AB 571 — Political Reform Act of 1974: contribution limits.

Summary

The Political Reform Act of 1974 prohibits a person, other than a small contributor committee or political party committee, from making to a candidate for elective state office, for statewide elective office, or for the office of Governor, and prohibits those candidates from accepting from a person, a contribution totaling more than a specified amount per election. For a candidate for elective state office other than a candidate for statewide elective office, the limitation on contributions is $3,000 per election, as that amount is adjusted by the Fair Political Practices Commission in January of every odd-numbered year. Existing law authorizes a county, city, or district to limit campaign contributions in local elections. Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district or of a community college district to limit campaign expenditures or contributions in elections to district offices. The act specifies that it does not prevent the Legislature or any other state or local agency from imposing additional requirements on a person if the requirements do not prevent the person from complying with the act, and that the act does not nullify contribution limitations or prohibitions by any local jurisdiction that apply to elections for local elective office, as specified. This bill, commencing January 1, 2021, instead would prohibit a person from making to a candidate for elective county or city office, and would prohibit a candidate for elective county or city office from accepting from a person, a contribution totaling more than the amount set forth in the act for limitations on contributions to a candidate for elective state office. This bill would also authorize a county or city to impose a limitation that is different from the limitation imposed by this bill. This bill would make specified provisions of the act relating to contribution limitations applicable to a candidate for a elective county or city office, except as specified. The act makes a violation of its provisions punishable as a misdemeanor and subject to specified penalties. This bill would add the contribution limitation imposed by the bill to the act's provisions, thereby making a violation of the limitation punishable as a misdemeanor and subject to specified penalties. However, the bill would specify that a violation of a limitation imposed by a local government is not subject to the act's enforcement provisions. The bill would authorize a local government that imposes a limitation that is different from the limitation imposed by this bill to adopt enforcement standards for a violation of the limitation imposed by the local government agency, including administrative, civil, or criminal penalties. By expanding the scope of an existing crime with regard to a violation of a contribution limitation imposed by the bill, the 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 10/08/19 - Chaptered Current pdf October 08, 2019
• Enrolled 09/12/19 - Enrolled pdf September 12, 2019
• Amended 04/02/19 - Amended Assembly pdf April 02, 2019
• Amended 03/14/19 - Amended Assembly pdf March 14, 2019
• Introduced 02/14/19 - Introduced pdf February 14, 2019
• AB571 View text html

Action History

1. October 08, 2019

   Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 556, Statutes of 2019.

2. October 08, 2019

   Approved by the Governor.

3. September 17, 2019

   Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.

4. September 09, 2019

   In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.

5. September 09, 2019

   Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 32. Noes 8. Page 2695.).

6. August 30, 2019

   Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

7. August 30, 2019

   From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 30).

8. August 12, 2019

   In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

9. July 02, 2019

   From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

10. June 12, 2019

    Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

11. May 30, 2019

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

12. May 29, 2019

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 65. Noes 13. Page 2116.)

13. May 20, 2019

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

14. May 16, 2019

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 5.) (May 16).

15. May 16, 2019

    Coauthors revised.

16. April 24, 2019

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

17. April 10, 2019

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 1.) (April 10). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

18. April 03, 2019

    Re-referred to Com. on E. & R.

19. April 02, 2019

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

20. March 18, 2019

    Re-referred to Com. on E. & R.

21. March 14, 2019

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

22. March 14, 2019

    Referred to Com. on E. & R.

23. February 15, 2019

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 17.

24. February 14, 2019

    Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

• Mullin · Primary
• Cottie Petrie-Norris · Cosponsor

Votes

Subjects