Amended in Senate April 18, 2016

Amended in Senate March 28, 2016

Senate Bill No. 1349

Introduced by Senator Hertzberg

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(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Mullin)

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(Coauthors: Senators Allen and Bates)

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(Coauthors: Assembly Members Brough, Dodd, and Olsen)

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February 19, 2016

An act to amend Sections 84601 and 84602 of the Government Code, relating to the Political Reform Act of 1974.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 1349, as amended, Hertzberg. Political Reform Act of 1974: Secretary of State: online filing begin insert and disclosure end insert system.

The Political Reform Act of 1974 generally requires elected officials, candidates for elective office, and committees formed primarily to support or oppose a candidate for public office or a ballot measure, along with other entities, to file periodic campaign statements. The act requires that these campaign statements contain prescribed information related to campaign contributions and expenditures of the filing entities. Existing law, the Online Disclosure Act, requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Fair Political Practices Commission, to develop online and electronic filing processes for use by these persons and entities.

This bill, in addition, would require the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Commission, to develop and certify for public use an online filing begin insert and disclosure end insert system for campaign statements and reports that provides public disclosure of campaign finance and lobbying information in a user-friendly, easily understandable format.

The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides that the Legislature may amend the act to further the act’s purposes upon a 2⁄3 vote of each house and compliance with specified procedural requirements.

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

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

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

SECTION 1.  

Section 84601 of the Government Code is
amended to read:

84601.  

The Legislature finds and declares as follows:

(a) The people of California enacted one of the nation’s most
comprehensive campaign and lobbying financial disclosure laws
when they voted for Proposition 9, the Political Reform Act of
1974, an initiative statute.

(b) Public access to campaign and lobbying disclosure
information is a vital and integral component of a fully informed
electorate.

(c) Advances in technology have made it necessary for the State
of California to develop a new, data-driven online filing begin insert and
disclosure end insert system that provides public disclosure of campaign
finance and lobbying information in a user-friendly, easily
understandable format.

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(d) Members of the public, including voters, journalists, and
researchers, should be able to access campaign finance and
lobbying information in a robust and flexible manner, including
through searches and visual displays such as graphs and maps.

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SEC. 2.  

Section 84602 of the Government Code is amended
to read:

84602.  

(a) To implement the Legislature’s intent, the Secretary
of State, in consultation with the Commission, notwithstanding
any other provision of this code, shall do all of the following:

(1) Develop online and electronic filing processes for use by
persons and entities specified in Section 84605 that are required
to file statements and reports with the Secretary of State’s office
pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 84100) and
Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 86100). Those processes
shall each enable a user to comply with all the disclosure
requirements of this title and shall include, at a minimum, begin insert both of end insert
the following:

(A) A means or method whereby filers subject to this chapter
may submit required filings free of charge. Any means or method
developed pursuant to this begin delete provision end delete begin insert subparagraph end insert shall not
provide any additional or enhanced functions or services that
exceed the minimum requirements necessary to fulfill the
disclosure provisions of this title. At least one means or method
shall be made available no later than December 31, 2002.

(B) The definition of a nonproprietary standardized record
format or formats using industry standards for the transmission of
the data that is required of those persons and entities specified
Section 84605 and that conforms with the disclosure requirements
of this title. The Secretary of State shall hold public hearings before
development of the record format or formats as a means to ensure
that affected entities have an opportunity to provide input into the
development process. The format or formats shall be made public
no later than July 1, 1999, to ensure sufficient time to comply with
this chapter.

(2) Accept test files from software vendors and others wishing
to file reports electronically, for the purpose of determining whether
the file format is in compliance with the standardized record format
developed pursuant to begin delete subdivision (a) end delete begin insert paragraph (1) end insert and is
compatible with the Secretary of State’s system for receiving the
data. A list of the software and service providers who have
submitted acceptable test files shall be published by the Secretary
of State and made available to the public. Acceptably formatted
files shall be submitted by a filer in order to meet the requirements
of this chapter.

(3) Develop a system that provides for the online or electronic
transfer of the data specified in this section using
telecommunications technology that assures the integrity of the
data transmitted and that creates safeguards against efforts to
tamper with or subvert the data.

