SB 724 - This act creates the Office of Election Crimes and Security within the Secretary of State's office. The Secretary of State is responsible for appointing a director and investigators for the Office. The Office is given the following responsibilities and authority: · The Office shall review complaints and conduct investigations into alleged violations of election laws;
· The Office shall respond to notifications and complaints alleging a violation of state election laws;
· The Office shall review notices and reports of alleged violations of state election law and conduct investigations as deemed necessary;
· The Office shall initiate independent inquiries and conduct investigations into alleged violations of state election law; and
· The Office shall oversee a voter fraud hotline.
The Office is given subpoena power in the course of investigating complaints pursuant to this act. If any person refuses to comply with a subpoena issued pursuant to this act, the Secretary of State may seek to enforce the subpoena before a court of competent jurisdiction. The court may issue an order requiring the person to produce the documents relating to the matter under investigation or in question. Any person who fails to comply with the order may be held in contempt of court.
If, during the course of an investigation, the Office determines that there may be a violation of any criminal law or state election law, the Office shall submit its findings and investigation to the Attorney General and respective prosecuting attorney for further investigation or prosecution. The Attorney General is specifically given investigative authority and concurrent jurisdiction to prosecute any election offense.
The Office is responsible for preparing and delivering a report, not later than January 15th of each year, to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President Pro Tem of the Senate disclosing the details of complaints filed with the Office.
This act is similar to SB 350 (2023).
This act is effective January 1, 2025.
SCOTT SVAGERA