Amended in Senate May 6, 2013

Amended in Senate April 23, 2013

Amended in Senate April 17, 2013

Amended in Senate February 25, 2013

Senate BillNo. 2


Introduced by Senators Lieu and Yee

December 3, 2012


An act to amend Sections 84101,begin delete 84102,end delete 84103, 84107, 84200, 84200.6, 84202.3, 84215, 84218, 84252, 84305.5,begin delete 84503, 84504, 84506,84506.5, 84508, 84509,end delete 84510, 85701, 85704, 90002, 90003, and 91013 of, to add Sections 84200.1, 84202.8, 84202.9, and 84503.5 to, to repeal Sections 84200.7, 84200.8, 84202.5, and 84202.7 of, and to repeal and add Section 84200.5 of, the Government Code, relating to the Political Reform Act of 1974.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 2, as amended, Lieu. Political Reform Act of 1974.

(1) Existing law, the Political Reform Act of 1974, provides for the comprehensive regulation of campaign financing, including requiring the reporting of campaign contributions and expenditures and imposing other reporting and recordkeeping requirements on campaign committees. Existing law makes a knowing or willful violation of the act a misdemeanor and subjects offenders to criminal penalties. The act requires elected officers, candidates, committees, and slate mailer organizations to file semiannual reports, preelection statements, and supplemental preelection statements.

This bill would repeal these reporting requirements. This bill would establish quarterly statements, monthly statements, preelection statements, postelection statements, and year-end statements for filing, as specified.

This bill would increase the fines for improperly reporting laundered or earmarked contributions to include a fine to be deposited into the Political Disclosure, Accountability, Transparency, and Access Fund, as specified. The bill would also increase the fines and penalties imposed on campaign statements and reports that are filed late.

(2) The act also regulates advertisements, which are defined as any general or public advertisement that is authorized and paid for by a person or committee for the purpose of supporting or opposing a candidate for elective office or a ballot measure or ballot measures. The act places certain disclosure requirements on advertisementsbegin delete for or against any ballot measure, including that the advertisement disclose up to 2 persons who have made cumulative contributions of $50,000 or more, as prescribed. The act places more specific disclosure requirements on broadcast or mass mailing advertisements that are paid for by independent expenditures that support or oppose a candidate or ballot measureend delete. In addition to other penalties imposed by the act, a fine of up to triple the amount of the cost of an advertisement can be imposed on a person who violates the disclosure requirements for advertisements.

This bill would require that television, video, or audio broadcast advertisements supporting or opposing a candidate or soliciting contributions in support of that purpose that are authorized by a candidate include a specified disclosure statement made by the candidate.

begin delete

The bill would increase to 4 the number of major donors of $50,000 or more who must be disclosed in an advertisement by a committee for or against a ballot measure. The bill would require the name of a committee that supports or opposes a ballot measure to include the names of up to 4 major donors who have made cumulative contributions of $50,000 or more. The bill would specify the amount of time in which a committee must update advertisement disclosures to reflect a change in the committee name that results from a change in the identity of the major donors who must be disclosed in an advertisement.

end delete

The bill would increase the maximum penalty for a violation of these provisions to 6 times the amount of the costs of the advertisement.

(3) The act regulates mass mailings, known as slate mailers, that support or oppose multiple candidates or ballot measures for an election. The act requires that each slate mailer identify the slate mailer organization or committee primarily formed to support or oppose one or more ballot measures that is sending the slate mailer, and to contain other specified information in specified formatting. The act requires that each candidate and each ballot measure that has paid to appear in the slate mailer be designated by an asterisk.

This bill would additionally require that a candidate or ballot measure appearing in the slate mailer as a result of a payment made by a 3rd party be designated by an “@,” and would require the notice to voters included on a slate mailer be revised to describe this new requirement. The bill would require that a slate mailer that is produced in a language other than English provide the notice to voters in that same language. The bill would require that a slate mailer provide the notice in both English and another language if a substantial portion of a slate mailer is produced in the other language.

(4) The act requires a ballot measure committee, within 30 days of designating the numerical order of propositions appearing on the ballot, to identify itself as committee for or against that numbered proposition in all required references.

This bill would reduce the amount of time in which a ballot measure committee must reference itself as a committee for or against a numbered proposition to within 10 days of designating the numerical order of propositions.

(5) The act is administered and enforced by the Fair Political Practices Commission. The act authorizes the Commission to perform discretionary investigations and audits with respect to campaign and lobbying reports and statements that are filed with the Secretary of State. The act also authorizes any person residing in the jurisdiction to sue for injunctive relief to prevent violations or compel compliance with the act.

This bill would specify that the Commission may perform audits prior to the date of the election and prior to the date that a statement or report is required to be filed. The bill would authorize a person to challenge an audit by the Commission or any order resulting from an audit by seeking a writ of mandate, which would take priority over all other civil matters. The bill would specify that the Commission is authorized to seek an injunction to prevent a violation of or compel compliance with the act.

(6) The act makes a knowing or willful violation of its provisions a misdemeanor and subjects offenders to criminal penalties.

By expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

(7) 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 23 vote of each house and compliance with specified procedural requirements.

This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.

Vote: 23. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P4    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 84101 of the Government Code is
2amended to read:

3

84101.  

