SB 3, as amended, Yee. 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, as defined, and imposing other reporting and recordkeeping requirements on campaign committees, as defined. A violation of the act’s provisions is punishable as a misdemeanor.
This bill would revise the terms “late contribution” and “late independent expenditure,” as defined in the act, to “election-cycle contribution” and “election-cycle independent expenditure,” respectively, and would make conforming changes.
The bill would also increase the fines and penalties imposed for campaign statements and reports that are filed late.
(2) The act requires each committee to file a statement of organization within 10 days of becoming a committee. The act also requires a committee to file an amended statement of organization whenever there is a change to the information contained in the statement of organization. The act requires certain committees to file the original statement with the Secretary of State and a copy to be filed with the local filing officer. The act requires the Secretary of State to forward a copy of the statement of organization to the county elections official, and for the county elections official to forward a copy to appropriate city clerks. The act requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Commission, to develop online and electronic filing processes for specified entities.
This bill would require that the statement and any amendments be filed with the Secretary of State by online or electronic means. The bill would reduce the time in which the statement of organization must be filed to 5 days. The bill would authorize a committee to satisfy the local filing requirement by online or electronic means if the local filing officer accepts filing by online or electronic means. This bill would specify that the Secretary of State and the county elections officials forward copies of the statement or organization by online or electronic means.
This bill would also require the Secretary of State tobegin delete work toward the development ofend deletebegin insert developend insert a single, statewide electronic filing system that consolidates the filing of all state and local campaign statements and reports into one searchable database that meets specified criteria. The bill would require the Secretary of State to develop a feasibility study report for the electronic
filing system by December 31, 2014, to develop a funding plan, to engage in fundraising, and to complete work on the electronic filing system by December 31, 2018.
(3) The act requires each committee to have a designated treasurer who is identified in the statement of organization. A committee may not make an expenditure without the authorization of the treasurer.
This bill would require a treasurer for a committee or committees that have made cumulative contributions or expenditures in excess of $250,000 to complete an online certification course, designed and administered by the Commission, that addresses the statutes and regulations governing the financing of campaigns and the duties and responsibilities of a treasurer within 20 business days after being designated as the treasurer, or within 20 business days of exceeding the $250,000 threshold if the committees have not exceeded the threshold at the time the treasurer is designated. The bill would require the treasurer to make certain verifications under penalty of perjury. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(4) The act requires a committee to file certain special campaign statements, in addition to semi-annual and preelection campaign statements. The act requires certain officers to file these statements by online or electronic means and a copy in paper format with the Secretary of State.
This bill would establish a postelection campaign statement that elected officers, candidates, and committees would be required to file after an election covering a time period starting on the day after the closing date of the last campaign statement required to be filed prior to the election and ending on the final calendar day of the month in which the election occurred. The bill would also establish a cumulative campaign statement to be filed by certain officers, candidates, and committees after an election that occurs in an even-numbered year that covers a time period of 2 calendar years. The bill would require the Fair Political Practices Commission to adopt regulations with respect to filing cumulative campaign statements for special elections and elections in odd-numbered years.
end deleteThis bill would repeal the requirement that a committee file a paper copy of a campaign statement in addition to the online or electronic filing.
(5) The act requires certain reports, such as late contribution and late independent expenditure reports, to be filed within 24 hours by facsimile transmission, guaranteed overnight delivery, or personal delivery.
This bill would additionally authorize certain reports that have a 24-hour filing deadline to be filed by online transmission.
(6) 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 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: yes.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 82036 of the Government Code is
2amended and renumbered to read:
“Election-cycle contribution” means any of the
4following:
5(a) A contribution, including a loan, that totals in the aggregate
6one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more and is made to or received
7by a candidate, a controlled committee, or a committee formed or
8existing primarily to support or oppose a candidate or measure
9within 90 days before the date of the election at which the candidate
10or measure is to be voted on. For purposes of the Board of
11Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System and
12the Teachers’ Retirement Board, “the date of the election” is the
13deadline to return ballots.
14(b) A contribution, including a loan, that totals in the aggregate
15one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more and is made to or
received
16by a political party committee, as defined in Section 85205, within
1790 days before the date of a state election.
Section 82036.5 of the Government Code is amended
19and renumbered to read:
“Election-cycle independent expenditure” means an
21independent expenditure that totals in the aggregate one thousand
22dollars ($1,000) or more and is made for or against a specific
23candidate or measure involved in an election within 90 days before
24the date of the election. For purposes of the Board of
25Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System and
26the Teachers’ Retirement Board, “the date of the election” is the
27deadline to return ballots.
