HB 629 — Tax Assessor; revise to be a nonpartisan office.

Bill Text

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes the office of tax assessor as a nonpartisan position and prohibits political party involvement in candidate fundraising and endorsements.

• The office of tax assessor is a nonpartisan office and a candidate for election to the office is prohibited from campaigning or qualifying for the office based on party affiliation.

  This defines the tax assessor's office as nonpartisan.

• To ensure that campaigns for the nonpartisan office of tax assessor remain nonpartisan and without any connection to a political party, political parties and any committee or political committee affiliated with a political party shall not engage in fundraising on behalf of a candidate or officeholder of the nonpartisan office of tax assessor, and a political party or any committee or political committee affiliated with a political party shall not make any contribution to a candidate for the nonpartisan office of tax assessor or the political committee of a candidate for the nonpartisan office of tax assessor.

  This prohibits political parties from fundraising or contributing to candidates for tax assessor.

• A political party or any committee or political committee affiliated with a political party shall not publicly endorse a candidate for the nonpartisan office of tax assessor.

  This bans public endorsements for tax assessor candidates by political parties.

• A candidate or the political committee of a candidate for the nonpartisan office of tax assessor shall not accept a contribution from a political party or any committee or political committee affiliated with a political party.

  This prevents tax assessor candidates from receiving party contributions.

• The names of candidates for the office of tax assessor which appear on the ballot at the general election shall be grouped together on a separate portion of the ballot and clearly identified as nonpartisan.

  This ensures that tax assessor candidates are listed separately and identified as nonpartisan on ballots.

• The names of all candidates for the office of tax assessor shall be listed in alphabetical order on any ballot, and no reference to political party affiliation shall appear on any ballot with respect to the nonpartisan office of tax assessor or the candidate for the nonpartisan office of tax assessor.

  This mandates alphabetical listing of tax assessor candidates without party affiliation on ballots.

• Section 23-15-299

  Assessments made pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of Section 23-15-297 shall be paid by each candidate who seeks a nomination in the political party election → Assessments made pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of Section 23-15-297 shall be paid by each independent candidate, nonpartisan candidate or special election candidate

  This allows independent and nonpartisan candidates to pay assessment fees.

• Section 23-15-299

  No candidate may attempt to qualify with any political party that does not have a duly organized county executive committee, and the circuit clerk shall not accept any assessments paid for nonlegislative offices pursuant to paragraphs (d) and (e) of Section 23-15-297 if the circuit clerk does not have contact information for the secretary of the county executive committee for that political party.

  This removes the requirement related to political party eligibility for assessments.

Action History

1. March 03, 2020

   Died In Committee

2. February 06, 2020

   Referred To Judiciary A

Sponsors

• Mark Tullos · Primary

Subjects