Elections: ballot measure contributions.

Existing law requires each campaign committee formed or existing primarily to support or oppose a statewide ballot measure to file with the Secretary of State periodic reports identifying the sources and amounts of contributions received during specified periods. Existing law, including the Political Reform Act of 1974, also specifies information required to be included in the state ballot pamphlet for each statewide ballot measure to be voted upon. This bill would require the Secretary of State to create an Internet Web site, or use other available technology, to consolidate information about each ballot measure in a manner that is easy for voters to access and understand. The Internet Web site would be required to include a summary of each ballot measure, the total amount of reported contributions made to support or oppose a ballot measure, and a list of a committee's top 10 contributors, as specified. The bill would require the state ballot pamphlet to include for each ballot measure a printed statement that refers voters to the Secretary of State's Internet Web site for a list of committees primarily formed to support or oppose a ballot measure, and information on how to access the committee's top 10 contributors. This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 9082.7 of the Elections Code proposed by SB 1253, that would become operative only if SB 1253 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2015, and this bill is chaptered last. The bill would, contingent upon the enactment of SB 1442, incorporate additional changes. The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, generally 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. The act also provides that, notwithstanding this requirement, the Legislature may add to the ballot pamphlet information regarding candidates or other information. This bill, which would permit or require additional information to be included in the ballot pamphlet, would therefore require a majority vote.