- April 22, 2024
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The Longboat Key Public Interest Committee's (PIC) board of directors will meet in October to discuss the organization's future.
PIC has typically reported to the Florida Elections Committee as a committee of continuous existence (CCE). But a bill Gov. Rick Scott signed into law eliminates CCEs, a type of quasi-political action committee that virtually anyone, including candidates for office, could create that critics argued were ripe for abuse because they lacked limits on what expenditures were allowed.
As a result, PIC — and all other CCEs — must cease all operations and have a zero bank-account balance by Sept. 30.
At the same time the Florida Legislature was passing broad changes to the state’s campaign finance laws, the Florida Elections Commission (FEC) was investigating a complaint filed by Longboat Key Town Commission candidate Gene Jaleski alleging that PIC failed to register as a political committee when it advertised its endorsements for the March election.
The FEC determined that PIC “failed to register as a political committee and published a political advertisement that did not comply with statutory disclaimer requirements.”
Next month, the board will meet to discuss reorganizing as a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) organization “with the intent of continuing our educational mission without political overtones,” according to a letter the board sent PIC members last week.
For more information, pick up a Sept. 5 copy of the Longboat Observer.
Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].