(a) A committee that is a committee by virtue of
4subdivision (a) of Section 82013 shall file a statement of
5organization. The committee shall file the original of the statement
6of organization with the Secretary of State and shall also file a
7copy of the statement of organization with the local filing officer,
8if any, with whom the committee is required to file the originals
9of its campaign reports pursuant to Section 84215. The original
10and copy of the statement of organization shall be filed within 10
11days after the committee has qualified as a committee. The
12Secretary of State shall assign a number to each committee that
13files a statement of organization and shall notify the committee of
14the number. The Secretary of State shall send a copy of statements
15filed pursuant to this section to the county elections official of each
16 county that he or she deems appropriate. A county elections official
17who receives a copy of a statement of organization from the
18Secretary of State pursuant to this section shall send a copy of the
19statement to the clerk of each city in the county that he or she
20deems appropriate.

21(b) In addition to filing the statement of organization as required
22by subdivision (a), if a committee qualifies as a committee under
23subdivision (a) of Section 82013 before the date of an election in
24connection with which the committee is required to file preelection
25statements, but after the closing date of the last campaign statement
P5    1required to be filed before the election pursuant to Section 84200.5
2or 84200.9, the committee shall file, by facsimile transmission,
3guaranteed overnight delivery, or personal delivery within 24 hours
4of qualifying as a committee, the information required to be
5reported in the statement of organization. The information required
6by this subdivision shall be filed with the filing officer with whom
7the committee is required to file the originals of its campaign
8reports pursuant to Section 84215.

9(c) If an independent expenditure committee qualifies as a
10committee pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 82013 during the
11time period described in Section 82036.5 and makes independent
12expenditures of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more to support
13or oppose a candidate or candidates for office, the committee shall
14file, by facsimile transmission, online transmission, guaranteed
15overnight delivery, or personal delivery within 24 hours of
16qualifying as a committee, the information required to be reported
17in the statement of organization. The information required by this
18section shall be filed with the filing officer with whom the
19committee is required to file the original of its campaign reports
20pursuant to Section 84215, and shall be filed at all locations
21required for the candidate or candidates supported or opposed by
22the independent expenditures. The filings required by this section
23are in addition to filings that may be required by Sections 84203.5
24and 84204.

25(d) For purposes of this section, in calculating whether one
26thousand dollars ($1,000) in contributions has been received,
27payments for a filing fee or for a statement of qualifications to
28appear in a sample ballot shall not be included if these payments
29have been made from the candidate’s personal funds.

begin delete
30

SEC. 2.  

Section 84102 of the Government Code is amended
31to read:

32

84102.  

The statement of organization required by Section
3384101 shall include all of the following:

34(a) The name, street address, and telephone number, if any, of
35the committee. In the case of a sponsored committee, the name of
36the committee shall include the name of each sponsor. Whenever
37a committee has more than one sponsor, and the sponsors are
38members of an industry or other identifiable group, a term
39identifying that industry or group shall also be included in the
40name of the committee.

P6    1(b) In the case of a sponsored committee, the name, street
2address, and telephone number of each sponsor.

3(c) The full name, street address, and telephone number, if any,
4of the treasurer and any other principal officers. A committee with
5more than one principal officer shall identify its principal officers
6as follows:

7(1) A committee with three or fewer principal officers shall
8identify all principal officers.

9(2) A committee with more than three principal officers shall
10identify no fewer than three principal officers.

11If no individual other than the treasurer is a principal officer, the
12treasurer shall be identified as both the treasurer and the principal
13officer.

14(d) The full name and office sought by any candidate, and the
15title and ballot number, if any, of any measure, that the committee
16supports or opposes as its primary activity. A committee that does
17not support or oppose one or more candidates or ballot measures
18as its primary activity shall provide a brief description of its
19political activities, including whether it supports or opposes
20candidates or measures and whether such candidates or measures
21have common characteristics, such as a political party affiliation.

22(e) A statement whether the committee is independent or
23controlled and, if it is controlled, the name of each candidate or
24state measure proponent by which it is controlled, or the name of
25any controlled committee with which it acts jointly. If a committee
26is controlled by a candidate for partisan office, the controlled
27committee shall indicate the political party, if any, with which the
28candidate is affiliated.

29(f) For a committee that is a committee by virtue of subdivision
30(a) or (b) of Section 82013, the name and address of the financial
31institution where the committee has established an account and
32the account number.

33(g) Such other information as shall be required by the rules or
34regulations of the Commission consistent with the purposes and
35provisions of this chapter.

end delete
36

begin deleteSEC. 3.end delete
37begin insertSEC. 2.end insert  

Section 84103 of the Government Code is amended
38to read:

39

84103.  

(a) Whenever there is a change in any of the
40information contained in a statement of organization, an
P7    1amendment shall be filed within 10 days to reflect the change. The
2committee shall file the original of the amendment with the
3Secretary of State and shall also file a copy of the amendment with
4the local filing officer, if any, with whom the committee is required
5to file the originals of its campaign reports pursuant to Section
684215.

7(b) In addition to filing an amendment to a statement of
8organization as required by subdivision (a), a committee as defined
9in subdivision (a) of Section 82013 shall, by facsimile transmission,
10online transmission, guaranteed overnight delivery, or personal
11delivery within 24 hours, notify the filing officer with whom it is
12required to file the originals of its campaign reports pursuant to
13Section 84215 when the change requiring the amendment occurs
14before the date of the election in connection with which the
15committee is required to file a preelection statement, but after the
16closing date of the last preelection statement required to be filed
17for the election pursuant to Section 84200.5, if any of the following
18information is changed:

19(1) The name of the committee.

20(2) The name of the treasurer or other principal officers.

21(3) The name of any candidate or committee by which the
22committee is controlled or with which it acts jointly.

23The notification shall include the changed information, the date
24of the change, the name of the person providing the notification,
25 and the committee’s name and identification number.

26A committee may file a notification online only if the appropriate
27filing officer is capable of receiving the notification in that manner.

