Political Reform Act of 1974: advertisement disclosures.

The Political Reform Act of 1974 requires a committee that makes an expenditure of $5,000 or more to an individual for his or her appearance in an advertisement to support or oppose the qualification, passage, or defeat of a ballot measure to file a report, as specified, and to include in the advertisement a statement regarding payment of the individual by the committee or its donors. This bill would impose additional requirements on a committee that makes an expenditure of any amount to an individual for his or her appearance in an advertisement that supports or opposes the qualification, passage, or defeat of a ballot measure and that states or suggests that the individual is a member of an occupation that requires licensure, certification, or other specialized, documented training as a prerequisite to engage in that occupation. The bill would also require the committee to file a report that identifies, among other things, the individual's occupation. The bill would require the committee to include a specified disclosure statement in the advertisement indicating that the individuals are compensated spokespersons and not necessarily employed in the occupations portrayed, except as specified. A violation of the act's provisions is punishable as a misdemeanor. 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 and compliance with specified procedural requirements. This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.