Political Reform Act of 1974: preelection statements.

The Political Reform Act of 1974 imposes various requirements on elected officers, candidates for elective office, and committees. Among these requirements, the act requires certain persons and committees to file preelection statements disclosing the contributions and expenditures made in connection with specified elections at specified times before the election. This bill would require an additional preelection statement to be filed no later than 70 days before the election, for the period ending 75 days before the election. By expanding the scope of existing crimes with respect to reporting requirements under the Political Reform Act of 1974, the 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.