BILL NUMBER: SB 415	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Wright

                        FEBRUARY 16, 2011

   An act to amend Section 83115 of the Government Code, relating to
the Political Reform Act of 1974.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 415, as introduced, Wright. Political Reform Act of 1974:
investigations.
   The Political Reform Act of 1974 provides for the comprehensive
regulation of campaign financing, lobbyists, conflicts of interest of
public officials, and related matters, and establishes the Fair
Political Practices Commission to enforce the act's provisions. The
Commission is charged with the responsibility to investigate, upon
the sworn complaint of any person or upon its own initiative,
possible violations of the act relating to any agency, official,
election, lobbyist, or legislative or administrative action.
   This bill would require the Commission to notify any person who is
the subject of an investigation by the Commission of the
investigation at least 24 hours before the Commission makes any
information regarding the investigation available to the public.
   The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides
that the Legislature may amend the act to further the act's purposes
upon a 2/3 vote of each house and compliance with specified
procedural requirements.
   This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.

   Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 83115 of the Government Code is amended to
read:
   83115.   (a)    Upon the sworn complaint of any
person or on its own initiative, the  commission 
 Commission  shall investigate possible violations of this
title relating to any agency, official, election, lobbyist  ,
 or legislative or administrative action.  Within
 
   (b) A person who is the subject of an investigation by the
Commission shall be notified of the investigation at least 24 hours
before the Commission makes any information regarding the
investigation available to the public. 
    (c)     Within  14 days after receipt
of a complaint under this section, the  commission 
 Commission  shall notify in writing the person who made the
complaint of the action, if any, the  commission 
 Commission  has taken or plans to take on the complaint,
together with the reasons for such action or nonaction. If no
decision has been made within 14 days, the person who made the
complaint shall be notified of the reasons for the delay and shall
subsequently receive notification as provided above.
  SEC. 2.  The Legislature finds and declares that this bill furthers
the purposes of the Political Reform Act of 1974 within the meaning
of subdivision (a) of Section 81012 of the Government Code.