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Second Substitute S.B. 55

Senator L. Alma Mansell proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
ELECTION REFORM

             2     
2006 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: L. Alma Mansell

             5     
House Sponsor: Brad L. Dee

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Election Code to provide the option to file a pledge of fair
             10      campaign practices and to establish criminal penalties related to issuing false
             11      information or improper contributions during campaigns.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    provides that each candidate for public office in the state be presented with a pledge
             15      of fair campaign practices;
             16          .    provides that a candidate may voluntarily elect to sign and file the pledge;
             17          .    provides that the pledge is a public document and shall be maintained by the filing
             18      officer for a defined period after the election ends;
             19          .    requires political action committees and political issues committees to file a yearly
             20      statement of organization;
             21          .    requires political action committees and political issues committees to designate and
             22      disclose the names of two officers having primary decision-making authority;
             23          .    requires a political action committee or political issues committee to notify the
             24      lieutenant governor of a change in a primary officer;
             25          .    provides a criminal penalty for:


             26              .    providing false information on a statement of organization for a political action
             27      committee or political issues committee or on a notice of change of officer; or
             28              .    accepting a contribution from certain business entities that have failed to
             29      register with the lieutenant governor's office; and
             30          .    requires business entities that are created just before a general election to file a
             31      statement of organization with the lieutenant governor's office before making
             32      political contributions.
             33      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             34          None
             35      Other Special Clauses:
             36          None
             37      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             38      AMENDS:
             39          20A-9-201, as last amended by Chapter 140, Laws of Utah 2003
             40          20A-9-203, as last amended by Chapter 209, Laws of Utah 2004
             41          20A-11-601, as enacted by Chapter 1, Laws of Utah 1995
             42          20A-11-801, as last amended by Chapter 355, Laws of Utah 1997
             43      ENACTS:
             44          20A-9-205, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             45          20A-11-704, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             46     
             47      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             48          Section 1. Section 20A-9-201 is amended to read:
             49           20A-9-201. Declarations of candidacy -- Candidacy for more than one office or of
             50      more than one political party prohibited with exceptions -- General filing and form
             51      requirements.
             52          (1) Before filing a declaration of candidacy for election to any office, a person shall:
             53          (a) be a United States citizen; and
             54          (b) meet the legal requirements of that office.
             55          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), a person may not:
             56          (i) file a declaration of candidacy for, or be a candidate for, more than one office in


             57      Utah during any election year; or
             58          (ii) appear on the ballot as the candidate of more than one political party.
             59          (b) A person may file a declaration of candidacy for, or be a candidate for, President or
             60      Vice President of the United States and another office, if the person resigns the person's
             61      candidacy for the other office after the person is officially nominated for President or Vice
             62      President of the United States.
             63          (3) If the final date established for filing a declaration of candidacy is a Saturday or
             64      Sunday, the filing time shall be extended until 5 p.m. on the following [Monday] business day.
             65          (4) (a) (i) Except for presidential candidates, before the filing officer may accept any
             66      declaration of candidacy, the filing officer shall:
             67          (A) read to the prospective candidate the constitutional and statutory qualification
             68      requirements for the office that the candidate is seeking; and
             69          (B) require the candidate to state whether or not the candidate meets those
             70      requirements.
             71          (ii) Before accepting a declaration of candidacy for the office of county attorney, the
             72      county clerk shall ensure that the person filing that declaration of candidacy is:
             73          (A) a United States citizen;
             74          (B) an attorney licensed to practice law in Utah who is an active member in good
             75      standing of the Utah State Bar;
             76          (C) a registered voter in the county in which he is seeking office; and
             77          (D) a current resident of the county in which he is seeking office and either has been a
             78      resident of that county for at least one year or was appointed and is currently serving as county
             79      attorney and became a resident of the county within 30 days after appointment to the office.
             80          (iii) Before accepting a declaration of candidacy for the office of district attorney, the
             81      county clerk shall ensure that, as of the date of the election, the person filing that declaration of
             82      candidacy is:
             83          (A) a United States citizen;
             84          (B) an attorney licensed to practice law in Utah who is an active member in good
             85      standing of the Utah State Bar;
             86          (C) a registered voter in the prosecution district in which he is seeking office; and
             87          (D) a current resident of the prosecution district in which he is seeking office and either