28

begin deleteSEC. 4.end delete
29begin insertSEC. 3.end insert  

Section 84107 of the Government Code is amended
30to read:

31

84107.  

Within 10 days of the designation of the numerical
32order of propositions appearing on the ballot, any committee which
33is primarily formed to support or oppose a ballot measure, shall,
34if supporting the measure, include the statement, “a committee for
35Proposition ____,” or, if opposing the measure, include the
36statement, “a committee against Proposition ____,” in any reference
37to the committee required by law.

38

begin deleteSEC. 5.end delete
39begin insertSEC. 4.end insert  

Section 84200 of the Government Code is amended
40to read:

P8    1

84200.  

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section and
2Section 84200.1, elected officers, candidates, committees, and
3slate mailer organizations shall file quarterly statements each year,
4as follows:

5(1) No later than April 15 for the period ending March 31.

6(2) No later than July 15 for the period ending June 30.

7(3) No later than October 15 for the period ending September
830.

9(4) No later than January 15 for the period ending December
1031.

11(b) A candidate who, during the past three months has filed a
12declaration pursuant to Section 84206 shall not be required to file
13a quarterly statement for that three-month period.

14(c) Elected officers whose salaries are less than two hundred
15dollars ($200) a month, judges, judicial candidates, and their
16controlled committees shall not file quarterly statements pursuant
17to this subdivision for any three-month period in which they have
18not made or received any contributions or made any expenditures.

19(d) A judge who is not listed on the ballot for reelection to, or
20recall from, any elective office during a calendar year shall not
21file quarterly statements pursuant to this subdivision for any
22three-month period in that year if both of the following apply:

23(1) The judge has not received any contributions.

24(2) The only expenditures made by the judge during the calendar
25year are contributions from the judge’s personal funds to other
26candidates or committees totaling less than one thousand dollars
27($1,000).

28(e) A candidate, committee, or slate mailer organization that is
29subject to the requirements of Section 84200.1 to file monthly
30statements during an even-numbered year shall not be required to
31file quarterly statements during an even-numbered year.

32

begin deleteSEC. 6.end delete
33begin insertSEC. 5.end insert  

Section 84200.1 is added to the Government Code, to
34read:

35

84200.1.  

(a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), during
36each even-numbered year, the following entities shall file a monthly
37statement no later than the 20th day after the conclusion of each
38calendar month for the period covering that calendar month:

39(A) A ballot measure committee.

40(B) A slate mailer organization.

P9    1(C) A committee not controlled by a candidate, if the candidate
2for whom the committee is primarily formed to support or oppose
3will appear on the ballot for the primary or general election held
4in that even-numbered year.

5(D) A candidate for statewide elective office and the candidate’s
6controlled committees, if the candidate for statewide elective office
7will appear on the ballot for the primary or general election held
8in that even-numbered year.

9(2) An entity identified in paragraph (1) shall not be required
10to file a monthly statement for the period covering any month that
11is reported, in its entirety, in a postelection statement required
12pursuant to Section 84202.8.

13(b) During each odd-numbered year in which an election occurs,
14the following entities shall file a monthly statement for the period
15covering each month in which the entity has spent one thousand
16dollars ($1,000) or more to support or oppose a candidate or ballot
17measure in that election:

18(1) A ballot measure committee primarily formed to support or
19oppose a ballot measure appearing on the ballot for the election.

20(2) A slate mailer organization that produces a slate mailer
21supporting or opposing candidates or ballot measures appearing
22on the ballot for the election.

23(3) A committee not controlled by a candidate, if the candidate
24for whom the committee is primarily formed to support or oppose
25will appear on the ballot for the election.

26(4) A candidate for statewide elective office and the candidate’s
27controlled committees, if the candidate for statewide elective office
28will appear on the ballot for the election.

29(c) (1) An elected official, candidate, committee, or slate mailer
30organization may elect to file monthly statements in the manner
31required by this section in lieu of filing quarterly statements
32required by Section 84200. Candidates and committees for state
33elective offices and state ballot measures that elect to file monthly
34statements shall file a statement in writing to that effect with the
35Commission and the Secretary of State. Candidates and committees
36for local elective offices and local ballot measures that elect to file
37monthly statements shall file a statement in writing to that effect
38with the local filing officer.

39(2) An entity that elects to file monthly statements in lieu of
40quarterly statements shall file the monthly statement commencing
P10   1with the month in which the notification is filed, continuing each
2month thereafter, and ending in December following the next
3regularly scheduled statewide general election.

4

begin deleteSEC. 7.end delete
5begin insertSEC. 6.end insert  

Section 84200.5 of the Government Code is repealed.

6

begin deleteSEC. 8.end delete
7begin insertSEC. 7.end insert  

Section 84200.5 is added to the Government Code, to
8read:

9

84200.5.  

In addition to the campaign statements required by
10Sections 84200 and 84200.1, elected officers, candidates, and
11committees shall file preelection statements as follows:

12(a) Each of the following shall file a preelection statement no
13later than 12 days before an election for the period ending 17 days
14before the election:

15(1) All candidates for elective office being voted upon at an
16election, their controlled committees, and committees primarily
17formed to support or oppose a candidate or a measure being voted
18upon at the election.

19(2) All elected state officers who, during the period covered by
20the preelection statement, make a contribution to any committee.

21(3) All candidates for an office that is not being voted upon at
22the election, their controlled committees, and any committee
23primarily formed to support or oppose those candidates, if, during
24the reporting period covered by the preelection statement, the
25candidate or committee makes an independent expenditure or
26makes a contribution to a committee.

