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H.B. 238 Enrolled

             1     

CAMPAIGN FINANCE FILING

             2     
REQUIREMENTS

             3     
2008 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Gregory H. Hughes

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Sheldon L. Killpack

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill modifies the Election Code, the Utah Municipal Code, and provisions related to
             11      counties in order to amend certain requirements for compliance with election-related
             12      financial reporting provisions.
             13      Highlighted Provisions:
             14          This bill:
             15          .    requires strict compliance for filing deadlines when a petition is brought to the
             16      district court regarding compliance with campaign and judicial retention election
             17      finance reporting provisions;
             18          .    requires the election filing officer to provide each person that files a valid declaration
             19      of candidacy with a copy of current campaign financial disclosure laws and to inform
             20      the person that failure to comply will result in disqualification as a candidate and
             21      removal of the person's name from the ballot;
             22          .    requires the person filing, in the declaration of candidacy, to promise to file all
             23      financial disclosure reports as required by law and to acknowledge that failure to do
             24      so will result in the person's disqualification for the office and removal of the
             25      person's name from the ballot; and
             26          .    makes technical changes.
             27      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             28          None
             29      Other Special Clauses:


             30          This bill provides an immediate effective date.
             31      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             32      AMENDS:
             33          20A-1-404, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1993, Chapter 1
             34          20A-9-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapters 83, and 97
             35          20A-9-203, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapters 83, 97, and 256
             36     
             37      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             38          Section 1. Section 20A-1-404 is amended to read:
             39           20A-1-404. Election controversies.
             40          (1) (a) (i) Whenever any controversy occurs between any election officer or other
             41      person or entity charged with any duty or function under this title and any candidate, or the
             42      officers or representatives of any political party, or persons who have made nominations, either
             43      party to the controversy may file a verified petition with the district court.
             44          (ii) If a petition is filed, the petitioner shall serve a copy of the petition on the
             45      respondents on the same day that the petition is filed with the court.
             46          (b) The verified petition shall identify concisely the nature of the controversy and the
             47      relief sought.
             48          (2) After reviewing the petition, the court shall:
             49          (a) issue an order commanding the respondent named in the petition to appear before
             50      the court to answer, under oath, to the petition;
             51          (b) summarily hear and dispose of any issues raised by the petition to obtain:
             52          (i) strict compliance with all filing deadlines for financial disclosure reports under:
             53          (A) Section 10-3-208 , regarding campaign finance statements in municipal elections;
             54          (B) Section 17-16-6.5 , regarding campaign finance statements for county offices;
             55          (C) Title 20A, Chapter 11, Part 2, State Office Candidates - Campaign Organization
             56      and Financial Reporting Requirements;
             57          (D) Title 20A, Chapter 11, Part 3, Candidates for Legislative Office - Campaign


             58      Organization and Financial Reporting Requirements;
             59          (E) Title 20A, Chapter 11, Part 4, Officeholder Financial Reporting Requirements;
             60          (F) Title 20A, Chapter 11, Part 5, Political Party Registration and Financial Reporting
             61      Requirements;
             62          (G) Title 20A, Chapter 11, Part 6, Political Action Committee Registration and
             63      Financial Reporting Requirements;
             64          (H) Title 20A, Chapter 11, Part 7, Campaign Financial Reporting by Corporations;
             65          (I) Title 20A, Chapter 11, Part 8, Political Issues Committees - Registration and
             66      Financial Reporting;
             67          (J) Title 20A, Chapter 11, Part 13, State and Local School Board Candidates; and
             68          (K) Title 20A, Chapter 12, Part 3, Campaign and Financial Reporting Requirements for
             69      Judicial Retention Elections; and
             70          (ii) substantial compliance with [the] all other provisions of this title by the parties to
             71      the controversy; and
             72          (c) make and enter orders and judgments, and issue the process of the court to enforce
             73      all of those orders and judgments.
             74          Section 2. Section 20A-9-201 is amended to read:
             75           20A-9-201. Declarations of candidacy -- Candidacy for more than one office or of
             76      more than one political party prohibited with exceptions -- General filing and form
             77      requirements.
             78          (1) Before filing a declaration of candidacy for election to any office, a person shall:
             79          (a) be a United States citizen; and
             80          (b) meet the legal requirements of that office.
             81          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), a person may not:
             82          (i) file a declaration of candidacy for, or be a candidate for, more than one office in
             83      Utah during any election year; or
             84          (ii) appear on the ballot as the candidate of more than one political party.
             85          (b) A person may file a declaration of candidacy for, or be a candidate for, President or