             88      will have been a resident of that prosecution district for at least one year as of the date of the
             89      election or was appointed and is currently serving as district attorney and became a resident of
             90      the prosecution district within 30 days after receiving appointment to the office.
             91          (iv) Before accepting a declaration of candidacy for the office of county sheriff, the
             92      county clerk shall ensure that the person filing the declaration of candidacy:
             93          (A) as of the date of filing:
             94          (I) is a United States citizen;
             95          (II) is a registered voter in the county in which the person seeks office;
             96          (III) (Aa) has successfully met the standards and training requirements established for
             97      law enforcement officers under Title 53, Chapter 6, Part 2, Peace Officer Training and
             98      Certification Act; or
             99          (Bb) has passed a certification examination as provided in Section 53-6-206 ; and
             100          (IV) is qualified to be certified as a law enforcement officer, as defined in Section
             101      53-13-103 ; and
             102          (B) as of the date of the election, shall have been a resident of the county in which the
             103      person seeks office for at least one year.
             104          (b) If the prospective candidate states that he does not meet the qualification
             105      requirements for the office, the filing officer may not accept the prospective candidate's
             106      declaration of candidacy.
             107          (c) If the candidate states that he meets the requirements of candidacy, the filing officer
             108      shall:
             109          (i) provide the candidate with a copy of the pledge of fair campaign practices described
             110      under Section 20A-9-205 and inform the candidate that:
             111          (A) signing the pledge is voluntary; and
             112          (B) signed pledges shall be filed with the filing officer;
             113          [(i)] (ii) accept the candidate's declaration of candidacy; and
             114          [(ii)] (iii) if the candidate has filed for a partisan office, provide a certified copy of the
             115      declaration of candidacy to the chair of the county or state political party of which the
             116      candidate is a member.
             117          (d) If the candidate elects to sign the pledge of fair campaign practices, the filing
             118      officer shall:


             119          (i) accept the candidate's pledge; and
             120          (ii) if the candidate has filed for a partisan office, provide a certified copy of the
             121      candidate's pledge to the chair of the county or state political party of which the candidate is a
             122      member.
             123          (5) Except for presidential candidates, the form of the declaration of candidacy shall be
             124      substantially as follows:
             125          "State of Utah, County of ____
             126          I, ______________, declare my intention of becoming a candidate for the office of
             127      ____ as a candidate for the ____ party. I do solemnly swear that: I can qualify to hold that
             128      office, both legally and constitutionally, if selected; I reside at _____________ in the City or
             129      Town of ____, Utah, Zip Code ____ Phone No. ____; I will not knowingly violate any law
             130      governing campaigns and elections; and I will qualify for the office if elected to it. The
             131      mailing address that I designate for receiving official election notices is
             132      ___________________________.
             133      ____________________________________________________________________
             134          Subscribed and sworn before me this __________(month\day\year).
             135     
Notary Public (or other officer qualified to administer oath.)"

             136          (6) (a) Except for presidential candidates, the fee for filing a declaration of candidacy
             137      is:
             138          (i) $25 for candidates for the local school district board; and
             139          (ii) 1/8 of 1% of the total salary for the full term of office legally paid to the person
             140      holding the office, but not less than $5, for all other federal, state, and county offices.
             141          (b) Except for presidential candidates, the filing officer shall refund the filing fee to
             142      any candidate:
             143          (i) who is disqualified; or
             144          (ii) who the filing officer determines has filed improperly.
             145          (c) (i) The county clerk shall immediately pay to the county treasurer all fees received
             146      from candidates.
             147          (ii) The lieutenant governor shall:
             148          (A) apportion to and pay to the county treasurers of the various counties all fees
             149      received for filing of nomination certificates or acceptances; and


