AB 1170 — Political Reform Act of 1974: filing requirements.

Summary

The Political Reform Act of 1974 generally requires elected officials, candidates for elective offices, and committees formed primarily to support or oppose a candidate for public office or a ballot measure, along with other persons and entities, to file periodic campaign statements and certain reports concerning campaign finances and related matters. Existing law permits a report or statement that has been on file for at least two years to be retained by a filing officer as a copy on microfilm or other space-saving materials and, after the Secretary of State certifies an online filing and disclosure system, as an electronic copy. This bill would permit a filing officer to retain a report or statement filed in a paper format as a copy on microfilm or other space-saving materials or as an electronic copy, as specified, without a two-year waiting period. The bill would also permit a filing officer to retain a report or statement as an electronic copy before the Secretary of State certifies an online filing and disclosure system. Once the Secretary of State certifies an online filing and disclosure system, this bill would permit a filing officer to retain a report or statement filed in a paper format as an electronic copy, as specified, without a two-year waiting period. The Political Reform Act of 1974 regulates conflicts of interests of public officials and requires that public officials file, with specified filing officers, periodic statements of economic interests disclosing certain information regarding income, investments, and other financial data. The Fair Political Practices Commission is the filing officer for statewide elected officers and candidates and other specified public officials. If the Commission is the filing officer, the public official generally files with their agency or another person or entity, who then makes a copy and files the original with the Commission. This bill would revise and recast these filing requirements to make various changes, including requiring public officials and candidates for whom the Commission is the filing officer to file their original statements of economic interests electronically with the Commission. The bill would also make conforming changes to other provisions of law. The bill would require the Commission to redact the signature, personal address, and telephone number of a filer, and related information about a filer's business, tenant, or family member, as specified. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. Existing law makes a knowing or willful violation of the Political Reform Act of 1974 a misdemeanor and subjects offenders to criminal penalties. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. 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 23 vote of each house of the Legislature and compliance with specified procedural requirements. This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.

Bill Text

• Chaptered 09/06/24 - Chaptered Current pdf September 06, 2024
• Enrolled 08/21/24 - Enrolled pdf August 21, 2024
• Amended 06/17/24 - Amended Senate pdf June 17, 2024
• Amended 06/05/24 - Amended Senate pdf June 05, 2024
• Amended 05/28/24 - Amended Senate pdf May 28, 2024
• Amended 03/23/23 - Amended Assembly pdf March 23, 2023
• Introduced 02/16/23 - Introduced pdf February 16, 2023
• AB1170 View text html

Action History

1. September 06, 2024

   Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 211, Statutes of 2024.

2. September 06, 2024

   Approved by the Governor.

3. August 26, 2024

   Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.

4. August 19, 2024

   Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 6360.).

5. August 12, 2024

   In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after August 14 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.

6. August 12, 2024

   Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 5042.).

7. August 06, 2024

   Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

8. August 05, 2024

   From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.

9. June 26, 2024

   From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

10. June 17, 2024

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.

11. June 05, 2024

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

12. June 04, 2024

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 4).

13. May 28, 2024

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

14. May 01, 2024

    Referred to Coms. on E. & C.A. and JUD.

15. January 29, 2024

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

16. January 29, 2024

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 3947.)

17. January 22, 2024

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

18. January 18, 2024

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (January 18).

19. January 10, 2024

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (January 10). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

20. April 11, 2023

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

21. March 27, 2023

    Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

22. March 23, 2023

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ELECTIONS. Read second time and amended.

23. March 23, 2023

    Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

24. February 17, 2023

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 19.

25. February 16, 2023

    Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

• Avelino Valencia · Primary

Votes

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