HLS 20RS-947 REENGROSSED
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 690
BY REPRESENTATIVE AMEDEE
POLITICAL PARTIES: Provides relative to the election of State Central Committee
members
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 18:443(B)(1), 443.1(B), 443.2(introductory paragraph),
3 (2)(a)(ii), (3), and (7), and 444(B)(1) and to enact R.S. 18:443(G), relative to the
4 election of a political party's state central committee members; to provide relative to
5 voting of a state central committee; to provide relative to plans adopted by a state
6 central committee; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 18:443(B)(1), 443.1(B), 443.2(introductory paragraph), (2)(a)(ii),
9(3), and (7), and 444(B)(1) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 18:443(G) is hereby
10enacted to read as follows:
11 §443. State central committee
12 * * *
13 B.(1) All members of the state central committee of a recognized political
14 party shall be elected every four years at the same time as the presidential preference
15 primary election. The term of office shall not extend for a period beyond the time
16 for which the member was elected. Notwithstanding this provision, members elected
17 in 1991 shall serve until their successors are chosen.
18 * * *
19 G.(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 18:443(B)(1), if an election for
20 members of the state central committee does not occur at the same time as the
21 presidential preference primary in 2020, the members of the state central committee
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1 shall be elected at the runoff of the next regularly scheduled election. The secretary
2 of state shall select the dates for qualification of candidates, conforming as closely
3 as practicable with the timelines established in R.S. 18:467.
4 (2) The provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall cease to be
5 effective on June 1, 2021.
6 §443.1. State central committee; composition and apportionment
7 * * *
8 B. The membership of the state central committee of a recognized political
9 party with which thirty percent or less of the registered voters in the state are
10 affiliated shall be composed and apportioned as provided in R.S. 18:443.2.
11 Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, the membership of
12 the state central committee of a recognized political party may alternatively elect to
13 be composed and apportioned as provided by R.S. 18:443.2.
14 §443.2. State central committee of a recognized political party with thirty percent
15 or less voter registration; alternate method of election; composition and
16 apportionment
17 Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a state central
18 committee of a recognized political party with which thirty percent or less of the
19 registered voters in the state are affiliated on the day of the close of registration for
20 the gubernatorial general election shall be established, composed, apportioned, and
21 elected may choose to be established, composed, apportioned, and elected as follows:
22 * * *
23 (2)(a)
24 * * *
25 (ii) Except as otherwise provided in this Subparagraph Part, all members of
26 any such state central committee shall be elected at the same time as the presidential
27 preference primary election. The term of office shall not extend for a period beyond
28 the time for which the member was elected. Notwithstanding this provision,
29 members elected in 1992 shall serve until noon on the second Saturday following the
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1 statewide presidential general election in 1996. Members elected in 1996 shall serve
2 from noon on the second Saturday following the statewide presidential general
3 election in 1996 until noon on the second Saturday following the presidential
4 preference primary in 2000, thereafter members shall serve a four-year term. The
5 term of office of the members shall be until the next presidential primary is held, or
6 until their successors are qualified and elected in the event that the election for state
7 central committee members cannot be held at the same time as the presidential
8 preference primary election.
9 * * *
10 (3) The members who serve pursuant to Item (2)(a)(i) of this Section and the
11 newly elected members of any such state central committee shall meet at the state
12 capitol, shall take office, and shall organize the committee at noon on the second
13 Saturday following the election of the newly elected members. A majority of the
14 total of the members who serve pursuant to Item (2)(a)(i) of this Section and the
15 newly elected members of the committee shall constitute a quorum. No member
16 shall exercise the proxy votes of more than three other members at any meeting. A
17 member of such state central committee may be present in person or by proxy.
18 Proxies may be exercised in compliance with rules and regulations adopted by the
19 state central committee.