Section 84100 of the Government Code is amended
29to read:
(a) Every committee shall have a treasurer. No
31expenditure shall be made by or on behalf of a committee without
32the authorization of the treasurer or that of his or her designated
33agents. No contribution or expenditure shall be accepted or made
34by or on behalf of a committee at a time when there is a vacancy
35in the office of treasurer.
36(b) (1) Prior to being designated as a treasurer pursuant to
37Section 84102 or 84103, or not later than 20 business days after
38that designation, a treasurer who serves as a treasurer for one or
P5 1more committees that have made cumulative contributions or
2expenditures in excess of two hundred fifty thousand dollars
3($250,000) shall complete an online certification course,
designed
4and administered by the Commission, that addresses the statutes
5and regulations governing the financing of campaigns, and the
6duties and responsibilities of a treasurer, under this title. If the
7cumulative contributions or expenditures for a treasurer’s
8committees are two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) or
9less at the time the treasurer is designated as treasurer for a
10committee, that treasurer shall be required to complete the online
11certification course within 20 business days after the date upon
12which the contributions or expenditures of the committee or
13committees exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000).
14The course shall require each applicant for certification to verify,
15under penalty of perjury, his or her identity by means of an
16identifier determined by the Commission.
17(2) The Commission may charge each applicant for certification
18pursuant to this subdivision a fee not to exceed fifty dollars ($50).
19The
fee may be paid with, or reimbursed from, campaign funds,
20as defined in Section 89511.
21(3) Each treasurer shall verify, under penalty of perjury, on a
22statement of organization required by Section 84101, or on an
23amendment to a statement of organization required by Section
2484103, that he or she has been certified pursuant to this subdivision.
25(4) A treasurer shall renew his or her certification pursuant to
26this subdivision every two years.
27(5) The Commission shall maintain on its Internet Web site a
28list of treasurers who are currently certified pursuant to this
29subdivision.
Section 84101 of the Government Code is amended
31to read:
(a) A committee that is a committee by virtue of
33subdivision (a) of Section 82013 shall file a statement of
34organization. The committee shall file the statement of organization
35by online or electronic means with the Secretary of State, pursuant
36to Chapter 4.6 (commencing with Section 84600), and shall also
37file a copy of the statement of organization with the local filing
38officer, if any, with whom the committee is required to file the
39originals of its campaign reports pursuant to Section 84215. A
40committee may satisfy the local filing requirement by online or
P6 1electronic means if the local filing officer accepts filing by online
2or electronic means. The statement of organization shall be filed
3within five days after the committee has qualified as a committee.
4The Secretary of State shall assign a number to each committee
5that
files a statement of organization and shall notify the committee
6of the number. The Secretary of State shall send a copy of
7statements filed pursuant to this section to the county elections
8official of each county that he or she deems appropriate by online
9or electronic means. A county elections official who receives a
10copy of a statement of organization from the Secretary of State
11pursuant to this section shall send a copy of the statement to the
12clerk of each city in the county that he or she deems appropriate
13by online or electronic means.
14(b) In addition to filing the statement of organization as required
15by subdivision (a), if a committee qualifies as a committee under
16subdivision (a) of Section 82013 before the date of an election in
17connection with which the committee is required to file a
18preelection statement, but after the closing date of the last campaign
19statement required to be filed before the election pursuant to
20Section 84200.7,
84200.8, or 84200.9, the committee shall file, by
21facsimile transmission, guaranteed overnight delivery, personal
22delivery, or online transmission within 24 hours of qualifying as
23a committee, the information required to be reported in the
24statement of organization. The information required by this
25subdivision shall be filed with the filing officer with whom the
26committee is required to file the originals of its campaign reports
27pursuant to Section 84215.
28(c) If an independent expenditure committee qualifies as a
29committee pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 82013 during the
30time period described in Section 82022.7 and makes independent
31expenditures of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more to support
32or oppose a candidate or candidates for office, the committee shall
33file, by facsimile transmission, online transmission, guaranteed
34overnight delivery, or personal delivery within 24 hours of
35qualifying as a committee, the information required
to be reported
36in the statement of organization. The information required by this
37section shall be filed with the filing officer with whom the
38committee is required to file the original of its campaign reports
39pursuant to Section 84215, and shall be filed at all locations
40required for the candidate or candidates supported or opposed by
P7 1the independent expenditures. The filings required by this section
2are in addition to filings that may be required by Sections 84203.5
3and 84204.