27(4) A state or county general purpose committee formed
28pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 82013, other than a
29political party committee as defined in Section 85205, if it makes
30contributions or independent expenditures totaling five hundred
31dollars ($500) or more during the period covered by the preelection
32statement. A state or county general purpose committee formed
33pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 82013 is not required to file
34a preelection statement.

35(5) A political party committee as defined in Section 85205, if
36the committee receives contributions totaling one thousand dollars
37($1,000) or more, or if it makes contributions or independent
38expenditures totaling five hundred dollars ($500) or more, during
39the period covered by the preelection statement.

P11   1(6) A city general purpose committee, if it makes contributions
2or independent expenditures totaling five hundred dollars ($500)
3or more in connection with a city election during the period covered
4by the preelection statement.

5(b) During the election period for the Board of Administration
6of the Public Employees’ Retirement System or the Teachers’
7Retirement Board, all candidates for election to these boards, their
8controlled committees, and committees primarily formed to support
9or oppose the candidates, shall file a preelection statement as
10specified in Section 84200.9.

11(c) Each preelection statement filed pursuant to subdivision (a)
12shall be filed by guaranteed overnight delivery service, personal
13delivery, or online or electronic transmission with each office with
14which the candidate or committee is required to file its next
15campaign statement pursuant to Section 84215.

16

begin deleteSEC. 9.end delete
17begin insertSEC. 8.end insert  

Section 84200.6 of the Government Code is amended
18to read:

19

84200.6.  

In addition to the campaign statements required by
20Sections 84200, 84200.1, and 84200.5, all candidates and
21committees shall file the following special statements and reports:

22(a) Postelection campaign statements when required by Section
2384202.8.

24(b) Yearend campaign statements when required by Section
2584202.9.

26(c) Late contribution reports when required by Section 84203.

27(d) Independent expenditure reports when required by Section
2884203.5.

29(e) Late independent expenditure reports when required by
30Section 84204.

31

begin deleteSEC. 10.end delete
32begin insertSEC. 9.end insert  

Section 84200.7 of the Government Code is repealed.

33

begin deleteSEC. 11.end delete
34begin insertSEC. 10.end insert  

Section 84200.8 of the Government Code is repealed.

35

begin deleteSEC. 12.end delete
36begin insertSEC. 11.end insert  

Section 84202.3 of the Government Code is amended
37to read:

38

84202.3.  

(a) In addition to the campaign statements required
39by Section 84200.1, committees pursuant to subdivision (a) of
40Section 82013 that are primarily formed to support or oppose the
P12   1qualification, passage, or defeat of a measure and proponents of a
2state ballot measure who control a committee formed or existing
3primarily to support the qualification, passage, or defeat of a state
4ballot measure, shall file campaign statements on the following
5dates:

6(1) No later than April 30 for the period January 1 through
7March 31.

8(2) No later than October 31 for the period July 1 through
9September 30.

10(b) This section shall not apply to a committee during any period
11in which the committee is required to file preelection statements
12pursuant to Section 84200.5.

13(c) This section shall not apply to a committee following the
14election at which the measure is voted upon unless the committee
15makes contributions or expenditures to support or oppose the
16qualification or passage of another ballot measure.

17

begin deleteSEC. 13.end delete
18begin insertSEC. 12.end insert  

Section 84202.5 of the Government Code is repealed.

19

begin deleteSEC. 14.end delete
20begin insertSEC. 13.end insert  

Section 84202.7 of the Government Code is repealed.

21

begin deleteSEC. 15.end delete
22begin insertSEC. 14.end insert  

Section 84202.8 is added to the Government Code,
23to read:

24

84202.8.  

In addition to the campaign statements required by
25Sections 84200, 84200.1, and 84200.5, elected officers, candidates,
26and committees shall file a postelection campaign statement no
27later than the 30th day following an election in which the officer
28or candidate sought election or in which the officer, candidate, or
29committee supported or opposed a candidate or ballot measure.
30The postelection campaign statement shall cover the time period
31starting the day after the closing date of the last campaign statement
32required to be filed prior to the election and ending on the 20th
33day after that election.

34

begin deleteSEC. 16.end delete
35begin insertSEC. 15.end insert  

Section 84202.9 is added to the Government Code,
36to read:

37

84202.9.  

(a) During an even-numbered year, all candidates
38for elective office to be voted upon in the statewide primary
39election or statewide general election, their controlled committees,
40committees formed primarily to support or oppose an elected state
P13   1officer or candidate for state elective office being voted upon at
2the election, all committees formed primarily to support or oppose
3a ballot measure to be voted upon at the statewide primary election
4or statewide general election, and slate mailer organizations shall
5file a yearend campaign statement. The yearend statement shall
6be filed by January 31 of the year following the year of the election
7and shall cover the time period starting on the 21st day following
8the election and ending December 31 of the year in which the
9election occurred.

10(b) A candidate whose name appeared on a statewide primary
11election ballot and that candidate’s controlled committees shall
12not be required to file a yearend statement if that candidate does
13not receive sufficient votes to advance to the statewide general
14election, unless the candidate or the candidate’s controlled
15committees expend funds to support or oppose another candidate
16or a ballot measure that will be voted on at the statewide general
17election. Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter reporting
18requirements imposed by Sections 84200 and 84200.1.

19(c) For purposes of special elections and elections in
20odd-numbered years, all candidates, their controlled committees,
21and committees primarily formed to support or oppose a candidate
22or ballot measure shall be required to file yearend campaign
23statements on a date and for a time period determined by the
24Commission by regulation.

25

begin deleteSEC. 17.end delete
26begin insertSEC. 16.end insert  

Section 84215 of the Government Code is amended
27to read:

28

84215.  