             86      Vice President of the United States and another office, if the person resigns the person's
             87      candidacy for the other office after the person is officially nominated for President or Vice
             88      President of the United States.
             89          (3) If the final date established for filing a declaration of candidacy is a Saturday or
             90      Sunday, the filing time shall be extended until 5 p.m. on the following business day.
             91          (4) (a) (i) Except for presidential candidates, before the filing officer may accept any
             92      declaration of candidacy, the filing officer shall:
             93          (A) read to the prospective candidate the constitutional and statutory qualification
             94      requirements for the office that the candidate is seeking; and
             95          (B) require the candidate to state whether or not the candidate meets those
             96      requirements.
             97          (ii) Before accepting a declaration of candidacy for the office of county attorney, the
             98      county clerk shall ensure that the person filing that declaration of candidacy is:
             99          (A) a United States citizen;
             100          (B) an attorney licensed to practice law in Utah who is an active member in good
             101      standing of the Utah State Bar;
             102          (C) a registered voter in the county in which he is seeking office; and
             103          (D) a current resident of the county in which he is seeking office and either has been a
             104      resident of that county for at least one year or was appointed and is currently serving as county
             105      attorney and became a resident of the county within 30 days after appointment to the office.
             106          (iii) Before accepting a declaration of candidacy for the office of district attorney, the
             107      county clerk shall ensure that, as of the date of the election, the person filing that declaration of
             108      candidacy is:
             109          (A) a United States citizen;
             110          (B) an attorney licensed to practice law in Utah who is an active member in good
             111      standing of the Utah State Bar;
             112          (C) a registered voter in the prosecution district in which he is seeking office; and
             113          (D) a current resident of the prosecution district in which he is seeking office and either


             114      will have been a resident of that prosecution district for at least one year as of the date of the
             115      election or was appointed and is currently serving as district attorney and became a resident of
             116      the prosecution district within 30 days after receiving appointment to the office.
             117          (iv) Before accepting a declaration of candidacy for the office of county sheriff, the
             118      county clerk shall ensure that the person filing the declaration of candidacy:
             119          (A) as of the date of filing:
             120          (I) is a United States citizen;
             121          (II) is a registered voter in the county in which the person seeks office;
             122          (III) (Aa) has successfully met the standards and training requirements established for
             123      law enforcement officers under Title 53, Chapter 6, Part 2, Peace Officer Training and
             124      Certification Act; or
             125          (Bb) has passed a certification examination as provided in Section 53-6-206 ; and
             126          (IV) is qualified to be certified as a law enforcement officer, as defined in Section
             127      53-13-103 ; and
             128          (B) as of the date of the election, shall have been a resident of the county in which the
             129      person seeks office for at least one year.
             130          (b) If the prospective candidate states that he does not meet the qualification
             131      requirements for the office, the filing officer may not accept the prospective candidate's
             132      declaration of candidacy.
             133          (c) If the candidate states that he meets the requirements of candidacy, the filing officer
             134      shall:
             135          (i) inform the candidate that the candidate's name will appear on the ballot as it is
             136      written on the declaration of candidacy;
             137          (ii) provide the candidate with a copy of the current campaign financial disclosure laws
             138      for the office the candidate is seeking and inform the candidate that failure to comply will result
             139      in disqualification as a candidate and removal of the candidate's name from the ballot;
             140          [(ii)] (iii) provide the candidate with a copy of Section 20A-7-801 regarding the
             141      Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website Program and inform the candidate of the