4(d) For purposes of this section, in calculating whether one
5thousand dollars ($1,000) in contributions has been received,
6payments for a filing fee or for a statement of qualifications to
7appear in a sample ballot shall not be included if these payments
8have been made from the candidate’s personal funds.
Section 84103 of the Government Code is amended
10to read:
(a) Whenever there is a change in any of the
12information contained in a statement of organization, an
13amendment shall be filed within 10 days to reflect the change. The
14committee shall file the amendment with the Secretary of State by
15online or electronic means and shall also file a copy of the
16amendment with the local filing officer, if any, with whom the
17committee is required to file the originals of its campaign reports
18pursuant to Section 84215.
19(b) In addition to filing an amendment to a statement of
20organization as required by subdivision (a), a committee as defined
21in subdivision (a) of Section 82013 shall, by facsimile transmission,
22online transmission, guaranteed overnight delivery, or personal
23delivery within 24
hours, notify the filing officer with whom it is
24required to file its campaign reports pursuant to Section 84215
25when the change requiring the amendment occurs before the date
26of the election in connection with which the committee is required
27to file a preelection statement, but after the closing date of the last
28preelection statement required to be filed for the election pursuant
29to Section 84200.7 or 84200.8, if any of the following information
30is changed:
31(1) The name of the committee.
32(2) The name of the treasurer or other principal officers.
33(3) The name of any candidate or committee by which the
34committee is controlled or with which it acts jointly.
35The notification shall include the changed information, the date
36of the change, the name of the person providing the
notification,
37and the committee’s name and identification number.
38A committee may file a notification online only if the appropriate
39filing officer is capable of receiving the notification in that manner.
Section 84108 of the Government Code is amended
2to read:
(a) Every slate mailer organization shall comply with
4the requirements of Sections 84100, 84101, 84103, and 84104.
5(b) The statement of organization of a slate mailer organization
6shall include:
7(1) The name, street address, and telephone number of the
8organization. In the case of an individual or business entity that
9qualifies as a slate mailer organization, the name of the slate mailer
10organization shall include the name by which the individual or
11entity is identified for legal purposes. Whenever identification of
12a slate mailer organization is required by this title, the identification
13shall include the full name of the slate mailer organization as
14contained
in its statement of organization.
15(2) The full name, street address, and telephone number of the
16treasurer and other principal officers.
17(3) The full name, street address, and telephone number of each
18person with final decisionmaking authority as to which candidates
19or measures will be supported or opposed in the organization’s
20slate mailers.
21(c) The statement of organization shall be filed with the
22Secretary of State within 10 days after the slate mailer organization
23receives or is promised five hundred dollars ($500) or more for
24producing one or more slate mailers. However, if an entity qualifies
25as a slate mailer organization before the date of an election in
26which it is required to file preelection statements, but after the
27closing date of the last campaign statement required to be filed
28before the election
pursuant to Section 84218, the slate mailer
29organization shall file with the Secretary of State, by facsimile
30transmission, guaranteed overnight delivery, online transmission,
31or personal delivery within 24 hours of qualifying as a slate mailer
32organization, the information required to be reported in the
33statement of organization.
Section 84200.6 of the Government Code is amended
35to read:
In addition to the campaign statements required by
37Sections 84200 and 84200.5, all candidates and committees shall
38file the following special statements and reports:
39(a) Supplemental preelection statements when required by
40Section 84202.5.
P9 1(b) Postelection campaign statements when required by Section
284202.8.
3(c) Cumulative campaign statements when required by Section
484202.9.
5(d) “Election-cycle
end delete
6begin insert(b)end insertbegin insert end insertbegin insertElection-cycleend insert contribution reports when required by Section
784203.
8(e)
end delete
9begin insert(c)end insert Independent expenditure reports when required by Section
1084203.5.
11(f) “Election-cycle
end delete
12begin insert(d)end insertbegin insert end insertbegin insertElection-cycleend insert
independent expenditure reports when
13required by Section 84204.
Section 84202.8 is added to the Government Code, to
15read:
In addition to the campaign statements required by
17Section 84200 and 84200.5, elected officers, candidates, and
18committees shall file a postelection campaign statement on the
1920th day of the month following the month in which the election
20occurred. The postelection campaign statement shall cover the
21time period starting the day after the closing date of the last
22campaign statement required to be filed prior to the election and
23ending the final calendar day of the month in which the election
24occurred.
