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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
REVISED
officials; political action committee prohibition
Purpose
Prohibits an election officer or employee or person who oversees any significant aspect of election operations 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 election officer, employee or person who oversees any significant aspect of election operations from being a chairperson, treasurer or member of a PAC.
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. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Revision
· Corrects the background to clarify that a PAC may not make a contribution, expenditure or disbursement without the committee treasurer's authorization, rather than the county treasurer's authorization.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 28, 2023
AN/CS/slp