BILL NUMBER: SB 386	CHAPTERED  07/19/01

	CHAPTER  79
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 19, 2001
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JULY 18, 2001
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JULY 2, 2001
	PASSED THE SENATE  MAY 7, 2001
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 29, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Johnson

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2001

   An act to add Section 84612 to the Government Code, relating to
the Political Reform Act of 1974.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 386, Johnson.  Political Reform Act of 1974:  online
disclosure.
   Existing law, the Political Reform Act of 1974, requires the
Secretary of State, in consultation with the Fair Political Practices
Commission, to develop online and electronic filing processes for
use by persons and specified entities required to file statements and
reports with the Secretary of State's office.
   This bill would require the Secretary of State, if he or she
rejects a filing made pursuant to these provisions, to immediately
notify the filer, by electronic mail, of the reason or reasons for
rejection using plain, straightforward language, avoiding technical
terms as much as possible, and using a coherent and easily readable
style.  The bill would require the notice to be written or displayed
so that the meaning will be easily understood by those persons
directly affected by it.
   The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides
that the Legislature may amend the act to further the act's purposes
with a 2/3 vote of each house and compliance with specified
procedural requirements.
   This bill, which would declare that it furthers the purposes of
the act, would therefore require a 2/3 vote.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 84612 is added to the Government Code, to read:

   84612.  If the Secretary of State rejects a filing made under this
chapter, the Secretary of State shall immediately notify the filer,
by electronic mail, of the reason or reasons for rejection using
plain, straightforward language, avoiding technical terms as much as
possible, and using a coherent and easily readable style.  The notice
shall be written or displayed so that the meaning will be easily
understood by those persons directly affected by it.
  SEC. 2.  The Legislature finds and declares that the provisions of
this act further the purposes of the Political Reform Act of 1974
within the meaning of subdivision (a) of Section 81012 of the
Government Code.