BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 831
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Date of Hearing: August 13, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
SB 831 (Hill) - As Amended: August 7, 2014
Policy Committee: ElectionsVote:6-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill amends the Political Reform Act (PRA) by enacting
additional restrictions on the use behested payments and
campaign funds. Specifically, this bill:
1)Prohibits an elected officer from requesting a payment, and
prohibits a person from making a payment at the behest of the
elected officer, to a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that
the elected officer knows or has reason to know that the
officer or their spouse, child, sibling, or parent is a
director, officer, partner, trustee, or a paid manager of the
nonprofit.
2)Prohibits, as being unrelated to a political, legislative or
governmental purpose, an expenditure of campaign funds by an
elected officer or committee controlled by an elected officer
to a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that the elected officer
knows or has reason to know that the officer or their spouse,
child, sibling, or parent is a director, officer, partner,
trustee, or a paid manager of the nonprofit.
3)Requires a public official, on their Statement of Economic
Interest, to report the travel destination of a gift of travel
payment, advance, or reimbursement.
4)Requires a nonprofit organization that makes payments,
advances, or reimbursements to public officials totaling more
than $10,000 in a calendar year or more than $5,000 in a
calendar year to a single person, related to travel of a state
or local elected officeholder for a legislative or
governmental purpose, to disclose the names of those who
donated $1,000 or more to the nonprofit and who knew or had
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reason to know their donations would be used for such purpose.
5)Prohibits the expenditure of campaign funds for:
a) Payments made for a personal vacation for a candidate,
elected officer, immediate family member of the candidate
or elected officer, or an officer, director, employee, or
staff member of a candidate, elected officer, or campaign
committee.
b) Membership dues for a country club, health club, or
other recreational facility.
c) Tuition payments, unless directly related to a
political, legislative, or governmental purpose.
d) Purchasing any clothing to be worn by a candidate or
elected officer.
e) For gifts to a spouse, child, sibling, or parent of the
candidate or elected officer or other official with
authority to approve the expenditure of campaign funds held
by a committee, except for a gift of nominal value similar
to a gift made to other persons and directly related to a
political, legislative, or governmental purpose.
f) The use of a vehicle, unless directly related to an
election campaign.
g) A utility bill for real property that is owned or leased
by a candidate, elected officer, campaign treasurer, or any
individual with authority to approve the expenditure of
campaign funds, or a member of his or her immediate family.
FISCAL EFFECT
Annual General Fund costs of about $175,000 to the FPPC for one
political reform consultant and an attorney one-half time to
update regulations and manuals, respond to an increase in
requests for advice, and to address any related litigation.
COMMENTS
Purpose . According to the author, "SB 831 modernizes
California's Political Reform Act by increasing transparency of
travel related gifts and prohibiting certain types of campaign
expenditures."
Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
SB 831
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