All candidates and elected officers and their controlled
29committees, except as provided in subdivisions (d) and (e), shall
30file one copy of the campaign statements required by Section 84200
31or 84200.1 with the elections official of the county in which the
32candidate or elected official is domiciled, as defined in subdivision
33(b) of Section 349 of the Elections Code. In addition, campaign
34statements shall be filed at the following places:

35(a) Statewide elected officers, including members of the State
36Board of Equalization; Members of the Legislature; Supreme Court
37justices, court of appeal justices, and superior court judges;
38candidates for those offices and their controlled committees;
39committees formed or existing primarily to support or oppose these
40candidates, elected officers, justices and judges, or statewide
P14   1measures, or the qualification of state ballot measures; and all state
2general purpose committees and filers not specified in subdivisions
3(b) to (e), inclusive, shall file a campaign statement by online or
4electronic means, as specified in Section 84605, and shall file the
5original and one copy of the campaign statement in paper format
6with the Secretary of State.

7(b) Elected officers in jurisdictions other than legislative
8districts, State Board of Equalization districts, or appellate court
9districts that contain parts of two or more counties, candidates for
10these offices, their controlled committees, and committees formed
11or existing primarily to support or oppose candidates or local
12measures to be voted upon in one of these jurisdictions shall file
13the original and one copy with the elections official of the county
14with the largest number of registered voters in the jurisdiction.

15(c) County elected officers, candidates for these offices, their
16controlled committees, committees formed or existing primarily
17to support or oppose candidates or local measures to be voted upon
18in any number of jurisdictions within one county, other than those
19specified in subdivision (d), and county general purpose
20committees shall file the original and one copy with the elections
21official of the county.

22(d) City elected officers, candidates for city office, their
23controlled committees, committees formed or existing primarily
24to support or oppose candidates or local measures to be voted upon
25in one city, and city general purpose committees shall file the
26original and one copy with the clerk of the city and are not required
27to file with the local elections official of the county in which they
28are domiciled.

29(e) Elected members of the Board of Administration of the
30Public Employees’ Retirement System, elected members of the
31Teachers’ Retirement Board, candidates for these offices, their
32controlled committees, and committees formed or existing
33primarily to support or oppose these candidates or elected members
34shall file the original and one copy with the Secretary of State, and
35a copy shall be filed at the relevant board’s office in Sacramento.
36These elected officers, candidates, and committees need not file
37with the elections official of the county in which they are
38domiciled.

39(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a
40committee, candidate, or elected officer is not required to file more
P15   1than the original and one copy, or one copy, of a campaign
2statement with any one county elections official or city clerk or
3with the Secretary of State.

4(g) If a committee is required to file campaign statements
5required by Section 84200, 84200.1, or 84200.5 in places
6designated in subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, it shall continue to
7file these statements in those places, in addition to any other places
8required by this title, until the end of the calendar year.

9

begin deleteSEC. 18.end delete
10begin insertSEC. 17.end insert  

Section 84218 of the Government Code is amended
11to read:

12

84218.  

(a) A slate mailer organization shall file monthly
13campaign statements, as specified in Section 84200.1. A slate
14mailer organization shall also file quarterly statements in an
15odd-numbered year, at the same time and covering the same periods
16identified in subdivision (a) of Section 84200.

17(b) A slate mailer organization shall file two copies of its
18campaign reports with the clerk of the county in which it is
19domiciled. The campaign report shall be filed by online
20transmission if the clerk of the county authorizes filing by online
21transmission. A slate mailer organization is domiciled at the address
22listed on its statement of organization unless it is domiciled outside
23California, in which case its domicile shall be deemed to be Los
24Angeles County for purposes of this section.

25In addition, slate mailer organizations shall file campaign reports
26as follows:

27(1) A slate mailer organization which produces one or more
28slate mailers supporting or opposing candidates or measures voted
29on in a state election, or in more than one county, shall file
30campaign reports in the same manner as state general purpose
31committees pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 84215.

32(2) A slate mailer organization which produces one or more
33slate mailers supporting or opposing candidates or measures voted
34on in only one county, or in more than one jurisdiction within one
35county, shall file campaign reports in the same manner as county
36general purpose committees pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section
3784215.

38(3) A slate mailer organization which produces one or more
39slate mailers supporting or opposing candidates or measures voted
40on in only one city shall file campaign reports in the same manner
P16   1as city general purpose committees pursuant to subdivision (d) of
2Section 84215.

3(4) Notwithstanding the above, no slate mailer organization
4shall be required to file more than the original and one copy, or
5two copies, of a campaign report with any one county or city clerk
6or with the Secretary of State.

7

begin deleteSEC. 19.end delete
8begin insertSEC. 18.end insert  

Section 84252 of the Government Code is amended
9to read:

10

84252.  

(a) A committee primarily formed to support or oppose
11a LAFCO proposal shall file all statements required under this
12chapter except that, in lieu of the statements required by Sections
1384200, 84200.1, and 84202.3, the committee shall file monthly
14campaign statements from the time circulation of a petition begins
15until a measure is placed on the ballot or, if a measure is not placed
16on the ballot, until the committee is terminated pursuant to Section
1784214. The committee shall file an original and one copy of each
18statement on the 15th day of each calendar month, covering the
19prior calendar month, with the clerk of the county in which the
20measure may be voted on. If the petition results in a measure that
21is placed on the ballot, the committee thereafter shall file campaign
22statements required by this chapter.

23(b) In addition to any other statements required by this chapter,
24a committee that makes independent expenditures in connection
25with a LAFCO proposal shall file statements pursuant to Section
2684203.5.

