Political Reform Act of 1974: local campaign reform: County of San Bernardino.

The Political Reform Act of 1974 establishes the Fair Political Practices Commission, which has the primary responsibility for the impartial, effective administration and implementation of the act, including acting as the civil prosecutor responsible for the enforcement of the penalty provisions of the act. This bill would, upon mutual agreement between the Fair Political Practices Commission and the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Bernardino, authorize the Commission to have primary responsibility for the impartial, effective administration, implementation, and enforcement of a local campaign finance reform ordinance of the County of San Bernardino. The bill would authorize the Commission to investigate possible violations of the local county campaign finance reform ordinance and bring administrative actions against persons who violate the ordinance, as specified. The bill would require the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Bernardino to consult with the Commission prior to adopting and amending any local campaign finance reform ordinance that is subsequently enforced by the Commission. The bill would specify that the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Bernardino and the Commission may enter into any agreements necessary and appropriate for the operation of these provisions, including agreements for reimbursement of state costs with county funds, as specified. The bill would provide that the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Bernardino or the Commission may, at any time, by ordinance or resolution, terminate any agreement for the Commission to administer, implement, or enforce the local campaign finance reform ordinance or any provision thereof. The bill would require the Commission to report to the Legislature with specified information on or before January 1, 2017, if the Commission enters into an agreement with the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Bernardino. This bill would repeal its provisions on January 1, 2018, as specified. The bill would make legislative findings and declarations concerning the need for special legislation. 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.