Section 84202.9 is added to the Government Code, to
26read:
(a) During an even-numbered year, all candidates
28for elective office to be voted upon in the statewide primary
29election or statewide general election, their controlled committees,
30committees formed primarily to support or oppose an elected state
31officer or candidate for state elective office being voted upon, and
32all committees formed primarily to support or oppose a ballot
33measure to be voted upon at the statewide primary election or
34statewide general election shall file a cumulative campaign
35statement. The cumulative campaign statement shall be filed by
36January 31 of the year following the year of the election and shall
37cover the time period starting January 1 of the odd-numbered year
38preceding the election and ending December 31 of the year in
39which the election occurred.
P10 1(b) For purposes of special elections and elections in
2odd-numbered years, all candidates, their controlled committees,
3and committees primarily formed to support or oppose a candidate
4or ballot measure shall be required to file cumulative campaign
5statements on a date and for a time period determined by the
6Commission by regulation.
Section 84203 of the Government Code is amended
9to read:
(a) Each candidate or committee that makes or receives
11an election-cycle contribution, as defined in Section 82022.5, shall
12report the election-cycle contribution to each office with which
13the candidate or committee is required to file its next campaign
14statement pursuant to Section 84215. The candidate or committee
15that makes the election-cycle contribution shall report his or her
16full name and street address and the full name and street address
17of the person to whom the election-cycle contribution has been
18made, the office sought if the recipient is a candidate, or the ballot
19measure number or letter if the recipient is a committee primarily
20formed to support or oppose a ballot measure, and the date and
21amount of the election-cycle contribution. The recipient of the
22election-cycle contribution shall report his or her full name
and
23street address, the date and amount of the election-cycle
24contribution, and whether the contribution was made in the form
25of a loan. The recipient shall also report the full name of the
26contributor, his or her street address, occupation, and the name of
27his or her employer, or if self-employed, the name of the business.
28(b) An election-cycle contribution shall be reported by facsimile
29transmission, guaranteed overnight delivery, online transmission,
30or personal delivery within 24 hours of the time it is made in the
31case of the candidate or committee that makes the contribution
32and within 24 hours of the time it is received in the case of the
33recipient. If an election-cycle contribution is required to be reported
34to the Secretary of State, the report to the Secretary of State shall
35be by online or electronic transmission only. An election-cycle
36contribution shall be reported on subsequent campaign statements
37without regard to reports filed
pursuant to this section.
38(c) An election-cycle contribution need not be reported nor shall
39it be deemed accepted if it is not cashed, negotiated, or deposited
40and is returned to the contributor within 24 hours of its receipt.
P11 1(d) A report filed pursuant to this section shall be in addition to
2any other campaign statement required to be filed by this chapter.
3(e) The report required pursuant to this section is not required
4to be filed by a candidate or committee that has disclosed the
5election-cycle contribution pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) of
6Section 85309.
Section 84203.3 of the Government Code is amended
9to read:
(a) Any candidate or committee that makes an
11election-cycle contribution that is a nonmonetary contribution shall
12notify the recipient in writing of the value of the nonmonetary
13contribution. The notice shall be received by the recipient within
1424 hours of the time the contribution is made.
15(b) Nothing in this section shall relieve a candidate or committee
16that makes an election-cycle nonmonetary contribution or the
17recipient of an election-cycle nonmonetary contribution from the
18requirement to file election-cycle contribution reports pursuant to
19Section 84203. However, a report filed by the recipient of an
20election-cycle nonmonetary contribution shall be deemed timely
21filed if it is received by the filing officer within 48
hours of the
22time the contribution is received.
Section 84204 of the Government Code is amended
25to read:
(a) A committee that makes an election-cycle
27independent expenditure, as defined in Section 82022.7, shall
28report the election-cycle independent expenditure by facsimile
29transmission, guaranteed overnight delivery, online transmission,
30or personal delivery within 24 hours of the time it is made. If an
31election-cycle independent expenditure is required to be reported
32to the Secretary of State, the report to the Secretary of State shall
33be by online or electronic transmission only. An election-cycle
34independent expenditure shall be reported on subsequent campaign
35statements without regard to reports filed pursuant to this section.
