Political Reform Act of 1974: mass mailing prohibition.

The Political Reform Act of 1974 prohibits sending mass mailings at public expense. The act defines "mass mailing" as over 200 substantially similar pieces of mail not including form letters or other mail that is sent in response to an unsolicited request, letter, or other inquiry. An existing regulation adopted by the Fair Political Practices Commission prescribes criteria for mass mailings that are prohibited by the act and for mass mailings that are permissible under the act. This bill would codify this regulation. The bill would additionally prohibit a mass mailing from being sent within the 60 days preceding an election by or on behalf of a candidate whose name will appear on the ballot, except as specified. A willful 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 of the Legislature and compliance with specified procedural requirements. This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.