BILL NUMBER: SB 310	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Anderson

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2015

   An act to amend Section 81001 of the Government Code, relating to
the Political Reform Act of 1974.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 310, as introduced, Anderson. The Political Reform Act of 1974.

   Existing law, the Political Reform Act of 1974, provides for the
comprehensive regulation of campaign financing. Existing law sets
forth findings and declarations supporting the necessity of campaign
finance regulation.
   This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to that
provision.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 81001 of the Government Code is amended to
read:
   81001.  The people find and declare as follows:
   (a) State and local government should serve the needs and respond
to the wishes of all citizens equally, without regard to their
wealth;
   (b) Public officials, whether elected or appointed, should perform
their duties  in an impartial manner  
impartially  , free from bias caused by their own financial
interests or the financial interests of persons who have supported
them;
   (c) Costs of conducting election campaigns have increased greatly
in recent years, and candidates have been forced to finance their
campaigns by seeking large contributions from lobbyists and
organizations who thereby gain disproportionate influence over
governmental decisions;
   (d) The influence of large campaign contributors is increased
because existing laws for disclosure of campaign receipts and
expenditures have proved to be inadequate;
   (e) Lobbyists often make their contributions to incumbents who
cannot be effectively challenged because of election laws and abusive
practices which give the incumbent an unfair advantage;
   (f) The wealthy individuals and organizations which make large
campaign contributions frequently extend their influence by employing
lobbyists and spending large amounts to influence legislative and
administrative actions;
   (g) The influence of large campaign contributors in ballot measure
elections is increased because the ballot pamphlet mailed to the
voters by the state is difficult to read and almost impossible for a
layman to understand; and
   (h) Previous laws regulating political practices have suffered
from inadequate enforcement by state and local authorities.