             142      submission deadline under Subsection 20A-7-801 (4)(a);
             143          [(iii)] (iv) provide the candidate with a copy of the pledge of fair campaign practices
             144      described under Section 20A-9-206 and inform the candidate that:
             145          (A) signing the pledge is voluntary; and
             146          (B) signed pledges shall be filed with the filing officer;
             147          [(iv)] (v) accept the candidate's declaration of candidacy; and
             148          [(v)] (vi) if the candidate has filed for a partisan office, provide a certified copy of the
             149      declaration of candidacy to the chair of the county or state political party of which the candidate
             150      is a member.
             151          (d) If the candidate elects to sign the pledge of fair campaign practices, the filing officer
             152      shall:
             153          (i) accept the candidate's pledge; and
             154          (ii) if the candidate has filed for a partisan office, provide a certified copy of the
             155      candidate's pledge to the chair of the county or state political party of which the candidate is a
             156      member.
             157          (5) Except for presidential candidates, the form of the declaration of candidacy shall be
             158      substantially as follows:
             159          "State of Utah, County of ____
             160          I, ______________, declare my intention of becoming a candidate for the office of ____
             161      as a candidate for the ____ party. I do solemnly swear that: I [can qualify] will meet the
             162      qualifications to hold [that] the office, both legally and constitutionally, if selected; I reside at
             163      _____________ in the City or Town of ____, Utah, Zip Code ____ Phone No. ____; I will not
             164      knowingly violate any law governing campaigns and elections; [and I will qualify for the office if
             165      elected to it.] I will file all campaign financial disclosure reports as required by law; and I
             166      understand that failure to do so will result in my disqualification as a candidate for this office
             167      and removal of my name from the ballot. The mailing address that I designate for receiving
             168      official election notices is ___________________________.
             169      ____________________________________________________________________


             170          Subscribed and sworn before me this __________(month\day\year).
             171     
Notary Public (or other officer qualified to administer oath.)"

             172          (6) (a) Except for presidential candidates, the fee for filing a declaration of candidacy is:
             173          (i) $25 for candidates for the local school district board; and
             174          (ii) 1/8 of 1% of the total salary for the full term of office legally paid to the person
             175      holding the office, but not less than $5, for all other federal, state, and county offices.
             176          (b) Except for presidential candidates, the filing officer shall refund the filing fee to any
             177      candidate:
             178          (i) who is disqualified; or
             179          (ii) who the filing officer determines has filed improperly.
             180          (c) (i) The county clerk shall immediately pay to the county treasurer all fees received
             181      from candidates.
             182          (ii) The lieutenant governor shall:
             183          (A) apportion to and pay to the county treasurers of the various counties all fees
             184      received for filing of nomination certificates or acceptances; and
             185          (B) ensure that each county receives that proportion of the total amount paid to the
             186      lieutenant governor from the congressional district that the total vote of that county for all
             187      candidates for representative in Congress bears to the total vote of all counties within the
             188      congressional district for all candidates for representative in Congress.
             189          (d) (i) Each person who is unable to pay the filing fee may file a declaration of
             190      candidacy without payment upon a prima facie showing of impecuniosity as evidenced by an
             191      affidavit of impecuniosity filed with the filing officer.
             192          (ii) The filing officer shall ensure that the affidavit of impecuniosity is printed in
             193      substantially the following form:
             194          "Affidavit of Impecuniosity
             195      Individual Name
             196      ____________________________Address_____________________________
             197      Phone Number _________________


             198      I,__________________________(name), do solemnly [swear] [affirm] that, owing to my
             199      poverty, I am unable to pay the filing fee required by law.
             200      Date ______________ Signature________________________________________________
             201      Affiant
             202      Subscribed and sworn to before me on ___________ (month\day\year)
             203     
______________________

             204     
(signature)

             205          Name and Title of Officer Authorized to Administer Oath
______________________"

             206          (7) Any person who fails to file a declaration of candidacy or certificate of nomination
             207      within the time provided in this chapter is ineligible for nomination to office.
             208          (8) A declaration of candidacy filed under this section may not be amended or modified
             209      after the final date established for filing a declaration of candidacy.
             210          Section 3. Section 20A-9-203 is amended to read:
             211           20A-9-203. Declarations of candidacy -- Municipal general elections.
             212          (1) (a) A person may become a candidate for any municipal office if the person is a
             213      registered voter and:
             214          (i) the person has resided within the municipality in which that person seeks to hold
             215      elective office for the 12 consecutive months immediately before the date of the election; or
             216          (ii) if the territory in which the person resides was annexed into the municipality, the
             217      person has resided within the annexed territory or the municipality for 12 months.
             218          (b) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (1)(a), candidates for a municipal
             219      council position under the council-mayor or council-manager alternative forms of municipal
             220      government shall, if elected from districts, be residents of the council district from which they
             221      are elected.
             222          (c) In accordance with Utah Constitution Article IV, Section 6, any mentally
             223      incompetent person, any person convicted of a felony, or any person convicted of treason or a
             224      crime against the elective franchise may not hold office in this state until the right to hold
             225      elective office is restored under Section 20A-2-101.5 .


