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Second Substitute H.B. 179

Representative Lowell A. Nelson proposes to substitute the following bill:


             1     
POLITICAL PARTY AMENDMENTS

             2     
1999 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Sponsor: Lowell A. Nelson

             5      AN ACT RELATING TO POLITICAL PARTIES; MODIFYING DEFINITIONS; EXPANDING
             6      CONSTITUTION AND BYLAW REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTERED POLITICAL
             7      PARTIES; REQUIRING COUNTY AFFILIATES OF REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTIES TO
             8      PROVIDE CERTAIN INFORMATION; AND MAKING TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
             9      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             10      AMENDS:
             11          20A-8-101, as last amended by Chapter 182, Laws of Utah 1997
             12          20A-8-401, as last amended by Chapter 213, Laws of Utah 1996
             13          20A-8-402, as enacted by Chapter 182, Laws of Utah 1997
             14      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             15          Section 1. Section 20A-8-101 is amended to read:
             16           20A-8-101. Definitions.
             17          As used in this chapter:
             18          (1) "Continuing political party" means an organization of voters that participated in the last
             19      regular general election and polled a total vote for any of its candidates for any office equal to 2%
             20      or more of the total votes cast for all candidates for the United States House of Representatives.
             21          (2) "County political party" means, for each registered political party, all of the persons
             22      within a single county who, under definitions established by the county political party, are
             23      members of the registered political party.
             24          [(2)] (3) "Newly registered political party" means [an] a statewide organization of voters
             25      that has complied with the petition and organizing procedures of this chapter to become a


             26      registered political party.
             27          [(3)] (4) "Registered political party" means an organization of voters that:
             28          (a) participated in the last regular general election and polled a total vote for any of its
             29      candidates for any office equal to 2% or more of the total votes cast for all candidates for the
             30      United States House of Representatives; or
             31          (b) has complied with the petition and organizing procedures of this chapter.
             32          (5) "State political party" means, for each registered political party, all of the persons in
             33      Utah who, under definitions established by the county political party, are members of the registered
             34      political party.
             35          Section 2. Section 20A-8-401 is amended to read:
             36           20A-8-401. Registered political parties -- Bylaws.
             37          (1) (a) Each registered political party shall file a copy of its constitution and bylaws with
             38      the lieutenant governor by January 1, 1995.
             39          (b) Each new or unregistered political party that seeks to become a registered political
             40      party under the authority of this chapter shall file a copy of its proposed constitution and bylaws
             41      at the time it files its registration information.
             42          (c) Each registered political party shall file revised copies of its constitution or bylaws with
             43      the lieutenant governor within 15 days after the constitution or bylaws are adopted or amended.
             44          (2) Each [registered] state political party, each new political party seeking registration,
             45      [and] each unregistered political party seeking registration shall ensure that its constitution or
             46      bylaws contain:
             47          (a) provisions establishing party organization, structure, membership, and governance that
             48      include:
             49          (i) a description of the position, selection process, qualifications, duties, and terms of each
             50      party officer;
             51          (ii) a provision requiring a designated party officer to serve as liaison with the lieutenant
             52      governor on all matters relating to the political party's relationship with the state;
             53          (iii) a description of the requirements for participation in party processes;
             54          (iv) the dates, times, and quorum of any regularly scheduled party meetings, conventions,
             55      or other conclaves; and
             56          (v) a mechanism for making the names of [party officers,] delegates, [and] candidates, and


             57      elected party officers available to the public shortly after they are selected;
             58          (b) a procedure for selecting party officers that allows active participation by party
             59      members;
             60          (c) a procedure for selecting party candidates at the federal, state, and county levels that
             61      allows active participation by party members;
             62          (d) a procedure for selecting electors who are pledged to cast their votes in the electoral
             63      college for the party's candidates for president and vice president of the United States;
             64          (e) a provision requiring the governor and lieutenant governor to run as a joint ticket;
             65          (f) a procedure for replacing party candidates who die, become disabled, or are disqualified
             66      before a primary or regular general election;
             67          (g) provisions governing the deposit and expenditure of party funds, and governing the
             68      accounting for, reporting, and audit of party financial transactions;
             69          (h) provisions governing access to party records; [and]
             70          (i) a procedure for amending the constitution or bylaws that allows active participation by
             71      party members or their representatives[.]; and
             72          (j) a process for resolving grievances against the political party .
             73          Section 3. Section 20A-8-402 is amended to read:
             74           20A-8-402. Political party officers -- Submission of names of officers to the
             75      lieutenant governor.
             76          (1) Each [registered] state political party shall:
             77          [(1)] (a) designate a [state] party officer to act as liaison with the lieutenant governor's
             78      office; and
             79          (b) within seven days of any change in the party liaison, submit the names of the new
             80      liaison, to the lieutenant governor.
             81          (2) Each state political party and each county political party shall:
             82          (a) submit the names of its [state] officers [and liaison] to the lieutenant governor within
             83      seven days after the officers are selected; and
             84          [(3)] (b) within seven days of any change in party officers [or liaison], submit the names
             85      of the new officers [and liaison] to the lieutenant governor.


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