BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 1509|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 1509
Author: Hayashi (D)
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 27
SENATE ELECTIONS & CONST. AMEND. COMMITTEE : 5-0, 6/19/12
AYES: Correa, La Malfa, Gaines, Lieu, Yee
SENATE GOVERNANCE & FINANCE COMMITTEE : 9-0, 6/28/12
AYES: Wolk, Dutton, DeSaulnier, Fuller, Hernandez, Kehoe,
La Malfa, Liu, Yee
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 75-0, 5/17/12 (Consent) - See last page
for vote
SUBJECT : Political Reform Act of 1974: statement of
economic interest
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill amends the Political Reform Act (PRA)
to require the Internet posting of local elected officials
required to file statement of economic interest (SEIs).
Specifically, this bill requires each city and county clerk
who maintains a Web site to post the following information:
(1) a list of the elected officials required to file their
SEIs with that clerk, (2) a statement that a copy of the
SEI for specific filers may be obtained by visiting the
Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) office or the
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clerk's office, and (3) a link to the FPPC's Web site and a
statement that certain SEIs for state and local government
agency officers may be available in electronic format on
the that website.
ANALYSIS : Under the PRA, certain elected and other
high-level state and local officials, and candidates for
those positions, must file SEIs to disclose their
investments, real property interests, and income. Other
state and local public officials and employees are required
to file SEIs if they hold positions that entail
participation in making governmental decisions that may
have a material financial effect on the decision maker's
financial interests.
In 1974, the voters passed Proposition 9, commonly known as
the PRA, in which created the FPPC and codified significant
restrictions and prohibitions on candidates, officeholders
and lobbyists. Amendments to the PRA that are not
submitted to the voters, such as those contained in this
bill, must further the purposes of the initiative and
require a two-thirds vote of both houses of the
Legislature.
Related Legislation
AB 2062 (Davis, 2012) allows any local agency to permit the
filing of SEIs electronically, subject to approval by the
FPPC.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, costs
for city and county clerks to comply with the bill's
requirements will be state reimbursable, but should be so
minor that local entities are unlikely to seek
reimbursement.
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/6/12)
Fair Political Practices Commission
League of Women Voters
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ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office,
this bill increases public awareness and access to local
elected officials' Statement of Economic Interests (Form
700). The Political Reform Act requires public officials
to disclose assets, income and gifts which may be
materially affected by their official actions. It can be
difficult for interested parties to review or obtain a copy
of a local elected official's Form 700. In an effort to
increase public awareness and access to Form 700s, this
bill requires certain notifications to be posted on the
websites of city or county clerks. Specifically, the
notification includes: (1) a list of the elected officials
who are required to file Form 700s with the city clerk or
county clerk; (2) a statement that copies of Form 700s can
be obtained by visiting the offices of the FPPC or the city
or county clerk, as specified; (3) the physical address for
the FPPC offices; and (4) a link to the FPPC's website and
a statement declaring that certain Form 700s may be
available in electronic format.
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 75-0, 5/17/12
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Beall,
Bill Berryhill, Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford,
Brownley, Buchanan, Butler, Charles Calderon, Campos,
Carter, Cedillo, Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Davis, Dickinson,
Donnelly, Eng, Feuer, Fong, Fuentes, Furutani, Beth
Gaines, Galgiani, Garrick, Gatto, Gordon, Gorell, Grove,
Hagman, Halderman, Hall, Harkey, Hayashi, Roger
Hern�ndez, Hill, Huber, Hueso, Huffman, Jeffries, Jones,
Knight, Lara, Logue, Ma, Mansoor, Mendoza, Miller,
Mitchell, Monning, Morrell, Nestande, Nielsen, Norby,
Olsen, Pan, V. Manuel P�rez, Portantino, Silva, Smyth,
Solorio, Swanson, Torres, Valadao, Wagner, Wieckowski,
Williams, John A. P�rez
NO VOTE RECORDED: Fletcher, Bonnie Lowenthal, Perea,
Skinner, Yamada
DLW:d 8/17/12 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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