Political Reform Act of 1974: fundraising.

The Political Reform Act of 1974 provides for the comprehensive regulation of campaign financing, including restricting the circumstances under which a candidate for elective office or an elected officer may receive campaign contributions and proscribing the commingling of campaign funds and personal funds. This bill would prohibit the spouse or domestic partner of an elected officer or a candidate for elective office from receiving compensation from campaign funds held by a controlled committee of the officer or candidate for services rendered in connection with fundraising for the benefit of the officer or candidate. Existing law makes a willful violation of the Political Reform Act of 1974 a misdemeanor and subjects offenders to criminal penalties. This bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating additional crimes. 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 and compliance with specified procedural requirements. This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.