27

begin deleteSEC. 20.end delete
28begin insertSEC. 19.end insert  

Section 84305.5 of the Government Code is amended
29to read:

30

84305.5.  

(a) No slate mailer organization or committee
31primarily formed to support or oppose one or more ballot measures
32shall send a slate mailer unless:

33(1) The name, street address, and city of the slate mailer
34organization or committee primarily formed to support or oppose
35one or more ballot measures are shown on the outside of each piece
36of slate mail and on at least one of the inserts included with each
37piece of slate mail in no less than 8-point roman type which shall
38be in a color or print which contrasts with the background so as
39to be easily legible. A post office box may be stated in lieu of a
40street address if the street address of the slate mailer organization
P17   1or the committee primarily formed to support or oppose one or
2more ballot measure is a matter of public record with the Secretary
3of State’s Political Reform Division.

4(2) At the top or bottom of the front side or surface of at least
5one insert or at the top or bottom of one side or surface of a
6postcard or other self-mailer, there is a notice in at least 8-point
7roman boldface type, which shall be in a color or print which
8contrasts with the background so as to be easily legible, and in a
9printed or drawn box and set apart from any other printed matter.
10The notice shall consist of the following statement:


11

 

 

 

NOTICE TO VOTERS

 
   
 

 THIS DOCUMENT WAS PREPARED BY (name of slate mailer organization or committee primarily formed to support or oppose one or more ballot measures), NOT AN OFFICIAL POLITICAL PARTY ORGANIZATION. Appearance in this mailer does not necessarily imply endorsement of others appearing in this mailer, nor does it imply endorsement of, or opposition to, any issues set forth in this mailer. Each item designated by an * has been paid for and authorized by the candidate or ballot measure indicated. Each item designated by an @ has been paid for by a person other than the candidate or ballot measure.

 
   
P17  25

 

26(3) The name, street address, city, and Internet Web site address,
27if any, of the slate mailer organization or committee primarily
28formed to support or oppose one or more ballot measures as
29required by paragraph (1) and the notice required by paragraph
30(2) may appear on the same side or surface of an insert.

31(4) Each candidate and each ballot measure that has paid to
32appear in the slate mailer is designated by an *. Each candidate
33and ballot measure whose appearance has been paid for by a third
34party is designated by an @. Any candidate or ballot measure that
35has not paid to appear in the slate mailer, and whose appearance
36has not been paid for by a third party, is not designated by an * or
37@.

38The * and @ required by this subdivision shall be of the same
39type size, type style, color or contrast, and legibility as is used for
40the name of the candidate or the ballot measure name or number
P18   1and position advocated to which the * or @ designation applies
2except that in no case shall the * and @ be required to be larger
3than 10-point boldface type. The designation shall immediately
4follow the name of the candidate, or the name or number and
5position advocated on the ballot measure where the designation
6appears in the slate of candidates and measures. If there is no slate
7listing, the designation shall appear at least once in at least 8-point
8boldface type, immediately following the name of the candidate,
9or the name or number and position advocated on the ballot
10measure.

11(5) The name of any candidate appearing in the slate mailer
12who is a member of a political party differing from the political
13party which the mailer appears by representation or indicia to
14represent is accompanied, immediately below the name, by the
15party designation of the candidate, in no less than 9-point roman
16type which shall be in a color or print that contrasts with the
17background so as to be easily legible. The designation shall not
18be required in the case of candidates for nonpartisan office.

19(6) If a slate mailer is produced entirely in a language other than
20English, the notice to voters required pursuant to paragraph (2)
21shall be produced in that language. If a substantial portion of a
22slate mailer, as determined by the Commission by regulation, is
23in a language other than English, the notice to voters required
24pursuant to paragraph (2) shall be produced in both English and
25the other language.

26(b) For purposes of the designations required by paragraph (4)
27of subdivision (a), the payment of any sum made reportable by
28subdivision (c) of Section 84219 by or at the behest of a candidate
29or committee, whose name or position appears in the mailer, to
30the slate mailer organization or committee primarily formed to
31support or oppose one or more ballot measures, shall constitute a
32payment to appear, requiring the * designation. The payment shall
33also be deemed to constitute authorization to appear in the mailer.

begin delete
34

SEC. 21.  

Section 84503 of the Government Code is amended
35to read:

36

84503.  

(a) Any advertisement for or against any ballot measure
37shall include a disclosure statement identifying any person whose
38cumulative contributions are fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or
39more.

P19   1(b) If there are more than four donors of fifty thousand dollars
2($50,000) or more, the committee is only required to disclose the
3four highest donors in descending order, beginning with the donor
4who has made the largest cumulative contributions. In the event
5that more than four donors meet this disclosure threshold at
6identical contribution levels, the four highest donors shall be
7selected according to chronological sequence.

end delete
8

begin deleteSEC. 22.end delete
9begin insertSEC. 20.end insert  

Section 84503.5 is added to the Government Code,
10to read:

11

84503.5.  

(a) A television or video broadcast advertisement
12that supports or opposes a candidate or solicits contributions in
13support of that purpose shall, if the advertisement is authorized by
14a candidate or an agent of the candidate, include a statement in
15which the candidate identifies himself or herself and states that
16the candidate has approved the message. The candidate statement
17shall be made using an unobscured, full-screen video of the
18candidate making the statement, or by using an unobscured,
19full-screen, and clearly identifiable photographic image of the
20candidate that is displayed during an audio voiceover of the
21candidate reading the statement.

22(b) An audio broadcast advertisement that supports or opposes
23a candidate or solicits contributions in support of that purpose
24shall, if the advertisement is authorized by a candidate or an agent
25of the candidate, include an audio statement in which the candidate
26identifies himself or herself and states that the candidate has
27approved the message.

begin delete
28

SEC. 23.  