             150          (B) ensure that each county receives that proportion of the total amount paid to the
             151      lieutenant governor from the congressional district that the total vote of that county for all
             152      candidates for representative in Congress bears to the total vote of all counties within the
             153      congressional district for all candidates for representative in Congress.
             154          (d) (i) Each person who is unable to pay the filing fee may file a declaration of
             155      candidacy without payment upon a prima facie showing of impecuniosity as evidenced by an
             156      affidavit of impecuniosity filed with the filing officer.
             157          (ii) The filing officer shall ensure that the affidavit of impecuniosity is printed in
             158      substantially the following form:
             159          "Affidavit of Impecuniosity
             160      Individual Name
             161      ____________________________Address_____________________________
             162      Phone Number _________________
             163      I,__________________________(name), do solemnly [swear] [affirm] that, owing to my
             164      poverty, I am unable to pay the filing fee required by law.
             165      Date ______________ Signature________________________________________________
             166      Affiant
             167      Subscribed and sworn to before me on ___________ (month\day\year)
             168     
______________________

             169     
(signature)

             170          Name and Title of Officer Authorized to Administer Oath
_________________________"

             171          (7) Any person who fails to file a declaration of candidacy or certificate of nomination
             172      within the time provided in this chapter is ineligible for nomination to office.
             173          Section 2. Section 20A-9-203 is amended to read:
             174           20A-9-203. Declarations of candidacy -- Municipal general elections.
             175          (1) (a) A person may become a candidate for any municipal office if the person is a
             176      registered voter and:
             177          (i) the person has resided within the municipality in which that person seeks to hold
             178      elective office for the 12 consecutive months immediately before the date of the election; or
             179          (ii) if the territory in which the person resides was annexed into the municipality, the
             180      person has resided within the annexed territory or the municipality for 12 months.


             181          (b) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (1)(a), candidates for a municipal
             182      council position under the council-mayor or council-manager alternative forms of municipal
             183      government shall, if elected from districts, be residents of the council district from which they
             184      are elected.
             185          (c) Pursuant to Utah Constitution Article IV, Section 6, any mentally incompetent
             186      person, any person convicted of a felony, or any person convicted of treason or a crime against
             187      the elective franchise may not hold office in this state until the right to vote or hold elective
             188      office is restored as provided by statute.
             189          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b) or (2)(c), each person seeking to
             190      become a candidate for a municipal office shall file a declaration of candidacy in person with
             191      the city recorder or town clerk during office hours and not later than 5 p.m. between July 15
             192      and August 15 of any odd numbered year and pay the filing fee, if one is required by municipal
             193      ordinance.
             194          (b) (i) As used in this Subsection (2)(b), "registered voters" means the number of
             195      persons registered to vote in the municipality on the January 1 of the municipal election year.
             196          (ii) A third, fourth, or fifth class city that used the convention system to nominate
             197      candidates in the last municipal election as authorized by Subsection 20A-9-404 (3) or used the
             198      process contained in this Subsection (2)(b) in the last municipal election or a town that used the
             199      convention system to nominate candidates in the last municipal election as authorized by
             200      Subsection 20A-9-404 (3) or used the process contained in this Subsection (2)(b) in the last
             201      municipal election may, by ordinance, require, in lieu of the convention system, that candidates
             202      for municipal office file a nominating petition signed by a percentage of registered voters at the
             203      same time that the candidate files a declaration of candidacy.
             204          (iii) The ordinance shall specify the number of signatures that the candidate must
             205      obtain on the nominating petition in order to become a candidate for municipal office under
             206      this Subsection (2), but that number may not exceed 5% of registered voters.
             207          (c) Any resident of a municipality may nominate a candidate for a municipal office by
             208      filing a nomination petition with the city recorder or town clerk during office hours but not
             209      later than 5 p.m. between July 15 and August 15 of any odd numbered year and pay the filing
             210      fee, if one is required by municipal ordinance.
             211          (d) When August 15 is a Saturday or Sunday, the filing time shall be extended until 5


