SLS 20RS-586 ENGROSSED
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), the introductory paragraph of
3 443.2(2)(a)(ii),(3), and (7), and 444(B)(1) and to enact R.S. 18:443(G), relative to
4 state central committees; to provide relative to composition; and to provide for
5 related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 18:443(B)(1), 443.1(B), the introductory paragraph of 443.2(2)(a)(ii),
8 (3), and (7), and 444(B)(1) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 18:443(G) is hereby
9 enacted to read as follows:
10 §443. State central committee
11 * * *
12 B.(1) All members of the state central committee of a recognized political
13 party shall be elected every four years at the same time as the presidential preference
14 primary election. The term of office shall not extend for a period beyond the time for
15 which the member was elected. Notwithstanding this provision, members elected in
16 1991 shall serve until their successors are chosen.
17 * * *
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1 G.(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 18:443(B)(1), in the event
2 an election for members of any such state central committee does not occur at
3 the same time as the presidential preference primary in 2020, the members of
4 the state central committee shall be elected at the runoff of the next regularly
5 scheduled election presently scheduled for December 5, 2020. The secretary of
6 state shall select the dates for qualification of candidates, conforming as closely
7 as practicable with the timelines established in R.S. 18:467.
8 (2) The provisions of this Subsection shall be effective only until June 1,
9 2021.
10 §443.1. State central committee; composition and apportionment
11 * * *
12 B. The membership of the state central committee of a recognized political
13 party with which thirty percent or less of the registered voters in the state are
14 affiliated shall be composed and apportioned as provided in R.S. 18:443.2
15 Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 18:443.1(A), the membership of the state
16 central committee of a recognized political party may alternatively elect to be
17 composed and apportioned as provided by R.S. 18:443.2.
18 * * *
19 §443.2. Alternate method State central committee of a recognized political party
20 with thirty percent or less voter registration; election; composition
21 and apportionment
22 Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a state central
23 committee of a recognized political party with which thirty percent or less of the
24 registered voters in the state are affiliated on the day of the close of registration for
25 the gubernatorial general election shall be established, composed, apportioned, and
26 elected may choose to be established, composed, apportioned, and elected as
27 follows:
28 * * *
29 (2)(a)
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1 * * *
2 (ii) Except as otherwise provided in this Subparagraph Part, all members of
3 any such state central committee shall be elected at the same time as the presidential
4 preference primary election. The term of office shall not extend for a period beyond
5 the time for which the member was elected. Notwithstanding this provision,
6 members elected in 1992 shall serve until noon on the second Saturday following the
7 statewide presidential general election in 1996. Members elected in 1996 shall serve
8 from noon on the second Saturday following the statewide presidential general
9 election in 1996 until noon on the second Saturday following the presidential
10 preference primary in 2000, thereafter members shall serve a four-year term. The
11 term of office of the members shall be until the next presidential primary is
12 held, or until their successors are qualified and elected in the event that the
13 election for state central committee members cannot be held at the same time
14 as the presidential preference primary election.
15 * * *
16 (3) The members who serve pursuant to Item (2)(a)(i) of this Section and the
17 newly elected members of any such state central committee shall meet at the state
18 capitol, shall take office, and shall organize the committee at noon on the second
19 Saturday following the election of the newly elected members. A majority of the
20 total of the members who serve pursuant to Item (2)(a)(i) of this Section and the
21 newly elected members of the committee shall constitute a quorum. No member shall
22 exercise the proxy votes of more than three other members at any meeting. A
23 member of such state central committee may be present in person or by proxy.
24 Proxies may be exercised in compliance with rules and regulations adopted by the
25 state central committee.
26 * * *
27 (7) A state central committee shall adopt a plan to provide for the number of
28 members of such committee and the apportionment thereof, and such plan shall be
29 effective if the committee files a copy of the plan with the secretary of state not later
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1 than the ninetieth day prior to the opening of qualifying for the election of the
2 members of such state central committee. Any plan previously filed by the state
3 central committee shall remain in effect until rescinded or replaced by the state
4 central committee. If a state central committee does not adopt and file a plan as
5 provided herein, the membership of such state central committee shall be composed
6 of one hundred forty-four members with one member elected from each of the
7 districts from which members of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the
8 Legislature are elected. The term of office of the members shall be until their
9 successors are qualified and elected.
10 §444. Parish executive committees
11 * * *
12 B. Election and term. (1) Members of a parish executive committee of a
13 recognized political party shall be elected every four years at the same time as the
14 presidential preference primary election. The term of office shall not extend beyond
15 the time for which the member was elected. Notwithstanding this provision,
16 members elected in 1991 shall serve until their successors are chosen. The term of
17 office of the members shall be until their successors are qualified and elected.
18 * * *
19 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
20 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
21 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
22 this Act is vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act
23 shall become effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument was prepared by Matt DeVille. The following digest,
which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was prepared
by Dawn Romero Watson.
DIGEST
SB 351 Engrossed 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
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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.
Proposed law provides that notwithstanding present law, in the event an election for
members of the state central committee does not occur at the same time as the presidential
preference primary in 2020, the members of the state central committee shall be elected at
the runoff of the next regularly scheduled election (December 5, 2020.) Provides that the
secretary of state shall select the dates for qualification of candidates, conforming as closely
as practicable with the timelines established in present law. Provides that the provisions of
proposed law shall only be effective until June 1, 2021.
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.
Present law provides that members of a parish executive committee of a recognized political
party shall be elected every four years at the same time as the presidential preference
primary election. Provides that the term of office shall not extend beyond the time for which
the member was elected.
Proposed law retains present law but provides that the term office of the members shall be
until their successors are qualified and elected.
Effective upon signature of the 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 Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Senate and
Governmental Affairs to the original bill
1. Adds special election dates for a state central committee's 2020 elections if
not occurring at the presidential preference primary.
2. Adds provisions regarding parish executive committee member's term of
office.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.