Section 84504 of the Government Code is amended
29to read:

30

84504.  

(a) (1) Any committee that supports or opposes one
31or more ballot measures shall name and identify itself using the
32names of its major donors of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or
33more in any reference to the committee required by law, including,
34but not limited, to its statement of organization filed pursuant to
35Section 84101.

36(2) Any committee that is required to include the names of its
37major donors of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or more in the
38name of the committee shall identify the top donors, not to exceed
39the four largest donors, in descending order starting with the donor
40who has made the largest cumulative contribution to the committee.
P20   1The identification of major donors of fifty thousand dollars
2($50,000) or more shall precede the identification of, or reference
3to, any other persons who support or oppose the ballot measure.

4(b) If the major donors of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or
5more share a common employer, the identity of the employer shall
6also be disclosed.

7(c) Any committee which supports or opposes a ballot measure,
8shall print or broadcast its name as provided in this section as part
9of any advertisement or other paid public statement.

10(d) If candidates or their controlled committees, as a group or
11individually, meet the contribution thresholds for a person, they
12shall be identified by the controlling candidate’s name.

13

SEC. 24.  

Section 84506 of the Government Code is amended
14to read:

15

84506.  

(a) An advertisement supporting or opposing a
16candidate or ballot measure, that is paid for by an independent
17expenditure, shall include a disclosure statement that identifies
18both of the following:

19(1) The name of the committee making the independent
20expenditure.

21(2) The names of the persons from whom the committee making
22the independent expenditure has received its four highest
23cumulative contributions of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or
24more during the 12-month period prior to the expenditure. If the
25 committee can show, on the basis that contributions are spent in
26the order they are received, that contributions received from the
27four highest contributors have been used for expenditures unrelated
28to the candidate or ballot measure featured in the communication,
29the committee shall disclose the contributors making the next
30largest cumulative contributions of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000)
31or more.

32(b) If an acronym is used to identify any committee names
33required by this section, the names of any sponsoring organization
34of the committee shall be printed on print advertisements or spoken
35in broadcast advertisements.

36

SEC. 25.  

Section 84506.5 of the Government Code is amended
37to read:

38

84506.5.  

An advertisement supporting or opposing a candidate
39that is paid for by an independent expenditure must include a
P21   1statement that it was an independent expenditure not authorized
2by a candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate.

3

SEC. 26.  

Section 84508 of the Government Code is amended
4to read:

5

84508.  

If disclosure of four major donors is required by
6Sections 84503 and 84506, the committee shall be required to
7disclose, in addition to the committee name, only its highest major
8contributor in any advertisement which is either of the following:

9(a) An electronic broadcast of 15 seconds or less.

10(b) A newspaper, magazine, or other public print media
11advertisement which is 20 square inches or less.

12

SEC. 27.  

Section 84509 of the Government Code is amended
13to read:

14

84509.  

(a) When a committee files an amended campaign
15statement pursuant to Section 81004.5, the committee shall change
16its advertisements to reflect the changed disclosure information.

17(b) If an amended campaign statement must be filed to reflect
18a change in the name of the committee to identify a new major
19donor of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or more, then the
20disclosure on advertisements shall be amended as follows:

21(1) A television, radio, or other electronic media advertisement
22shall be amended to reflect the new committee name within three
23calendar days.

24(2) A print media advertisement, including billboards, shall be
25updated to reflect the new committee name prior to placing a new
26or modified order for additional printing of the advertisement.

end delete
27

begin deleteSEC. 28.end delete
28begin insertSEC. 21.end insert  

Section 84510 of the Government Code is amended
29to read:

30

84510.  

(a) In addition to the remedies provided for in Chapter
3111 (commencing with Section 91000) of this title, any person who
32violates this article is liable in a civil or administrative action
33brought by the commission or any person for a fine up to six times
34the cost of the advertisement, including placement costs.

35(b) The remedies provided in subdivision (a) shall also apply
36to any person who purposely causes any other person to violate
37any provision of this article or who aids and abets any other person
38in a violation.

39(c) If a judgment is entered against the defendant or defendants
40in an action brought under this section, the plaintiff shall receive
P22   150 percent of the amount recovered. The remaining 50 percent
2shall be deposited in the General Fund of the state. In an action
3brought by a local civil prosecutor, 50 percent shall be deposited
4in the account of the agency bringing the action and 50 percent
5shall be paid to the General Fund of the state.

6

begin deleteSEC. 29.end delete
7begin insertSEC. 22.end insert  

Section 85701 of the Government Code is amended
8to read:

9

85701.  

Any candidate or committee that receives a contribution
10in violation of Section 84301 shall pay to the General Fund of the
11state the amount of the contribution and pay to the Political
12Disclosure, Accountability, Transparency, and Access Fund a fine
13in the amount of 15 percent of the contribution.

14

begin deleteSEC. 30.end delete
15begin insertSEC. 23.end insert  

Section 85704 of the Government Code is amended
16to read:

17

85704.  

A person may not make any contribution to a committee
18on the condition or with the agreement that it will be contributed
19to any particular candidate or ballot measure committee unless the
20contribution is fully disclosed pursuant to Section 84302. A person
21who makes a contribution to a committee that violates this section
22shall pay to the General Fund of the state the amount of the
23contribution and pay to the Political Disclosure, Accountability,
24Transparency, and Access Fund a fine in the amount of 15 percent
25of the contribution.

26

begin deleteSEC. 31.end delete
27begin insertSEC. 24.end insert  

Section 90002 of the Government Code is amended
28to read:

29

90002.  