             212      p.m. on the following Monday.
             213          (3) (a) Before the filing officer may accept any declaration of candidacy or nomination
             214      petition, the filing officer shall:
             215          (i) read to the prospective candidate or person filing the petition the constitutional and
             216      statutory qualification requirements for the office that the candidate is seeking; and
             217          (ii) require the candidate or person filing the petition to state whether or not the
             218      candidate meets those requirements.
             219          (b) If the prospective candidate does not meet the qualification requirements for the
             220      office, the filing officer may not accept the declaration of candidacy or nomination petition.
             221          (c) If it appears that the prospective candidate meets the requirements of candidacy, the
             222      filing officer shall:
             223          (i) provide the candidate with a copy of the pledge of fair campaign practices described
             224      under Section 20A-9-205 and inform the candidate that:
             225          (A) signing the pledge is voluntary; and
             226          (B) signed pledges shall be filed with the filing officer; and
             227          (ii) accept the declaration of candidacy or nomination petition.
             228          (d) If the candidate elects to sign the pledge of fair campaign practices, the filing
             229      officer shall:
             230          (i) accept the candidate's pledge; and
             231          (ii) if the candidate has filed for a partisan office, provide a certified copy of the
             232      candidate's pledge to the chair of the county or state political party of which the candidate is a
             233      member.
             234          (4) The declaration of candidacy shall substantially comply with the following form:
             235          "I, (print name) ____, being first sworn, say that I reside at ____ Street, City of ____,
             236      County of ____, state of Utah, Zip Code ____, Telephone Number (if any) ____; that I am a
             237      registered voter; and that I am a candidate for the office of ____ (stating the term). I request
             238      that my name be printed upon the applicable official ballots. (Signed) _______________
             239          Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me by ____ on this
             240      __________(month\day\year).
             241          (Signed) _______________ (Clerk or other officer qualified to administer oath)"
             242          (5) (a) In all first and second class cities, and in third, fourth, or fifth class cities that


             243      have not passed the ordinance authorized by Subsection (2)(b) and in towns that have not
             244      passed the ordinance authorized by Subsection (2)(b), any registered voter may be nominated
             245      for municipal office by submitting a petition signed by:
             246          (i) 25 residents of the municipality who are at least 18 years old; or
             247          (ii) 20% of the residents of the municipality who are at least 18 years old.
             248          (b) (i) The petition shall substantially conform to the following form:
             249     
"NOMINATION PETITION

             250          The undersigned residents of (name of municipality) being 18 years old or older
             251      nominate (name of nominee) to the office of ____ for the (two or four-year term, whichever is
             252      applicable)."
             253          (ii) The remainder of the petition shall contain lines and columns for the signatures of
             254      persons signing the petition and their addresses and telephone numbers.
             255          (6) (a) In third, fourth, and fifth class cities that have passed the ordinance authorized
             256      by Subsection (2)(b), and in towns that have passed the ordinance authorized by Subsection
             257      (2)(b), any registered voter may be nominated for municipal office by submitting a petition
             258      signed by the same percentage of registered voters in the municipality as required by the
             259      ordinance passed under authority of Subsection (2)(b).
             260          (b) (i) The petition shall substantially conform to the following form:
             261          "NOMINATION PETITION
             262          The undersigned residents of (name of municipality) being 18 years old or older
             263      nominate (name of nominee) to the office of (name of office) for the (two or four-year term,
             264      whichever is applicable)."
             265          (ii) The remainder of the petition shall contain lines and columns for the signatures of
             266      persons signing the petition and their addresses and telephone numbers.
             267          (7) If the declaration of candidacy or nomination petition fails to state whether the
             268      nomination is for the two or four-year term, the clerk shall consider the nomination to be for
             269      the four-year term.
             270          (8) (a) The clerk shall verify with the county clerk that all candidates are registered
             271      voters.
             272          (b) Any candidate who is not registered to vote is disqualified and the clerk may not
             273      print the candidate's name on the ballot.


