Elections, Ethics, and Campaign Finance: Preparing to Comply With Florida's New Campaign Finance and Ethics Laws

Key provisions of HB 569 and SB 2 include but are not limited to:

• Increasing the limits for campaign contributions by various amounts depending upon the office sought


• Prohibiting all Committees of Continuous Existence (CCE) by September 30, 2013


• Creating strict employment requirements for former legislators and their new employers


• Tripling the number of campaign finance reports required


• Allowing unlimited campaign contributions into Political Committees

Campaign finance laws can be confusing and a trap for the unwary. A violation of Florida’s campaign finance laws carries hefty financial penalties and, in the case of a willful violation, criminal penalties; therefore, careful attention to the newly enacted statutory laws is imperative for any candidate, political committee, or campaign contributor.

During this Web conference, we will cover:

• Florida’s increase in campaign contribution limits and the specific limits for each office candidate


• The requirement that candidates and Political Committees will now have to file triple the number of campaign finance reports as in prior years; quarterly reports will be replaced with required monthly reports, and as an election draws nearer, weekly and daily reports


• The established “wind-down” process for all CCEs, key effective dates, and permissible expenditures of CCE funds during the wind-down period


• The viability of organizations replacing their current CCE with a newly created Political Committee, and a discussion of the contribution and expenditure rules for Political Committees


• Potential reporting requirements of an organization hiring a former legislator, and the accompanying limitations on that former legislator’s employment

Speakers

• Thomas C. Feeney III, President and CEO, Associated Industries of Florida; former U.S. Congressman; former Speaker, Florida House of Representatives


• Erika E. Lorenz Alba, Public Affairs Director, Counsel, Foley & Lardner LLP


• Jonathan P. Kilman, Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP


• Ryan D. Tyson, Vice President of Political Operations, Associated Industries of Florida

For additional information, please contact Zulaikha Rahim at [email protected].

CLE credits will be applied for in all applicable states. Foley & Lardner LLP certifies that this activity has been approved for California MCLE credits by the State Bar of California in the amount of 1.5 General credits. Foley & Lardner LLP is a State Bar of California MCLE approved provider. Please note that participants must log in to both the teleconference and Adobe Connect portions on the date of the event; credit may not be obtained by viewing and/or listening to a program recording after the event.