ENROLLED
ACT No. 340
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 690
BY REPRESENTATIVE AMEDEE
1 AN ACT
2 To 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.
7 Be 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
10 enacted 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
22 shall be elected at the runoff of the next regularly scheduled election. The secretary
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1 of state shall select the dates for qualification of candidates, conforming as closely
2 as practicable with the timelines established in R.S. 18:467.
3 (2) The provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall cease to be
4 effective on June 1, 2021.
5 §443.1. State central committee; composition and apportionment
6 * * *
7 B. The membership of the state central committee of a recognized political
8 party with which thirty percent or less of the registered voters in the state are
9 affiliated shall be composed and apportioned as provided in R.S. 18:443.2.
10 Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, the membership of
11 the state central committee of a recognized political party may alternatively elect to
12 be composed and apportioned as provided by R.S. 18:443.2.
13 §443.2. State central committee of a recognized political party with thirty percent
14 or less voter registration; alternate method of election; composition and
15 apportionment
16 Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a state central
17 committee of a recognized political party with which thirty percent or less of the
18 registered voters in the state are affiliated on the day of the close of registration for
19 the gubernatorial general election shall be established, composed, apportioned, and
20 elected may choose to be established, composed, apportioned, and elected as follows:
21 * * *
22 (2)(a)
23 * * *
24 (ii) Except as otherwise provided in this Subparagraph Part, all members of
25 any such state central committee shall be elected at the same time as the presidential
26 preference primary election. The term of office shall not extend for a period beyond
27 the time for which the member was elected. Notwithstanding this provision,
28 members elected in 1992 shall serve until noon on the second Saturday following the
29 statewide presidential general election in 1996. Members elected in 1996 shall serve
30 from noon on the second Saturday following the statewide presidential general
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1 election in 1996 until noon on the second Saturday following the presidential
2 preference primary in 2000, thereafter members shall serve a four-year term. The
3 term of office of the members shall be until the next presidential primary is held, or
4 until their successors are qualified and elected in the event that the election for state
5 central committee members cannot be held at the same time as the presidential
6 preference primary election.
7 * * *
8 (3) The members who serve pursuant to Item (2)(a)(i) of this Section and the
9 newly elected members of any such state central committee shall meet at the state
10 capitol, shall take office, and shall organize the committee at noon on the second
11 Saturday following the election of the newly elected members. A majority of the
12 total of the members who serve pursuant to Item (2)(a)(i) of this Section and the
13 newly elected members of the committee shall constitute a quorum. No member
14 shall exercise the proxy votes of more than three other members at any meeting. A
15 member of such state central committee may be present in person or by proxy.
16 Proxies may be exercised in compliance with rules and regulations adopted by the
17 state central committee.
18 * * *
19 (7) A state central committee shall adopt a plan to provide for the number
20 of members of such committee and the apportionment thereof, and such plan shall
21 be effective if the committee files a copy of the plan with the secretary of state not
22 later than the ninetieth day prior to the opening of qualifying for the election of the
23 members of such state central committee. If a state central committee does not adopt
24 and file a plan as provided herein, the membership of such state central committee
25 shall be composed of one hundred forty-four members with one member elected
26 from each of the districts from which members of the House of Representatives and
27 the Senate of the Legislature are elected. Any plan previously filed by a state central
28 committee shall remain in effect until rescinded or replaced by that state central
29 committee.
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1 §444. Parish executive committees
2 * * *
3 B. Election and term. (1) Members of a parish executive committee of a
4 recognized political party shall be elected every four years at the same time as the
5 presidential preference primary election. The term of office shall not extend beyond
6 the time for which the member was elected. Notwithstanding this provision,
7 members elected in 1991 shall serve until their successors are chosen. The term of
8 office of the members shall be until their successors are qualified and elected.
9 * * *
10 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
11 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
12 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
13 this Act is vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act
14 shall become effective on the day following such approval.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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