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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
officials; political action committee prohibition
Purpose
Prohibits an elected election officer or their political appointee who oversees certain matters in an election from being a chairperson, treasurer or member of a political action committee (PAC).
Background
A person must obtain an election officer's certificate issued by the Secretary of State before January 1 of each election year in order to assume the duties or authority of an election officer, clerk of the county board of supervisors or the county recorder in relation to election duties or on behalf of any county. The Secretary of State must examine applicants for election officer certificates (A.R.S. § 16-407).
An entity must
register as a PAC if the entity is organized for the primary purpose of
influencing the result of an election and receives contributions or makes
expenditures (A.R.S.
§ 16-905). A PAC treasurer is the custodian of the committee's books and
accounts. The committee may not make a contribution, expenditure or
disbursement without the committee treasurer's authorization (A.R.S.
§ 16-907).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Prohibits an elected election officer or their political appointee from being a chairperson, treasurer or member of a PAC if the individual oversees any matters with which the individual is directly concerned and in which the individual personally participated through substantial and material exercise of administrative discretion over any aspect of election operations.
2. Exempts, from the prohibition relating to membership in PAC, an individual's membership in a candidate committee for the individual's own candidacy.
3. Makes a technical change.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Subjects an elected election officer and a political appointee of an elected election officer, rather than an election officer, employee or person, to the prohibition relating to participation in a PAC.
2. Prohibits an elected election officer or their political appointee from being a chairperson, treasurer or member of a PAC if the individual oversees any matters with which the individual is directly concerned and in which the individual personally participated through substantial and material exercise of administrative discretion over any aspect of election operations.
3. Makes a technical change.
Senate Action
ELEC 2/6/23 DP 5-3-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 1, 2023
AN/CS/slp