             226          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b) or (2)(c), each person seeking to
             227      become a candidate for a municipal office shall:
             228          (i) file a declaration of candidacy, in person with the city recorder or town clerk, during
             229      office hours and not later than 5 p.m. between July 1 and July 15 of any odd numbered year; and
             230          (ii) pay the filing fee, if one is required by municipal ordinance.
             231          (b) (i) As used in this Subsection (2)(b), "registered voters" means the number of
             232      persons registered to vote in the municipality on the January 1 of the municipal election year.
             233          (ii) A third, fourth, or fifth class city that used the convention system to nominate
             234      candidates in the last municipal election as authorized by Subsection 20A-9-404 (3) or used the
             235      process contained in this Subsection (2)(b) in the last municipal election or a town that used the
             236      convention system to nominate candidates in the last municipal election as authorized by
             237      Subsection 20A-9-404 (3) or used the process contained in this Subsection (2)(b) in the last
             238      municipal election may, by ordinance, require, in lieu of the convention system, that candidates
             239      for municipal office file a nominating petition signed by a percentage of registered voters at the
             240      same time that the candidate files a declaration of candidacy.
             241          (iii) The ordinance shall specify the number of signatures that the candidate must obtain
             242      on the nominating petition in order to become a candidate for municipal office under this
             243      Subsection (2), but that number may not exceed 5% of registered voters.
             244          (c) Any resident of a municipality may nominate a candidate for a municipal office by:
             245          (i) filing a nomination petition with the city recorder or town clerk during office hours,
             246      but not later than 5 p.m., between July 1 and July 15 of any odd-numbered year; and
             247          (ii) paying the filing fee, if one is required by municipal ordinance.
             248          (d) When July 15 is a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the filing time shall be extended
             249      until 5 p.m. on the following regular business day.
             250          (3) (a) Before the filing officer may accept any declaration of candidacy or nomination
             251      petition, the filing officer shall:
             252          (i) read to the prospective candidate or person filing the petition the constitutional and
             253      statutory qualification requirements for the office that the candidate is seeking; and


             254          (ii) require the candidate or person filing the petition to state whether or not the
             255      candidate meets those requirements.
             256          (b) If the prospective candidate does not meet the qualification requirements for the
             257      office, the filing officer may not accept the declaration of candidacy or nomination petition.
             258          (c) If it appears that the prospective candidate meets the requirements of candidacy, the
             259      filing officer shall:
             260          (i) inform the candidate that the candidate's name will appear on the ballot as it is
             261      written on the declaration of candidacy;
             262          (ii) provide the candidate with a copy of the current campaign financial disclosure laws
             263      for the office the candidate is seeking and inform the candidate that failure to comply will result
             264      in disqualification as a candidate and removal of the candidate's name from the ballot;
             265          [(ii)] (iii) provide the candidate with a copy of Section 20A-7-801 regarding the
             266      Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website Program and inform the candidate of the
             267      submission deadline under Subsection 20A-7-801 (4)(a);
             268          [(iii)] (iv) provide the candidate with a copy of the pledge of fair campaign practices
             269      described under Section 20A-9-206 and inform the candidate that:
             270          (A) signing the pledge is voluntary; and
             271          (B) signed pledges shall be filed with the filing officer; and
             272          [(iv)] (v) accept the declaration of candidacy or nomination petition.
             273          (d) If the candidate elects to sign the pledge of fair campaign practices, the filing officer
             274      shall:
             275          (i) accept the candidate's pledge; and
             276          (ii) if the candidate has filed for a partisan office, provide a certified copy of the
             277      candidate's pledge to the chair of the county or state political party of which the candidate is a
             278      member.
             279          (4) The declaration of candidacy shall substantially comply with the following form:
             280          "I, (print name) ____, being first sworn, say that I reside at ____ Street, City of ____,
             281      County of ____, state of Utah, Zip Code ____, Telephone Number (if any) ____; that I am a