36(b) A committee that makes an election-cycle independent
37expenditure shall report its full name and street address, as well
38as the name,
office, and district of the candidate if the report is
39related to a candidate, or if the report is related to a measure, the
40number or letter of the measure, the jurisdiction in which the
P12 1measure is to be voted upon, and the amount and the date, as well
2as a description of goods or services for which the election-cycle
3independent expenditure was made. In addition to the information
4required by this subdivision, a committee that makes an
5election-cycle independent expenditure shall include with its
6election-cycle independent expenditure report the information
7required by paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (f) of
8Section 84211, covering the period from the day after the closing
9date of the last campaign report filed to the date of the
10election-cycle independent expenditure, or if the committee has
11not previously filed a campaign statement, covering the period
12from the previous January 1 to the date of the election-cycle
13independent expenditure. No information required by paragraphs
14(1) to (5),
inclusive, of subdivision (f) of Section 84211 that is
15required to be reported with an election-cycle independent
16expenditure report by this subdivision is required to be reported
17on more than one election-cycle independent expenditure report.
18(c) A committee that makes an election-cycle independent
19expenditure shall file an election-cycle independent expenditure
20report in the places where it would be required to file campaign
21statements under this article as if it were formed or existing
22primarily to support or oppose the candidate or measure for or
23against which it is making the election-cycle independent
24expenditure.
25(d) A report filed pursuant to this section shall be in addition to
26any other campaign statement required to be filed by this article.
27(e) Expenditures that have been disclosed by candidates and
28
committees pursuant to Section 85500 are not required to be
29disclosed pursuant to this section.
Section 84215 of the Government Code is amended
32to read:
All candidates and elected officers and their controlled
34committees, except as provided in subdivisions (d) and (e), shall
35file one copy of the campaign statements required by Section 84200
36with the elections official of the county in which the candidate or
37elected official is domiciled, as defined in subdivision (b) of
38Section 349 of the Elections Code. In addition, campaign
39statements shall be filed at the following places:
P13 1(a) Statewide elected officers, including members of the State
2Board of Equalization; Members of the Legislature; Supreme Court
3justices, court of appeal justices, and superior court judges;
4candidates for those offices and their controlled committees;
5committees formed or existing primarily to support or oppose these
6candidates, elected officers, justices and
judges, or statewide
7measures, or the qualification of state ballot measures; and all state
8general purpose committees and filers not specified in subdivisions
9(b) to (e), inclusive, shall file a campaign statement by online or
10electronic means, as specified in Section 84605, with the Secretary
11of State.
12(b) Elected officers in jurisdictions other than legislative
13districts, State Board of Equalization districts, or appellate court
14districts that contain parts of two or more counties, candidates for
15these offices, their controlled committees, and committees formed
16or existing primarily to support or oppose candidates or local
17measures to be voted upon in one of these jurisdictions shall file
18the original and one copy with the elections official of the county
19with the largest number of registered voters in the jurisdiction.
20(c) County elected officers, candidates for these offices,
their
21controlled committees, committees formed or existing primarily
22to support or oppose candidates or local measures to be voted upon
23in any number of jurisdictions within one county, other than those
24specified in subdivision (d), and county general purpose
25committees shall file the original and one copy with the elections
26official of the county.
27(d) City elected officers, candidates for city office, their
28controlled committees, committees formed or existing primarily
29to support or oppose candidates or local measures to be voted upon
30in one city, and city general purpose committees shall file the
31original and one copy with the clerk of the city and are not required
32to file with the local elections official of the county in which they
33are domiciled.
34(e) Elected members of the Board of Administration of the
35Public Employees’ Retirement System, elected members of the
36Teachers’
Retirement Board, candidates for these offices, their
37controlled committees, and committees formed or existing
38primarily to support or oppose these candidates or elected members
39shall file the original and one copy with the Secretary of State, and
40a copy shall be filed at the relevant board’s office in Sacramento.
P14 1These elected officers, candidates, and committees need not file
2with the elections official of the county in which they are
3domiciled.
4(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a
5committee, candidate, or elected officer is not required to file more
6than the original and one copy, or one copy, of a campaign
7statement with any one county elections official or city clerk or
8with the Secretary of State.
9(g) If a committee is required to file campaign statements
10required by Section 84200 or 84200.5 in places designated in
11subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, it
shall continue to file these
12statements in those places, in addition to any other places required
13by this title, until the end of the calendar year.
