, employee, local government attorney, or 1071 candidate would be influenced thereby. 1072 Section 32. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 1073 112.3145, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1074 112.3145 Disclosure of financial interests and clients 1075 represented before agencies.— 1076 (2)(a) A person seekingnomination orelection to a state 1077 or local elective office shall file a statement of financial 1078 interests together with, and at the same time he or she files, 1079 qualifying papers. When a candidate has qualified for office 1080 prior to the deadline to file an annual statement of financial 1081 interests, the statement of financial interests that is filed 1082 with the candidate’s qualifying papers shall be deemed to 1083 satisfy the annual disclosure requirement of this section. The 1084 qualifying officer must record that the statement of financial 1085 interests was timely filed. However, if a candidate does not 1086 qualify until after the annual statement of financial interests 1087 has been filed, the candidate may file a copy of his or her 1088 statement with the qualifying officer. 1089 Section 33. This act shall take effect January 1, 2021.