SLS 20RS-586 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 351
BY SENATOR CATHEY
POLITICAL PARTIES. Allows each recognized political party to determine the
composition of its state central committee. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 18:443(B)(1), 443.1(B), and the introductory paragraph of
3 443.2(2)(a)(ii),(3), and (7) relative to state central committees; to provide relative to
4 composition; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 18:443(B)(1), 443.1(B), and the introductory paragraph of
7 443.2(2)(a)(ii), (3), and (7) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
8 §443. State central committee
9 * * *
10 B.(1) All members of the state central committee of a recognized political
11 party shall be elected every four years at the same time as the presidential preference
12 primary election. The term of office shall not extend for a period beyond the time for
13 which the member was elected. Notwithstanding this provision, members elected
14 in 1991 shall serve until their successors are chosen.
15 * * *
16 §443.1. State central committee; composition and apportionment
17 * * *
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 351
SLS 20RS-586 ORIGINAL
1 B. The membership of the state central committee of a recognized political
2 party with which thirty percent or less of the registered voters in the state are
3 affiliated shall be composed and apportioned as provided in R.S. 18:443.2
4 Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 18:443.1(A), the membership of the state
5 central committee of a recognized political party may alternatively elect to be
6 composed and apportioned as provided by R.S. 18:443.2.
7 * * *
8 §443.2. Alternate method State central committee of a recognized political party
9 with thirty percent or less voter registration; election; composition
10 and apportionment
11 Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a state central
12 committee of a recognized political party with which thirty percent or less of
13 the registered voters in the state are affiliated on the day of the close of
14 registration for the gubernatorial general election shall be established,
15 composed, apportioned, and elected may choose to be established,
16 composed, apportioned, and elected as follows:
17 * * *
18 (2)(a)
19 * * *
20 (ii) Except as otherwise provided in this Subparagraph Part, all members of
21 any such state central committee shall be elected at the same time as the
22 presidential preference primary election. The term of office shall not extend
23 for a period beyond the time for which the member was elected.
24 Notwithstanding this provision, members elected in 1992 shall serve until
25 noon on the second Saturday following the statewide presidential general
26 election in 1996. Members elected in 1996 shall serve from noon on the
27 second Saturday following the statewide presidential general election in 1996
28 until noon on the second Saturday following the presidential preference
29 primary in 2000, thereafter members shall serve a four-year term. The term
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SLS 20RS-586 ORIGINAL
1 of office of the members shall be until the next presidential primary is
2 held, or until their successors are qualified and elected in the event that
3 the election for state central committee members cannot be held at the
4 same time as the presidential preference primary election.
5 * * *
6 (3) The members who serve pursuant to Item (2)(a)(i) of this Section and the
7 newly elected members of any such state central committee shall meet at the state
8 capitol, shall take office, and shall organize the committee at noon on the second
9 Saturday following the election of the newly elected members. A majority of the
10 total of the members who serve pursuant to Item (2)(a)(i) of this Section and the
11 newly elected members of the committee shall constitute a quorum. No member shall
12 exercise the proxy votes of more than three other members at any meeting. A
13 member of such state central committee may be present in person or by proxy.
14 Proxies may be exercised in compliance with rules and regulations adopted by the
15 state central committee.
16 * * *
17 (7) A state central committee shall adopt a plan to provide for the number of
18 members of such committee and the apportionment thereof, and such plan shall be
19 effective if the committee files a copy of the plan with the secretary of state not later
20 than the ninetieth day prior to the opening of qualifying for the election of the
21 members of such state central committee. Any plan previously filed by the state
22 central committee shall remain in effect until rescinded or replaced by the state
23 central committee. If a state central committee does not adopt and file a plan as
24 provided herein, the membership of such state central committee shall be composed
25 of one hundred forty-four members with one member elected from each of the
26 districts from which members of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the
27 Legislature are elected. The term of office of the members shall be until their
28 successors are qualified and elected.
29 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
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SLS 20RS-586 ORIGINAL
1 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
2 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
3 this Act is vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act
4 shall become effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Matt DeVille.
DIGEST
SB 351 Original 2020 Regular Session Cathey
Present law provides that all members of a state central committee of a recognized political
party will be elected every four years at the same time as the presidential preference primary
election, that the term of office will not exceed for a period beyond the time for which the
member was elected, and that members elected in 1991 will serve until their successors are
chosen.
Proposed law retains present law provision regarding election of members every four years
at the same time as the presidential preference election and removes the provisions regarding
terms of office not extending beyond the time for which a member was elected and members
elected in 1991 serving until their successors are chosen.
Present law provides that membership of the state central committee of a recognized political
party with which 30% or less of the registered voters in the state are affiliated will be
composed and apportioned as provided in present law.
Proposed law provides that membership of the state central committee of a recognized
political party may alternatively elect to be composed and apportioned as provided by
proposed law, notwithstanding the provisions of present law.
Present law provides that a state central committee of a recognized political party with which
30% or less of the registered voters in the state are affiliated on the day of the close of
registration for the gubernatorial general election will be established, composed, apportioned
and elected pursuant to enumerated criteria in present law.
Proposed law provides an alternative method to present law in which a state central
committee of a recognized political party may choose to be established, composed,
apportioned and elected pursuant to enumerated criteria in proposed law.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 18:443(B)(1), 443.1(B), and 443.2 (intro para), (2)(a)(ii), (3), and (7))
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.