House Bill No. 697, introduced by Representative Larvadain, amends R.S. 18:491(C) to expand the authority of the Supervisory Committee on Campaign Finance Disclosure and the Board of Ethics regarding objections to candidacy. The bill stipulates that these two bodies shall bring or join in actions objecting to the candidacy of local candidates, municipal candidates, candidates for political party committees, and state candidates, excluding those running for federal office. This change aims to enhance the oversight of candidate qualifications and ensure compliance with campaign finance and governmental ethics laws.

The proposed law retains existing provisions that require the Supervisory Committee and the Board of Ethics to act against candidates who falsely certify their eligibility regarding outstanding fines, fees, or penalties under the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act and the Code of Governmental Ethics. Additionally, it maintains the requirement for action against candidates who are legally prohibited from running for office due to prior appointments to fill vacancies. Overall, the bill seeks to strengthen the integrity of the electoral process by empowering these oversight bodies to take action against a broader range of candidates.

Statutes affected:
HB697 Original: 18:491(C)
HB697 Engrossed: 18:491(C)