2020 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 351
BY SENATOR CATHEY AND REPRESENTATI VE THOMPSON
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 18:443(B)(1), 443.1(B), the introductory paragraph of 443.2,
3 (2)(a)(ii),(3), and (7), and 444(B)(1) and to enact R.S. 18:443(G), relative to state
4 central committees; to provide relative to composition; and to provide for related
5 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,
8 (2)(a)(ii), (3), and (7), and 444(B)(1) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 18:443(G)
9 is hereby 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 * * *
18 G.(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (B)(1) of this Section,
19 in the event an election for members of any such state central committee does
20 not occur at the same time as the presidential preference primary in 2020, the
21 members of the state central committee shall be elected at the runoff of the next
22 regularly scheduled election. The secretary of state shall select the dates for
23 qualification of candidates, conforming as closely as practicable with the
24 timelines established in R.S. 18:467.
ACT No. 350
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1 (2) The provisions of this Subsection shall cease to be effective on June 1,
2 2021.
3 §443.1. State central committee; composition and apportionment
4 * * *
5 B. The membership of the state central committee of a recognized political
6 party with which thirty percent or less of the registered voters in the state are
7 affiliated shall be composed and apportioned as provided in R.S. 18:443.2
8 Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, the membership
9 of the state central committee of a recognized political party may alternatively
10 elect to be composed and apportioned as provided by R.S. 18:443.2.
11 * * *
12 §443.2. Alternate method State central committee of a recognized political party
13 with thirty percent or less voter registration; election; composition
14 and apportionment
15 Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a state central
16 committee of a recognized political party with which thirty percent or less of the
17 registered voters in the state are affiliated on the day of the close of registration for
18 the gubernatorial general election shall be established, composed, apportioned, and
19 elected may choose to be established, composed, apportioned, and elected as
20 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
4 held, or until their successors are qualified and elected in the event that the
5 election for state central committee members cannot be held at the same time
6 as the presidential 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 shall
14 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 of
20 members of such committee and the apportionment thereof, and such plan shall be
21 effective if the committee files a copy of the plan with the secretary of state not later
22 than the ninetieth day prior to the opening of qualifying for the election of the
23 members of such state central committee. Any plan previously filed by the state
24 central committee shall remain in effect until rescinded or replaced by the state
25 central committee. If a state central committee does not adopt and file a plan as
26 provided herein, the membership of such state central committee shall be composed
27 of one hundred forty-four members with one member elected from each of the
28 districts from which members of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the
29 Legislature are elected. The term of office of the members shall be until their
30 successors are qualified and elected.
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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.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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