1106.31 Legislative intent.—The Legislature finds that the costs of running an effective campaign for statewide office have reached a level which tends to discourage persons from becoming candidates and to limit the persons who run for such office to those who are independently wealthy, who are supported by political committees representing special interests which are able to generate substantial campaign contributions, or who must appeal to special interest groups for campaign contributions. The Legislature further finds that campaign contributions generated by such political committees are having a disproportionate impact vis-a-vis contributions from unaffiliated individuals, which leads to the misperception of government officials unduly influenced by those special interests to the detriment of the public interest. Furthermore, it is the intent of the Legislature that the purpose of public campaign financing is to make candidates more responsive to the voters of the State of Florida and as insulated as possible from special interest groups. The Legislature intends ss. 106.30-106.36 to alleviate these factors, dispel the misperception, and encourage qualified persons to seek statewide elective office who would not, or could not otherwise do so and to protect the effective competition by a candidate who uses public funding.
1Note.—Section 6, ch. 2024-116, provides that “[t]his act shall take effect on the effective date of the amendment to the State Constitution proposed by SJR 1114 or a similar joint resolution having substantially the same specific intent and purpose if such an amendment to the State Constitution is approved by the electors at the next general election or at an earlier special election specifically authorized by law for that purpose.” If such an amendment is approved, s. 106.31 is repealed by s. 1, ch. 2024-116, effective the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January following the election, pursuant to s. 5(e), Art. XI of the State Constitution.