20 * * *
21 (7) A state central committee shall adopt a plan to provide for the number
22 of members of such committee and the apportionment thereof, and such plan shall
23 be effective if the committee files a copy of the plan with the secretary of state not
24 later than the ninetieth day prior to the opening of qualifying for the election of the
25 members of such state central committee. If a state central committee does not adopt
26 and file a plan as provided herein, the membership of such state central committee
27 shall be composed of one hundred forty-four members with one member elected
28 from each of the districts from which members of the House of Representatives and
29 the Senate of the Legislature are elected. Any plan previously filed by a state central
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1 committee shall remain in effect until rescinded or replaced by that state central
2 committee.
3 §444. Parish executive committees
4 * * *
5 B. Election and term. (1) Members of a parish executive committee of a
6 recognized political party shall be elected every four years at the same time as the
7 presidential preference primary election. The term of office shall not extend beyond
8 the time for which the member was elected. Notwithstanding this provision,
9 members elected in 1991 shall serve until their successors are chosen. The term of
10 office of the members shall be until the next presidential primary is held or until their
11 successors are qualified and elected, whichever is later.
12 * * *
13 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
14signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
15by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
16this Act is vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act
17shall become effective on the day following such approval.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 690 Reengrossed 2020 Regular Session Amedee
Abstract: Provides for changes to elections, voting, and plans of a state central committee
of a recognized party.
Present law provides that a political party's members of the state central committee are
elected every four years at the same time as the presidential preference primary election to
a term no longer than the period for which the member was elected. Further provides that
members elected in 1991 shall serve until their successors are chosen.
Proposed law removes the exception that members elected in 1991 shall serve until their
successors are chosen.
Proposed law provides that if an election for state central committee members does not occur
at the same time as the 2020 presidential preference primary, the election for state central
committee members shall occur at the next regularly scheduled runoff election. Further
provides that the secretary of state shall select the dates of qualification of candidates.
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Present law provides that for a political party of which 30% percent or less of the registered
voters in the state are affiliated, the membership of the state central committee is composed
and apportioned as provided in R.S. 18:443.2.
Proposed law retains present law but removes the required percentage.
Present law provides that for a political party of which 30% percent or less of the registered
voters in the state are affiliated, all members of a state central committee are elected at the
same time as the presidential preference primary election. Further provides that the term of
office will be no longer than the period for which the member was elected.
Proposed law gives a state central committee the option to choose whether to be elected as
provided in R.S. 18:443.2 or by R.S. 18:443.1. Changes the term of a member; the member's
term will be until the next presidential primary is held or until his successor is qualified and
elected in the event that the election for state central committee members cannot be held at
the same time as the presidential preference primary election.
Present law prohibits a member of a state central committee from exercising the proxy votes
of more than three other members at any meeting. Proposed law removes present law.
Present law provides that when a state central committee does not adopt and file a plan, the
membership of such state central committee shall be composed of 144 members, with one
member elected from each of the districts from which members of the House of
Representatives and the Senate of the legislature are elected. Proposed law removes present
law and provides that a plan previously filed by the state central committee remains in effect
until rescinded or replaced by the state central committee.
Present law provides that a political party's members of a parish executive committee are
elected every four years at the same time as the presidential preference primary election to
a term no longer than the period for which the member was elected. Further provides that
members elected in 1991 shall serve until their successors are chosen.
Proposed law removes the exception that members elected in 1991 shall serve until their
successors are chosen.
Proposed law provides that members shall serve until the next presidential primary is held
or until their successors are qualified and elected.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 18:443(B)(1), 443.1(B), 443.2(intro. para.), (2)(a)(ii), (3), and (7), and
444(B)(1); Adds R.S. 18:443(G))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and
Governmental Affairs to the original bill:
1. Add provisions of proposed law regarding the date of the election for state
central committee members in 2020.
2. Add a provision of proposed law regarding the term of office of the members of
a parish executive committee.
3. Add a provision making proposed law effective upon signature of governor or
lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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