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.
FACT SHEET – Vetoed
S.B. 1264
Page 2
Senate Action House Action
ELEC 2/6/23 DP 5-3-0 MOE 3/29/23 DP 7-3-0-0
3
rd
Read 3/2/23 16-14-0 3
rd
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