14(h) If a jurisdiction authorizes the use of filing by online or
15electronic means and a committee, candidate, or elected officer
16files the campaign statement by online or electronic means, then
17the committee, candidate, or elected officer shall not be required
18to file an original or copy of a campaign statement in paper format,
19unless otherwise required by statute or local ordinance.
Section 84220 of the Government Code is amended
22to read:
If a slate mailer organization receives a payment of two
24thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) or more for purposes of
25supporting or opposing any candidate or ballot measure in a slate
26mailer, and the payment is received at a time when, if the payment
27were a contribution it would be considered an election-cycle
28contribution, then the slate mailer organization shall report the
29payment in the manner set forth in Section 84203 for candidates
30and committees when reporting election-cycle contributions
31received. The slate mailer organization shall, in addition to
32reporting the information required by Section 84203, identify the
33candidates or measures whose support or opposition is being paid
34for, in whole or in part, by each election-cycle payment.
Section 84300 of the Government Code is amended
37to read:
(a) No contribution of one hundred dollars ($100) or
39more shall be made or received in cash.
P15 1A cash contribution shall not be deemed received if it is not
2negotiated or deposited and is returned to the contributor before
3the closing date of the campaign statement on which the
4contribution would otherwise be reported. If a cash contribution,
5other than an election-cycle contribution, as defined in Section
682022.5, is negotiated or deposited, it shall not be deemed received
7if it is refunded within 72 hours of receipt. In the case of an
8election-cycle contribution, as defined in Section 82022.5, it shall
9not be deemed received if it is returned to the contributor within
1048 hours of receipt.
11(b) No expenditure of one hundred dollars ($100) or more shall
12be made in cash.
13(c) No contribution of one hundred dollars ($100) or more other
14than an in-kind contribution shall be made unless in the form of a
15written instrument containing the name of the donor and the name
16of the payee and drawn from the account of the donor or the
17intermediary, as defined in Section 84302.
18(d) The value of all in-kind contributions of one hundred dollars
19($100) or more shall be reported in writing to the recipient upon
20the request in writing of the recipient.
Section 84602 of the Government Code is amended
23to read:
To implement the Legislature’s intent, the Secretary of
25State, in consultation with the Commission, notwithstanding any
26other provision of this code, shall do all of the following:
27(a) Develop online and electronic filing processes for use by
28persons and entities specified in Section 84605 that are required
29to file statements and reports with the Secretary of State’s office
30pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 84100) and
31Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 86100). Those processes
32shall each enable a user to comply with all the disclosure
33requirements of this title and shall include, at a minimum, the
34following:
35(1) A means or method whereby filers subject to this chapter
36may submit required filings free of charge.
Any means or method
37developed pursuant to this provision shall not provide any
38additional or enhanced functions or services that exceed the
39minimum requirements necessary to fulfill the disclosure provisions
P16 1of this title. At least one means or method shall be made available
2no later than December 31, 2002.
3(2) The definition of a nonproprietary standardized record format
4or formats using industry standards for the transmission of the data
5that is required of those persons and entities specifiedbegin insert inend insert Section
684605 and that conforms with the disclosure requirements of this
7title. The Secretary of State shall hold public hearings prior to
8development of the record format or formats as a means to ensure
9that affected entities have an opportunity to provide input into the
10development process. The format or formats shall be made public
11no later
than July 1, 1999, to ensure sufficient time to comply with
12this chapter.
13(b) Accept test files from software vendors and others wishing
14to file reports electronically, for the purpose of determining whether
15the file format is in compliance with the standardized record format
16developed pursuant to subdivision (a) and is compatible with the
17Secretary of State’s system for receiving the data. A list of the
18software and service providers who have submitted acceptable test
19files shall be published by the Secretary of State and made available
20to the public. Acceptably formatted files shall be submitted by a
21filer in order to meet the requirements of this chapter.
22(c) Develop a system that provides for the online or electronic
23transfer of the data specified in this section utilizing
24telecommunications technology thatbegin delete assuresend deletebegin insert
ensuresend insert the integrity
25of the data transmitted and that creates safeguards against efforts
26to tamper with or subvert the data.
27(d) Make all the data filed available on the Internet in an easily
28understood format that provides the greatest public access. The
29data shall be made available free of charge and as soon as possible
30after receipt. All election-cycle contribution and election-cycle
31independent expenditure reports, as defined by Sections 84203
32and 84204, respectively, shall be made available on the Internet
33within 24 hours of receipt. The data made available on the Internet
34shall not contain the street name and building number of the
35persons or entity representatives listed on the electronically filed
36forms or any bank account number required to be disclosed
37pursuant to this title.
