BILL NUMBER: SB 813	CHAPTERED  09/02/99

	CHAPTER   297
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 2, 1999
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   AUGUST 31, 1999
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 24, 1999
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 19, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   JUNE 2, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Murray

                        FEBRUARY 25, 1999

   An act to add Section 83116.3 to the Government Code, relating to
the Political Reform Act of 1974.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 813, Murray.  Fair Political Practices Commission:  decisions.
   Existing law authorizes the Fair Political Practices Commission
(commission), whenever it determines that there is probable cause for
believing the Political Reform Act of 1974 has been violated, to
hold a hearing to determine if the violation has occurred, and
authorizes the commission to take specified actions upon a
determination based on the hearing that a violation has occurred.
Existing law establishes the Administrative Procedures Act, and
requires that hearings of state agencies required to be held under
that act be conducted by administrative law judges.  Existing law
makes the Administrative Procedures Act applicable to enumerated
state agencies, including, among others, the commission.
   This bill would require that, whenever the commission rejects the
decision of an administrative law judge, it state the reasons in
writing for rejecting the decision.
   The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides
that the Legislature may amend the act to further the act's purposes
with a 2/3 vote of each house and compliance with specified
procedural requirements.
   This bill, which would declare that it furthers the purposes of
the act, would therefore require a 2/3 vote.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 83116.3 is added to the Government Code, to
read:
   83116.3.  Whenever the commission rejects the decision of an
administrative law judge made pursuant to Section 11517, the
commission shall state the reasons in writing for rejecting the
decision.
  SEC. 2.  The Legislature finds and declares that the provisions of
this act further the purposes of the Political Reform Act of 1974
within the meaning of subdivision (a) of Section 81012 of the
Government Code.