             282      registered voter; and that I am a candidate for the office of ____ (stating the term). I will meet
             283      the legal qualifications required of candidates for this office. I will file all campaign financial
             284      disclosure reports as required by law and I understand that failure to do so will result in my
             285      disqualification as a candidate for this office and removal of my name from the ballot. I request
             286      that my name be printed upon the applicable official ballots. (Signed) _______________
             287          Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me by ____ on this
             288      __________(month\day\year).
             289          (Signed) _______________ (Clerk or other officer qualified to administer oath)"
             290          (5) (a) In all first and second class cities, and in third, fourth, or fifth class cities that
             291      have not passed the ordinance authorized by Subsection (2)(b) and in towns that have not
             292      passed the ordinance authorized by Subsection (2)(b), any registered voter may be nominated
             293      for municipal office by submitting a petition signed by:
             294          (i) 25 residents of the municipality who are at least 18 years old; or
             295          (ii) 20% of the residents of the municipality who are at least 18 years old.
             296          (b) (i) The petition shall substantially conform to the following form:
             297     
"NOMINATION PETITION

             298          The undersigned residents of (name of municipality) being 18 years old or older
             299      nominate (name of nominee) to the office of ____ for the (two or four-year term, whichever is
             300      applicable)."
             301          (ii) The remainder of the petition shall contain lines and columns for the signatures of
             302      persons signing the petition and their addresses and telephone numbers.
             303          (6) (a) In third, fourth, and fifth class cities that have passed the ordinance authorized
             304      by Subsection (2)(b), and in towns that have passed the ordinance authorized by Subsection
             305      (2)(b), any registered voter may be nominated for municipal office by submitting a petition
             306      signed by the same percentage of registered voters in the municipality as required by the
             307      ordinance passed under authority of Subsection (2)(b).
             308          (b) (i) The petition shall substantially conform to the following form:
             309          "NOMINATION PETITION


             310          The undersigned residents of (name of municipality) being 18 years old or older
             311      nominate (name of nominee) to the office of (name of office) for the (two or four-year term,
             312      whichever is applicable)."
             313          (ii) The remainder of the petition shall contain lines and columns for the signatures of
             314      persons signing the petition and their addresses and telephone numbers.
             315          (7) If the declaration of candidacy or nomination petition fails to state whether the
             316      nomination is for the two or four-year term, the clerk shall consider the nomination to be for the
             317      four-year term.
             318          (8) (a) The clerk shall verify with the county clerk that all candidates are registered
             319      voters.
             320          (b) Any candidate who is not registered to vote is disqualified and the clerk may not
             321      print the candidate's name on the ballot.
             322          (9) Immediately after expiration of the period for filing a declaration of candidacy, the
             323      clerk shall:
             324          (a) cause the names of the candidates as they will appear on the ballot to be published in
             325      at least two successive publications of a newspaper with general circulation in the municipality;
             326      and
             327          (b) notify the lieutenant governor of the names of the candidates as they will appear on
             328      the ballot.
             329          (10) A declaration of candidacy or nomination petition filed under this section may not
             330      be amended after the expiration of the period for filing a declaration of candidacy.
             331          (11) (a) A declaration of candidacy or nomination petition filed under this section is
             332      valid unless a written objection is filed with the clerk within five days after the last day for filing.
             333          (b) If an objection is made, the clerk shall:
             334          (i) mail or personally deliver notice of the objection to the affected candidate
             335      immediately; and
             336          (ii) decide any objection within 48 hours after it is filed.
             337          (c) If the clerk sustains the objection, the candidate may correct the problem by


             338      amending the declaration or petition within three days after the objection is sustained or by filing
             339      a new declaration within three days after the objection is sustained.
             340          (d) (i) The clerk's decision upon objections to form is final.
             341          (ii) The clerk's decision upon substantive matters is reviewable by a district court if
             342      prompt application is made to the district court.
             343          (iii) The decision of the district court is final unless the Supreme Court, in the exercise
             344      of its discretion, agrees to review the lower court decision.
             345          (12) Any person who filed a declaration of candidacy and was nominated, and any
             346      person who was nominated by a nomination petition, may, any time up to 23 days before the
             347      election, withdraw the nomination by filing a written affidavit with the clerk.
             348          Section 4. Effective date.
             349          If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect
             350      upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
             351      Constitution Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto,
             352      the date of veto override.


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