38(e) Develop a procedure for filers to comply with the
39requirement that
they sign under penalty of perjury pursuant to
40Section 81004.
P17 1(f) Maintain all filed data online for 10 years after the date it is
2filed, and then archive the information in a secure format.
3(g) Provide assistance to those seeking public access to the
4information.
5(h) Implement sufficient technology to seek to prevent
6unauthorized alteration or manipulation of the data.
7(i) Provide the Commission with necessary information to enable
8it to assist agencies, public officials, and others with the compliance
9with and administration of this title.
10(j) Report to the Legislature on the implementation and
11development of the online and electronic filing and disclosure
12requirements of this chapter.
The report shall include an
13examination of system security, private security issues, software
14availability, compliance costs to filers, use of the filing system and
15software provided by the Secretary of State, and other issues
16relating to this chapter, and shall recommend appropriate changes
17if necessary. In preparing the report, the Commission may present
18to the Secretary of State and the Legislature its comments regarding
19this chapter as it relates to the duties of the Commission and
20suggest appropriate changes if necessary. There shall be one report
21due before the system is operational as set forth in Section 84603,
22one report due no later than June 1, 2002, and one report due no
23later than January 31, 2003.
24(k) Review the current filing and disclosure requirements of
25this chapter and report to the Legislature, no later than June 1,
262005, recommendations on revising these requirements so as to
27promote greater reliance on electronic and
online submissions.
Section 84605 of the Government Code is amended
30to read:
(a) The following persons shall file online or
32electronically with the Secretary of State:
33(1) Any candidate, including superior court, appellate court,
34and Supreme Court candidates and officeholders, committee, or
35other persons who are required, pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing
36with Section 84100), to file statements, reports, or other documents
37in connection with a state elective office or state measure, provided
38that the total cumulative reportable amount of contributions
39received, expenditures made, loans made, or loans received is
40twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or more. In determining
P18 1the cumulative reportable amount, all controlled committees, as
2defined by Section 82016, shall be included. For a committee
3subject to this title prior to January 1,
2000, the beginning date for
4calculating cumulative totals is January 1, 2000. For a committee
5that is first subject to this title on or after January 1, 2000, the
6beginning date for calculating cumulative totals is the date the
7committee is first subject to this title. A committee, as defined in
8subdivision (c) of Section 82013, shall file online or electronically
9if it makes contributions of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000)
10or more in a calendar year.
11(2) Any general purpose committees, as defined in Section
1282027.5, including the general purpose committees of political
13parties, and small contributor committees, as defined in Section
1485203, that cumulatively receive contributions or make
15expenditures totaling twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or
16more to support or oppose candidates for any elective state office
17or state measure. For a committee subject to this title prior to
18January 1, 2000, the beginning date for calculating
cumulative
19totals is January 1, 2000. For a committee that first is subject to
20this title on or after January 1, 2000, the beginning date for
21calculating cumulative totals is the date the committee is first
22subject to this title.
23(3) Any slate mailer organization with cumulative reportable
24payments received or made for the purposes of producing slate
25mailers of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or more. For a
26slate mailer organization subject to this title prior to January 1,
272000, the beginning date for calculating cumulative totals is
28January 1, 2000. For a slate mailer organization that first is subject
29to this title on or after January 1, 2000, the beginning date for
30calculating cumulative totals is the date the organization is first
31subject to this title.
32(4) Any lobbyist, lobbying firm, lobbyist employer, or other
33persons required, pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with
Section
3486100), to file statements, reports, or other documents, provided
35that the total amount of any category of reportable payments,
36expenses, contributions, gifts, or other items is two thousand five
37hundred dollars ($2,500) or more in a calendar quarter.
38(b) The Secretary of State shall also disclose on the Internet any
39election-cycle contribution or election-cycle independent
40expenditure report, as defined by Sections 84203 and 84204,
P19 1respectively, not covered by paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subdivision
2(a) or any other provision of law.
3(c) Committees and other persons that are not required to file
4online or electronically by this section may do so voluntarily.
5(d) Once a person or entity is required to file online or
6electronically, subject to subdivision (a) or (c), the person or entity
7shall be required to
file all subsequent reports online or
8electronically.
9(e) It shall be presumed that online or electronic filers file under
10penalty of perjury.
11(f) Persons filing online or electronically shall also continue to
12file required disclosure statements and reports in paper format.
