Political Reform Act of 1974: campaign funds.

Under existing law, campaign funds may not be used to pay health-related expenses for a candidate, elected officer, or any individual or individuals with authority to approve the expenditure of campaign funds held by a committee, or members of their households. This bill would create an exception to that general rule and expressly permit campaign funds to be used to pay a candidate for reasonable and necessary mental health care expenses if the candidate does not have health insurance or their insurance does not cover the full cost of these mental health care expenses, as specified. This bill would limit use of campaign funds for these purposes to circumstances in which the candidate has experienced prejudice, harassment, or a threat or other criminal act, as defined, which resulted in the need for mental health care services. This bill would also require the candidate to disclose general information about this use of campaign funds on their campaign statements. Existing law makes a knowing or willful violation of the Political Reform Act of 1974 a misdemeanor and subjects offenders to criminal penalties. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 89513 of the Government Code proposed by AB 2803 to be operative only if this bill and AB 2803 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. 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.