Political Reform Act of 1974: county central committees.

The Political Reform Act of 1974 requires elected officers, candidates for elective office, and committees to prepare and file various campaign finance reports, as specified. This bill would exempt an elected member of, or a candidate for election to, a county central committee of a qualified political party who receives contributions of less than $1,000 and who makes expenditures of less than $1,000 in a calendar year from the requirements to file specified campaign statements. The act imposes limitations on contributions by persons to candidates for elective state office and permits local jurisdictions to impose additional contribution limitations, as specified. The act also authorizes a local agency to impose additional filing requirements on a person, except as specified. This bill would prohibit a local government agency from imposing any filing requirements on an elected member of, or a candidate for election to, a county central committee of a qualified political party who receives contributions of less than $1,000 and who makes expenditures of less than $1,000 in a calendar year. The bill would also prohibit a local jurisdiction from imposing any contribution limitations or prohibitions on an elected member of, or a candidate for election to, a county central committee of a qualified political party, or on a committee primarily formed to support or oppose a person seeking election to a county central committee of a qualified political party. 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.