             274          (9) Immediately after expiration of the period for filing a declaration of candidacy, the
             275      clerk shall:
             276          (a) cause the names of the candidates as they will appear on the ballot to be published
             277      in at least two successive publications of a newspaper with general circulation in the
             278      municipality; and
             279          (b) notify the lieutenant governor of the names of the candidates as they will appear on
             280      the ballot.
             281          (10) (a) A declaration of candidacy or nomination petition filed under this section is
             282      valid unless a written objection is filed with the clerk within five days after the last day for
             283      filing.
             284          (b) If an objection is made, the clerk shall:
             285          (i) mail or personally deliver notice of the objection to the affected candidate
             286      immediately; and
             287          (ii) decide any objection within 48 hours after it is filed.
             288          (c) If the clerk sustains the objection, the candidate may correct the problem by
             289      amending the declaration or petition within three days after the objection is sustained or by
             290      filing a new declaration within three days after the objection is sustained.
             291          (d) (i) The clerk's decision upon objections to form is final.
             292          (ii) The clerk's decision upon substantive matters is reviewable by a district court if
             293      prompt application is made to the district court.
             294          (iii) The decision of the district court is final unless the Supreme Court, in the exercise
             295      of its discretion, agrees to review the lower court decision.
             296          (11) Any person who filed a declaration of candidacy and was nominated, and any
             297      person who was nominated by a nomination petition, may, any time up to 23 days before the
             298      election, withdraw the nomination by filing a written affidavit with the clerk.
             299          Section 3. Section 20A-9-205 is enacted to read:
             300          20A-9-205. Fair campaign practices -- Voluntary pledge -- Pledge is a public
             301      record -- Retention requirements.
             302          (1) Each person seeking to become a candidate for any elective office that is to be
             303      filled at the next election shall be provided with a copy of the pledge of fair campaign
             304      practices.


             305          (2) The pledge shall be in the following form:
             306          "PLEDGE OF FAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICES
             307          There are basic principles of decency, honesty, and fair play which every candidate for
             308      public office in the State of Utah has a moral obligation to observe and uphold, in order that,
             309      after vigorously contested but fairly conducted campaigns, our citizens may exercise their right
             310      to a free election, and that the will of the people may be fully and clearly expressed on the
             311      issues.
             312          THEREFORE:
             313          I SHALL conduct my campaign openly and publicly, discussing the issues as I see
             314      them, presenting my record and policies with sincerity and frankness, and criticizing, without
             315      fear or favor, the record and policies of my opponents that I believe merit criticism.
             316          I SHALL NOT use nor shall I permit the use of whispering campaigns or scurrilous
             317      attacks on any candidate. I shall not participate in or nor shall I permit the use of defamation,
             318      libel, or slander against any candidate. I shall not participate in or shall I permit the use of any
             319      other criticism of any candidate that I do not believe to be truthful, provable, and relevant to my
             320      campaign.
             321          I SHALL NOT appeal to nor shall I permit an appeal to negative prejudices based on
             322      race, gender, religion, national origin, physical disability, or age.
             323          I SHALL NOT use or nor shall I permit the use of any practice that tends to corrupt or
             324      undermine our American system of free elections, or that hinders or prevents the free
             325      expression of the will of the voters, including practices intended to hinder or prevent any
             326      eligible person from registering to vote or voting.
             327          I SHALL NOT coerce election help or campaign contributions for myself or for any
             328      other candidate from my employees or volunteers.
             329          I SHALL immediately and publicly repudiate support deriving from any individual or
             330      group which resorts, on behalf of my candidacy or in opposition to that of an opponent, to
             331      methods in violation of the letter or spirit of this pledge. I shall accept responsibility to take
             332      firm action against any subordinate who violates any provision of this pledge or the laws
             333      governing elections.
             334          I SHALL defend and uphold the right of every qualified American voter to full and
             335      equal participation in the electoral process.


