Florida Statute 106.31 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research

The 2024 Florida Statutes

Title IX
ELECTORS AND ELECTIONS

Chapter 106
CAMPAIGN FINANCING

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F.S. 106.31

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.

History.—s. 1, ch. 86-276; s. 67, ch. 2001-40; ss. 1, 6, ch. 2024-116.

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 If such an amendment is approved, s. 106.31 is repealed by s. 1, ch. 2024-116, effective the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January following the election, pursuant to s. 5(e), Art.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.

F.S. 106.31 on Google Scholar

F.S. 106.31 on Casetext

Amendments to 106.31

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 106.31

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

Current data shows no reason an arrest or criminal charge should have occurred directly under Florida Statute 106.31.

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 106.31

Total Results: 8

Thurston v. State, Florida Elections Commission

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2017-02-15

Citation: 210 So. 3d 684, 2017 WL 625791, 2017 Fla. App. LEXIS 2059

Snippet: competition by a candidate who uses public funding. § 106.31. Section 106.38 provides that to be eligible for

Chiles v. Dept. of State, Div. of Elections

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1998-05-12

Citation: 711 So. 2d 151, 1998 WL 233507

Snippet: adverse influence of special interest groups. See § 106.31 Fla. Stat. (1997). It would be illogical to assume

Secretary of State v. Milligan

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1997-12-08

Citation: 704 So. 2d 152, 1997 WL 765659

Snippet: until a specific appropriation was made. Sections 106.31 106.36 were not amended. Although the legislature

Smith v. Crawford

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1994-10-26

Citation: 645 So. 2d 513, 1994 WL 592242

Snippet: referring to the language of intent found in section 106.31,[2] the trial court concluded that: The object

Connor v. Division of Elections

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1994-10-04

Citation: 643 So. 2d 75, 1994 Fla. App. LEXIS 9460, 1994 WL 532584

Snippet: Campaign Financing Act, as set forth in section 106.31, Florida Statutes (1993), is to encourage the candidacy

Republican Party of Florida v. Smith

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 1994-04-28

Citation: 638 So. 2d 26, 19 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 224, 1994 Fla. LEXIS 624, 1994 WL 149669

Snippet: candidates less beholden to special interest groups. § 106.31, Fla. Stat. (1991). The Legislature created the

STATE BY BUTTERWORTH v. Republican Party

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 1992-08-27

Citation: 604 So. 2d 477

Snippet: candidates. § 99.092, Fla. Stat. (1991). [3] Section 106.31, Florida Statutes (1991), states the intent and

Winer v. Trust Company of Florida

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 1929-10-18

Citation: 124 So. 181, 98 Fla. 726

Snippet: See also Richter v. Jerome, 123 U.S. 233, 8 S. P. 106,31 Law Ed. 137; 41 C. J. 882; 42 C. J. 45; 19 R. C