BILL ANALYSIS Ó ------------------------------------------------------------ |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 1509| |Office of Senate Floor Analyses | | |1020 N Street, Suite 524 | | |(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | | |327-4478 | | ------------------------------------------------------------ THIRD READING Bill No: AB 1509 Author: Hayashi (D) Amended: As introduced Vote: 27 SENATE ELECTIONS & CONST. AMEND. COMMITTEE : 5-0, 6/19/12 AYES: Correa, La Malfa, Gaines, Lieu, Yee SENATE GOVERNANCE & FINANCE COMMITTEE : 9-0, 6/28/12 AYES: Wolk, Dutton, DeSaulnier, Fuller, Hernandez, Kehoe, La Malfa, Liu, Yee SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8 ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 75-0, 5/17/12 (Consent) - See last page for vote SUBJECT : Political Reform Act of 1974: statement of economic interest SOURCE : Author DIGEST : This bill amends the Political Reform Act (PRA) to require the Internet posting of local elected officials required to file statement of economic interest (SEIs). Specifically, this bill requires each city and county clerk who maintains a Web site to post the following information: (1) a list of the elected officials required to file their SEIs with that clerk, (2) a statement that a copy of the SEI for specific filers may be obtained by visiting the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) office or the CONTINUED AB 1509 Page 2 clerk's office, and (3) a link to the FPPC's Web site and a statement that certain SEIs for state and local government agency officers may be available in electronic format on the that website. ANALYSIS : Under the PRA, certain elected and other high-level state and local officials, and candidates for those positions, must file SEIs to disclose their investments, real property interests, and income. Other state and local public officials and employees are required to file SEIs if they hold positions that entail participation in making governmental decisions that may have a material financial effect on the decision maker's financial interests. In 1974, the voters passed Proposition 9, commonly known as the PRA, in which created the FPPC and codified significant restrictions and prohibitions on candidates, officeholders and lobbyists. Amendments to the PRA that are not submitted to the voters, such as those contained in this bill, must further the purposes of the initiative and require a two-thirds vote of both houses of the Legislature. Related Legislation AB 2062 (Davis, 2012) allows any local agency to permit the filing of SEIs electronically, subject to approval by the FPPC. FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: Yes According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, costs for city and county clerks to comply with the bill's requirements will be state reimbursable, but should be so minor that local entities are unlikely to seek reimbursement. SUPPORT : (Verified 8/6/12) Fair Political Practices Commission League of Women Voters CONTINUED AB 1509 Page 3 ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office, this bill increases public awareness and access to local elected officials' Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700). The Political Reform Act requires public officials to disclose assets, income and gifts which may be materially affected by their official actions. It can be difficult for interested parties to review or obtain a copy of a local elected official's Form 700. In an effort to increase public awareness and access to Form 700s, this bill requires certain notifications to be posted on the websites of city or county clerks. Specifically, the notification includes: (1) a list of the elected officials who are required to file Form 700s with the city clerk or county clerk; (2) a statement that copies of Form 700s can be obtained by visiting the offices of the FPPC or the city or county clerk, as specified; (3) the physical address for the FPPC offices; and (4) a link to the FPPC's website and a statement declaring that certain Form 700s may be available in electronic format. ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 75-0, 5/17/12 AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Beall, Bill Berryhill, Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford, Brownley, Buchanan, Butler, Charles Calderon, Campos, Carter, Cedillo, Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Davis, Dickinson, Donnelly, Eng, Feuer, Fong, Fuentes, Furutani, Beth Gaines, Galgiani, Garrick, Gatto, Gordon, Gorell, Grove, Hagman, Halderman, Hall, Harkey, Hayashi, Roger Hernández, Hill, Huber, Hueso, Huffman, Jeffries, Jones, Knight, Lara, Logue, Ma, Mansoor, Mendoza, Miller, Mitchell, Monning, Morrell, Nestande, Nielsen, Norby, Olsen, Pan, V. Manuel Pérez, Portantino, Silva, Smyth, Solorio, Swanson, Torres, Valadao, Wagner, Wieckowski, Williams, John A. Pérez NO VOTE RECORDED: Fletcher, Bonnie Lowenthal, Perea, Skinner, Yamada DLW:d 8/17/12 Senate Floor Analyses SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE **** END **** CONTINUED AB 1509 Page 4 CONTINUED