Miami-Dade Ordinance banning contribution by corporations
Charpter III section 12-5

Sec. 12-5. Contributions or expenditures by national or state banks, corporations or unincorporated associations.

(1) It is unlawful for any national or state bank, or any corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Florida or any other state or any foreign country or any unincorporated association to make a contribution or expenditure, as defined in Chapter 106, Florida Statutes, in connection with the election of any candidate in Miami-Dade County. Furthermore, it shall be unlawful for any candidate, political committee, or other person to knowingly accept or receive any contribution prohibited by this section, or for any officer or any director of any corporation, bank, or any unincorporated association to consent to any contributions or expenditures by a corporation, bank or unincorporated association prohibited by this section. As used herein:

    (a) "Candidate" means a candidate for the office of Mayor of Miami-Dade County, the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners, Miami-Dade County Community Councils and the Miami-Dade County Fire and Rescue Services District Board; and

    (b) "Unincorporated association" means a partnership or any other legal entity other than a natural person or corporation.

(2) No provision of this section shall be deemed to prohibit a loan of money by a national or state bank made in accordance with the applicable banking laws and regulations in the ordinary course of business; however, any such loan shall be included in the reports filed by the candidates and political committees. No provision of this section shall be deemed to prohibit the receipt of interest or dividends on investments where the interest or dividends are received in accordance with the applicable banking laws and in the ordinary course of business. Any such interest and dividends shall be included in the financial records maintained by the candidate and political committees and reports where appropriate under the filing requirements of this action.

(3) No provision of this section shall be deemed to prohibit direct private communications by a corporation to its stockholders and their families or by an unincorporated association to its members and their families on any subject; nonpartisan registration and get-out-vote campaigns by a corporation aimed at stockholders and their families or by an unincorporated association aimed at its members and their families; and the establishment, and administration by a corporation or an unincorporated association of a separate segregated fund which fund is to be created by voluntary individual contributions, including those solicited by the corporation or unincorporated association and to be utilized for political purposes, provided that any such separate segregated fund shall be deemed to be a political committee for purposes of this section and must comply with the requirements of Chapter 106, Florida Statutes, regardless of the level of expenditures or contributions.

(4) Penalties. In addition to any other penalties which may be applicable, any person who violates this section shall be punishable by a fine up to five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) or imprisonment not to exceed three hundred and sixty-four (364) days, or both.

(Ord. No. 98-183, §§ 1, 2, 12-15-98)