             336          I, the undersigned, candidate for election to public office in the State of Utah, hereby
             337      voluntarily endorse, subscribe to, and solemnly pledge myself to conduct my campaign in
             338      accordance with the above principles and practices."
             339          Name: ________________________________
             340          Signature: _____________________________ Date: _________
             341          (3) The filing officer shall print, or cause to be printed, blank forms of the pledge to be
             342      distributed to persons filing a declaration of candidacy.
             343          (4) A pledge that is submitted for filing by a candidate is a public record under Title
             344      63, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act.
             345          (5) The filing officer shall:
             346          (a) accept all signed pledges that are submitted for filing; and
             347          (b) retain each filed pledge for public inspection for 30 calendar days after the election.
             348          (6) A candidate may not be required to subscribe to, endorse, or sign the pledge of fair
             349      campaign practices.
             350          Section 4. Section 20A-11-601 is amended to read:
             351           20A-11-601. Political action committees -- Registration -- Criminal penalty for
             352      providing false information.
             353          (1) (a) Each political action committee shall file a statement of organization with the
             354      lieutenant governor's office by January 10 of each year, unless the political action committee
             355      has filed a notice of dissolution under Subsection (4).
             356          (b) If a political action committee is organized after the January 10 filing date, the
             357      political action committee shall file an initial statement of organization no later than seven days
             358      after:
             359          [(a)] (i) receiving contributions totaling at least $750 [in any calendar year]; or
             360          [(b)] (ii) distributing expenditures for political purposes totaling at least $750 [in any
             361      calendar year].
             362          (c) If January 10 falls on a weekend or holiday, the statement of organization shall be
             363      filed by the following business day.
             364          (2) Each political action committee shall designate two officers that have primary
             365      decision-making authority for the political action committee.
             366          [(2)] (3) The statement of organization shall include:


             367          (a) the name and address of the political action committee;
             368          (b) the name, street address, phone number, occupation, and title of the two primary
             369      officers designated under Subsection (2);
             370          [(b)] (c) the name, street address, occupation, and title of [each officer] all other
             371      officers of the political action committee;
             372          [(c)] (d) the name and street address of the organization, individual corporation,
             373      association, unit of government, or union that the political action committee represents, if any;
             374          [(d)] (e) the name and street address of all affiliated or connected organizations and
             375      their relationships to the political action committee;
             376          [(e)] (f) the name, street address, business address, occupation, and phone number of
             377      the committee's treasurer or chief financial officer; and
             378          [(f)] (g) the name, street address, and occupation of each member of the governing
             379      [board] and advisory boards, if any.
             380          [(3)] (4) (a) Any registered political action committee that intends to permanently cease
             381      operations shall file a notice of dissolution with the lieutenant governor's office.
             382          (b) Any notice of dissolution filed by a political action committee does not exempt that
             383      political action committee from complying with the financial reporting requirements of this
             384      chapter.
             385          (5) (a) Unless the political action committee has filed a notice of dissolution under
             386      Subsection (4), a political action committee shall file, with the lieutenant governor's office,
             387      notice of any change of an officer described in Subsection (2).
             388          (b) Notice of a change of a primary officer described in Subsection (2) shall:
             389          (i) be filed within ten days of the date of the change; and
             390          (ii) contain the name and title of the officer being replaced, and the name, address,
             391      occupation, and title of the new officer.
             392          (6) (a) A person is guilty of providing false information in relation to a political action
             393      committee if the person intentionally or knowingly gives false or misleading material
             394      information in the statement of organization or the notice of change of primary officer.
             395          (b) Each primary officer designated in Subsection (2) is guilty of accepting an unlawful
             396      contribution if the political action committee knowingly or recklessly accepts a contribution
             397      from a corporation that:


