Political Reform Act of 1974: communications.

The Political Reform Act of 1974, among other things, requires the disclosure of certain payments of or promises to pay $50,000 or more for a communication that clearly identifies a candidate for elective state office, but does not expressly advocate the election or defeat of the candidate, and that is disseminated, broadcast, or otherwise published within 45 days of an election, as specified. The Act also requires disclosure by any person who receives or is promised a payment totaling $5,000 or more for the purpose of making such a communication, unless the person who receives the payment is in the business of providing goods or services and receives or is promised the payment for the purpose of providing those goods or services. This bill would also require the disclosure of any payment of or promise to pay $25,000 or more for a communication that clearly identifies an elected state officer, and educates the public about the previous votes cast by the elected state officer or about the source of campaign donations received by the elected state officer, and that is disseminated, broadcast, or otherwise published within 150 days of an election, as specified. The bill also would require disclosure by any person who receives or is promised a payment totaling $5,000 or more for the purpose of making such a communication, unless the person who receives the payment is in the business of providing goods or services and receives or is promised the payment for the purpose of providing those goods or services. 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. 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.