(4) Make all the data filed available on the Internet in an easily
understood format that provides the greatest public access. The
data shall be made available free of charge and as soon as possible
after receipt. All late contribution and late independent expenditure
reports, as defined by Sections 84203 and 84204, respectively,
shall be made available on the Internet within 24 hours of receipt.
The data made available on the Internet shall not contain the street
name and building number of the persons or entity representatives
listed on the electronically filed forms or any bank account number
required to be disclosed pursuant to this title.

(5) Develop a procedure for filers to comply with the
requirement that they sign under penalty of perjury pursuant to
Section 81004.

(6) Maintain all filed data online for 10 years after the date it is
filed, and then archive the information in a secure format.

(7) Provide assistance to those seeking public access to the
information.

(8) Implement sufficient technology to seek to prevent
unauthorized alteration or manipulation of the data.

(9) Provide the Commission with necessary information to
enable it to assist agencies, public officials, and others with the
compliance begin delete with end delete begin insert with, end insert and administration begin delete of end delete begin insert of, end insert this title.

(10) Report to the Legislature on the implementation and
development of the online and electronic filing and disclosure
requirements of this chapter. The report shall include an
examination of system security, private security issues, software
availability, compliance costs to filers, use of the filing system and
software provided by the Secretary of State, and other issues
relating to this chapter, and shall recommend appropriate changes
if necessary. In preparing the report, the Commission may present
to the Secretary of State and the Legislature its comments regarding
this chapter as it relates to the duties of the Commission and
suggest appropriate changes if necessary. There shall be one report
due before the system is operational as set forth in Section 84603,
one report due no later than June 1, 2002, and one report due no
later than January 31, 2003.

(11) Review the current filing and disclosure requirements of
this chapter and report to the Legislature, no later than June 1,
2005, recommendations on revising these requirements so as to
promote greater reliance on electronic and online submissions.

(b) (1) To implement the Legislature’s intent, as described in
Section 84601, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the
Commission, shall develop an online filing begin insert and disclosure end insert system
for use by persons and entities specified in Section 84605 that are
required to file statements and reports with the Secretary of State’s
office pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 84100)
and Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 86100). The system shall
enable a user to comply with all of the disclosure requirements of
this title and shall include, at minimum, all of the following:

(A) A data-driven means or method that allows filers subject
to this chapter to submit required filings free of charge begin insert in a manner
that facilitates public searches of the data end insert and does all of the
following:

(i) Enables a filer to comply with all of the disclosure
requirements of this title, including by entering or uploading
requisite data or by indicating that the filer had no reportable
activity during a particular reporting period.

(ii) Retains previously submitted data so that a filer can access
that data to amend disclosures or prepare future disclosures.

(iii) Ensures the security of data entered and stored in the system.

(iv) To the extent feasible, is compatible with potential future
capability to accept statements from filers specified in subdivisions
(b) to (e), inclusive, of Section 84215. begin delete No later than December 31,
2017, the Secretary of State shall provide a report to the Assembly
Committee on Elections and Redistricting and the Senate
Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments that
includes a plan for accepting these filings. end delete

(B) The definition of a nonproprietary standardized record
format or formats using industry standards for the transmission of
the data that is required of those persons and entities specified in
Section 84605 and that conforms with the disclosure requirements
of this title.

(2) The Secretary of State shall do all of the following with
respect to the online filing begin insert and disclosure end insert system developed
pursuant to this subdivision:

(A) Accept test files from software vendors and others wishing
to file reports electronically for the purpose of determining whether
the file format is in compliance with the standardized record format
developed pursuant to this subdivision and is compatible with the
Secretary of State’s system for receiving the data. The Secretary
of State shall publish and make available to the public a list of the
software and service providers who have submitted acceptable test
files. A filer shall submit acceptably formatted files in order to
meet the requirements of this chapter.

(B) Make the data filed available on the Internet as follows:

(i) In a user-friendly, easily understandable format that provides
the greatest public access, including online searches and
machine-readable begin delete downloads. end delete begin insert downloads of all data contained in
the system, except as specified in clause (iii). end insert

(ii) Free of charge and as soon as possible after receipt, or, in
the case of late begin delete contribution end delete begin insert contribution, late in-kind contribution, end insert
and late independent expenditure reports, as defined by Sections
begin delete 84203 end delete begin insert 84203, 84203.3, end insert and 84204, respectively, within 24 hours
of receipt.

(iii) Not containing the street name or building number of the
persons or entity representatives listed on the electronically filed
forms or any bank account number required to be disclosed
pursuant to this title.