(a) Audits and investigations of lobbying firms and
30lobbyist employers shall be performed on a biennial basis and shall
31cover reports filed during a period of two years.

32(b) If a lobbying firm or lobbyist employer keeps a separate
33account for all receipts and payments for which reporting is
34required by this chapter, the requirement of an audit under
35subdivision (a) of Section 90001 shall be satisfied by an audit of
36that account and the supporting documentation required to be
37maintained by Section 86110.

38(c) No audit or investigation of any candidate, controlled
39committee, or committee primarily supporting or opposing a
40candidate or a measure in connection with a report or statement
P23   1required by Chapter 4 of this title, shall begin until after the last
2date for filing the first report or statement following the general,
3runoff or special election for the office for which the candidate
4ran, or following the election at which the measure was adopted
5or defeated, except that audits and investigations of statewide
6candidates, their controlled committees, and committees primarily
7supporting or opposing those statewide candidates who were
8defeated in the primary election and who are not required to file
9statements for the general election may begin after the last date
10for filing the first report or statement following the primary
11election. When the campaign statements or reports of a candidate,
12controlled committee, or a committee primarily supporting or
13opposing a candidate are audited and investigated pursuant to
14Section 90001, the audit and investigation shall cover all campaign
15statements and reports filed for the primary and general or special
16or runoff elections and any previous campaign statement or report
17filed pursuant to Section 84200, 84200.1, or 84200.5 since the last
18election for that office, but shall exclude any statements or reports
19which have previously been audited pursuant to Section 90001 or
2090003. When the campaign statements or reports of a committee
21primarily supporting or opposing a measure are audited and
22investigated, the audit and investigation shall cover all campaign
23statements and reports from the beginning date of the first
24campaign statement filed by the committee in connection with the
25measure. For all other committees, the audit and investigation shall
26cover all campaign statements filed during the previous two
27calendar years.

28

begin deleteSEC. 32.end delete
29begin insertSEC. 25.end insert  

Section 90003 of the Government Code is amended
30to read:

31

90003.  

(a) In addition to the audits and investigations required
32by Section 90001, the Franchise Tax Board and the Commission
33may make investigations and audits with respect to any reports or
34statements required by Chapter 4 (commencing with Section
3584100), Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 85100), or Chapter
366 (commencing with Section 86100).

37(b) (1) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit
38the Commission from undertaking any audit authorized by this
39section prior to the date of the election or prior to the date upon
40which the report or statement is required to be filed. A candidate
P24   1or committee shall, during the audit, make all relevant records
2available for immediate review by the Commission.

3(2) A person who is subject to an audit authorized by this section
4may contest the performance of the audit or an order issued by the
5Commission as a result of an audit by seeking a writ of mandate.
6Venue for the proceeding shall be exclusively in the County of
7Sacramento. The action shall be given priority over all other civil
8matters.

9(3) In addition to any other remedies available to the
10Commission, including injunctive relief pursuant to Section 91003,
11the Commission may seek an injunction pursuant to Title 7
12(commencing with Section 501) of Part 2 of the Code of Civil
13Procedure to compel a person who is subject to an audit authorized
14by this section to cooperate with the Commission in the
15performance of the audit or to compel compliance with an order
16of the Commission resulting from the audit. Notwithstanding any
17other law, an appeal of an injunction issued in favor of the
18Commission shall not result in a mandatory stay pending the
19resolution of the appeal. A stay of an injunction pending resolution
20of the appeal may be ordered at the discretion of the court issuing
21the injunction.

22

begin deleteSEC. 33.end delete
23begin insertSEC. 26.end insert  

Section 91013 of the Government Code is amended
24to read:

25

91013.  

(a) If a person files an original statement or report after
26the applicable deadline imposed by this title, he or she shall, in
27addition to any other penalties or remedies established by this title,
28be liable in the amount of thirty dollars ($30) per day after the
29deadline until the statement or report is filed, to the officer with
30whom the statement or report is required to be filed. Liability need
31not be enforced by the filing officer if, on an impartial basis, he
32or she determines that the late filing was not willful and that
33enforcement of the liability will not further the purposes of this
34title, except that no liability shall be waived if a statement or report
35is not filed within 30 days for a statement of economic interest,
36other than a candidate’s statement filed pursuant to Section 87201,
37five days for a campaign statement required to be filed 12 days
38before an election, and 10 days for all other statements or reports,
39after the filing officer has sent specific written notice of the filing
40requirement.

P25   1(b) If a person files a copy of a statement or report after the
2applicable deadline imposed by this title, he or she shall, in addition
3to any other penalties or remedies established by this title, be liable
4in the amount of thirty dollars ($30) per day, starting 10 days, or
5five days in the case of a campaign statement required to be filed
612 days before an election, after the filing officer has sent specific
7written notice of the filing requirement and until the statement or
8report is filed.

9(c) The filing officer shall deposit any funds received under this
10section into the general fund of the jurisdiction of which he or she
11is an officer. No liability under this section shall exceed 150 percent
12of the cumulative amount stated in the late statement or report, or
13one thousand dollars ($1,000), whichever is greater.

14

begin deleteSEC. 34.end delete
15begin insertSEC. 27.end insert  

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
16Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
17the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
18district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
19infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
20for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of
21the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within
22the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
23Constitution.

24

begin deleteSEC. 35.end delete
25begin insertSEC. 28.end insert  

The Legislature finds and declares that this bill
26furthers the purposes of the Political Reform Act of 1974 within
27the meaning of subdivision (a) of Section 81012 of the Government
28Code.



O

    95