             398          (i) was organized less than 90 days before the date of the general election; and
             399          (ii) at the time the political action committee accepts the contribution, has failed to file
             400      a statement of organization with the lieutenant governor's office as required by Section
             401      20A-11-704 .
             402          (c) A violation of this section is a third degree felony.
             403          Section 5. Section 20A-11-704 is enacted to read:
             404          20A-11-704. Statement of organization required for certain new corporations.
             405          (1) A corporation that is incorporated, organized, or otherwise created less than 90 days
             406      before the date of a general election shall file a statement of organization with the lieutenant
             407      governor's office before making a contribution to a political action committee or a political
             408      issues committee in association with the election.
             409          (2) The statement of organization shall include:
             410          (a) the name and street address of the corporation;
             411          (b) the name, street address, phone number, occupation, and title of one or more
             412      individuals that have primary decision-making authority for the corporation;
             413          (c) the name, street address, phone number, occupation, and title of the corporation's
             414      chief financial officer;
             415          (d) the name, street address, occupation, and title of all other officers or managers of
             416      the corporation; and
             417          (e) the name, street address, and occupation of each member of the corporation's
             418      governing and advisory boards, if any.
             419          Section 6. Section 20A-11-801 is amended to read:
             420           20A-11-801. Political issues committees -- Registration -- Criminal penalty for
             421      providing false information.
             422          (1) (a) Each political issues committee shall file a statement of organization with the
             423      lieutenant governor's office by January 10 of each year, unless the political issues committee
             424      has filed a notice of dissolution under Subsection (4).
             425          (b) If a political issues committee is organized after the January 10 filing date, the
             426      political issues committee shall file an initial statement of organization no later than seven days
             427      after:
             428          (i) receiving political issues contributions totaling at least $750; or


             429          (ii) disbursing political issues expenditures totaling at least $50 [in any calendar year].
             430          (c) If January 10 falls on a weekend or holiday, the statement of organization shall be
             431      filed by the following business day.
             432          (2) Each political issues committee shall designate two officers that have primary
             433      decision-making authority for the political issues committee.
             434          [(2)] (3) The statement of organization shall include:
             435          (a) the name and street address of the political issues committee;
             436          (b) the name, street address, phone number, occupation, and title of the two primary
             437      officers designated under Subsection (2);
             438          [(b)] (c) the name, street address, occupation, and title of [each officer] all other
             439      officers of the political issues committee;
             440          [(c)] (d) the name and street address of the organization, individual, corporation,
             441      association, unit of government, or union that the political issues committee represents, if any;
             442          [(d)] (e) the name and street address of all affiliated or connected organizations and
             443      their relationships to the political issues committee;
             444          [(e)] (f) the name, street address, business address, occupation, and phone number of
             445      the committee's treasurer or chief financial officer;
             446          [(f)] (g) the name, street address, and occupation of each member of the supervisory
             447      [board] and advisory boards, if any; and
             448          [(g)] (h) the ballot proposition whose outcome they wish to affect, and whether they
             449      support or oppose it.
             450          [(3)] (4) (a) Any registered political issues committee that intends to permanently cease
             451      operations during a calendar year shall file a notice of dissolution with the lieutenant governor's
             452      office.
             453          (b) Any notice of dissolution filed by a political issues committee does not exempt that
             454      political issues committee from complying with the financial reporting requirements of this
             455      chapter.
             456          (5) (a) Unless the political issues committee has filed a notice of dissolution under
             457      Subsection (4), a political issues committee shall file, with the lieutenant governor's office,
             458      notice of any change of an officer described in Subsection (2).
             459          (b) Notice of a change of a primary officer described in Subsection (2) shall:


             460          (i) be filed within ten days of the date of the change; and
             461          (ii) contain the name and title of the officer being replaced and the name, address,
             462      occupation, and title of the new officer.
             463          (6) (a) A person is guilty of providing false information in relation to a political issues
             464      committee if the person intentionally or knowingly gives false or misleading material
             465      information in the statement of organization or the notice of change of primary officer.
             466          (b) Each primary officer designated in Subsection (2) is guilty of accepting an unlawful
             467      contribution if the political issues committee knowingly or recklessly accepts a contribution
             468      from a corporation that:
             469          (i) was organized less than 90 days before the date of the general election; and
             470          (ii) at the time the political issues committee accepts the contribution, has failed to file
             471      a statement of organization with the lieutenant governor's office as required by Section
             472      20A-11-704 .
             473          (c) A violation of this section is a third degree felony.


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