13The paper copy shall continue to be the official filing for audit and
14other legal purposes until the Secretary of State, pursuant to Section
1584606, determines the system is operating securely and effectively.
16(g) The Secretary of State shall maintain at all times a secured,
17official version of all original online and electronically filed
18statements and reports required by this chapter. Upon determination
19by the Secretary of State, pursuant to Section 84606, that the
20system is operating securely and effectively, this online or
21electronic version
shall be the official version for audit and other
22legal purposes.
23(h) Except for statements related to a local elective office or a
24local ballot measure filed by a candidate for local elective office
25who is also a candidate for elective state office, a copy of a
26statement, report, or other document filed by online or electronic
27means with the Secretary of State shall not be filed with a local
28filing officer.
Section 84620 is added to the Government Code, to
31read:
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to develop a single,
33statewide electronic filing system that consolidates the filing of
34all state and local campaign statements and reports required by
35this title into one searchable database that provides for, but is not
36limited to, all of the following:
37(1) Electronic filing of committee organization statements.
38(2) Electronic filing of campaign statements by all state
39committees, without regard to the amounts of contributions and
40expenditures.
P20 1(3) Electronic filing of reports by all major donors at the state
2and local levels when specified thresholds are met.
3(4) A consolidated statewide network that includes a process to
4import into the statewide database state-required committee
5disclosures from each local jurisdiction that has its own electronic
6filing system.
7(5) A statewide, Internet Web-based database with expanded
8filing and public search capabilities that are data driven and
9user-friendly for all members of the public.
10(b) The Secretary of State shallbegin delete work toward development of end delete
11begin insert develop end insertthe electronic filing system described in subdivision (a)
12as follows:
13(1) Not later than December 31, 2014, the Secretary of State
14
shall develop a feasibility study report that will outline the
15technology requirements and the costs of the electronic filing
16system. The Secretary of State shall consult and coordinate with
17other state agencies that he or she deems appropriate, including,
18but not limited to, the Commission, with respect to data
19transitioning.
20(2) The Secretary of State shall develop a funding plan that
21includes a comprehensive and detailed project budget that will be
22accurate through the duration of the project and will include
23appropriate and reasonable contingencies.
24(3) The Secretary of State shall engage in fundraising pursuant
25to the plan developed pursuant to paragraph (2).
26(4) Not later than December 31, 2018, the Secretary of State
27shall complete work on the development, construction, and launch
28of the electronic filing
system described by this section.
Section 91013 of the Government Code is amended
31to read:
(a) If a person files an original statement or report after
33the applicable deadline imposed by this title, he or she shall, in
34addition to any other penalties or remedies established by this title,
35be liable in the amount of thirty dollars ($30) per day after the
36deadline until the statement or report is filed, to the officer with
37whom the statement or report is required to be filed. Liability need
38not be enforced by the filing officer if, on an impartial basis, he
39or she determines that the late filing was not willful and that
40enforcement of the liability will not further the purposes of this
P21 1title, except that no liability shall be waived if a statement or report
2is not filed within 30 days for a statement of economic interest,
3other than a candidate’s statement filed pursuant to Section
87201,
45 days for a campaign statement required to be filed 12 days before
5an election, and 10 days for all other statements or reports, after
6the filing officer has sent specific written notice of the filing
7requirement.
8(b) If a person files a copy of a statement or report after the
9applicable deadline imposed by this title, he or she shall, in addition
10to any other penalties or remedies established by this title, be liable
11in the amount of thirty dollars ($30) per day, starting 10 days, or
125 days in the case of a campaign statement required to be filed 12
13days before an election, after the filing officer has sent specific
14written notice of the filing requirement and until the statement or
15report is filed.
16(c) For purposes of this section, a campaign statement or report
17filed on behalf of a committee shall not be deemed filed if the
18treasurer does not have a current
certification pursuant to Section
1984100.
20(d) The filing officer shall deposit any funds received under this
21section into the general fund of the jurisdiction of which he or she
22is an officer. No liability under this section shall exceed 150 percent
23of the cumulative amount stated in the late statement or report, or
24one thousand dollars ($1,000), whichever is greater.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
27Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
28the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
29district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
30infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
31for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of
32the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within
33the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
34Constitution.
The Legislature finds and declares that this bill
37furthers the purposes of the Political Reform Act of 1974 within
P22 1the meaning of subdivision (a) of Section 81012 of the Government
2Code.
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