(iv) In a manner that allows the public to track and aggregate
contributions from the same contributor across filers using a
permanent unique identifier assigned by the Secretary of State for
this begin delete purpose end delete begin insert purpose. The Secretary of State shall assign this
identifier end insert to, at minimum, each contributor who makes
contributions totaling ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more in a
calendar year to, or at the behest of, candidates or committees that
file electronically with the Secretary of State pursuant to
subdivision (a) of Section begin delete 84215. end delete begin insert 84215 or who is registered with
the Secretary of State as a major donor committee under
subdivision (c) of Section 82013. end insert

(C) Develop a procedure for filers to comply electronically with
the requirement to sign under penalty of perjury pursuant to Section
81004. The electronic signature procedure shall allow the filer to
file with the Secretary of State and shall not require an original
signature to be filed.

(D) Maintain all filed data online for at least 10 years after the
date it is filed, and then archive the information in a secure format.

(E) Provide assistance to those seeking public access to the
information.

(F) Implement sufficient technology to seek to prevent
unauthorized alteration or manipulation of the data.

(G) Provide the Commission with necessary information to
enable it to assist agencies, public officials, and others in complying
with and administering this title.

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(3) The Secretary of State shall do all of the following with
respect to developing the online filing and disclosure system and
record format pursuant to this subdivision:

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(A) Consult with the Assembly Committee on Elections and
Redistricting, the Senate Committee on Elections and
Constitutional Amendments, the Commission, users, filers, and
other stakeholders, as appropriate, about functions of the online
filing and disclosure system.

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(3)

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begin insert (B) end insert  In consultation with the Commission, begin delete the Secretary of State
shall, end delete begin insert and end insert no later than July 31, 2017, hold at least one public
hearing to receive input begin delete on development of end delete begin insert about developing end insert the
online filing begin insert and disclosure end insert system and record begin delete format pursuant to
paragraph (1). end delete begin insert format. end insert

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(C) No later than December 31, 2017, submit a report to the
Assembly Committee on Elections and Redistricting and the Senate
Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments that
includes a plan for the online filing and disclosure system,
describes how members of the public will be able to query and
retrieve data from the system, and includes a plan for integrating
statements as specified in clause (iv) of subparagraph (A) of
paragraph (1).

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(4) The Secretary of State shall make the online filing begin insert and
disclosure end insert system developed pursuant to this subdivision available
for use no later than February 1, 2019. The Secretary of State may
extend this date to a date no later than December 31, begin delete 2019 end delete begin insert 2019, end insert
after consulting with the Assembly Committee on Elections and
Redistricting and the Senate Committee on Elections and
Constitutional Amendments and providing to those committees a
report that explains the need for the extension and includes a plan
for completion.

(5) The Secretary of State may accept any funds, services,
equipment or grants to further this begin delete subdivision. end delete begin insert subdivision,
provided that the Secretary of State shall notify the Assembly
Committee on Elections and Redistricting and the Senate
Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments upon
accepting any amount valued at one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000) or more. end insert

(6) Because the provisions of this chapter need to be
implemented as expeditiously as possible, the information
technology procurement requirements described in Chapter 5.6
(commencing with Section 11545) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title
2, and in Section 12100 of the Public Contract Code, do not apply
to development of the online filing begin insert and disclosure end insert system pursuant
to this subdivision. begin insert The Secretary of State shall consult with the
Department of Technology, as appropriate, in developing the
online filing and disclosure system. end insert

(7) (A) Before making the system developed pursuant to this
subdivision available for public use, the Secretary of begin delete State end delete begin insert State,
in consultation with the Commission, end insert shall test the system to ensure
its functionality and then certify that the system begin delete accurately tracks
and aggregates contributions from the same contributor across
filers. end delete begin insert meets all the requirements of this subdivision. end insert The Secretary
of State may consult with the Department of Technology as needed
to fulfill his or her duties under this paragraph.

(B) After the system developed pursuant to this subdivision is
certified, the system described in subdivision (a) shall no longer

begin delete be used. end delete begin insert accept reports and filings, unless otherwise directed by
the Secretary of State and the Commission. The system described
in subdivision (a) shall continue to allow public access to past
disclosures unless the Secretary of State migrates that data into
the system described in this subdivision. end insert

SEC. 3.  

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