Assigned to ELEC                                                                                                                             AS VETOED

 

 

 

 


ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session

 

VETOED

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1264

 

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.

Governor's Veto Message

The Governor indicates in her veto message that there are few examples of election related issues created by elected election officers or their appointees being involved in PACs.

 

Senate Action                                                          House Action

ELEC              2/6/23        DP             5-3-0             MOE               3/29/23      DP     7-3-0-0

3rd Read          3/2/23                          16-14-0         3rd Read           5/15/23                 42-16-1-0-1

Vetoed by the Governor on 6/8/23

Prepared by Senate Research

June 12, 2023

AN/CS/slp