BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2369
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 2369 (Hagman)
As Amended June 19, 2014
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |66-7 |(May 28, 2014) |SENATE: |36-0 |(August 11, |
| | | | | |2014) |
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Original Committee Reference: E. & R.
SUMMARY : Provides that a campaign committee may pay for a
recount that is requested by a voter.
The Senate amendments delete provisions of the bill that would
have provided that the only sources of funds that could be used
to pay for a recount were the personal funds of the voter who
requested the recount or funds of the candidate-controlled
campaign committee of the candidate or of the primarily formed
committee on whose behalf the recount was being requested.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill would have restricted the
entities that were permitted to pay for a recount.
FISCAL EFFECT : None. This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the
Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS : As passed by the Assembly, this bill would have
provided that the only entities that could pay for a
voter-requested recount are the voter, using his or her own
personal funds, a candidate who uses his or her candidate
campaign committee funds, or a primarily formed committee that
uses campaign committee funds. This bill would have excluded
other entities, including local political parties or passionate
advocacy organizations interested in the outcome of the election
of a particular candidate or ballot measure, from being able to
request a recount because the bill would not have permitted
these entities to directly pay for the recount.
The Senate amendments remove those restrictions, and instead,
simply specify that a campaign committee may pay for a recount
on behalf of a voter who has requested that recount. This bill,
as approved by the Senate, does not limit the sources of funds
that a voter can use to pay for a recount.
AB 2369
Page 2
Under existing law, if a candidate or a ballot measure committee
pays for a recount, it is already required to be disclosed and
reported under the Political Reform Act (PRA). Additionally, if
a recount is paid for by third party in coordination with or at
the request of a candidate or a ballot measure committee it is
already considered a reportable in-kind contribution under the
PRA. Consequently, it is unclear how this bill will result in
more transparency when current law already provides for
disclosure.
Analysis Prepared by : Nichole Becker and Ethan Jones / E. &
R. / (916) 319-2094
FN: 0004127