Bill Text: CA AB2079 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Political Reform Act of 1974: contribution prohibitions.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-16 - In committee: Hearing postponed by committee. [AB2079 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB2079-Introduced.html

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2079

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Introduced by Assembly Member Kiley

February 05, 2020

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An act to add Section 85322 to the Government Code, relating to the Political Reform Act of 1974.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2079, as introduced, Kiley. Political Reform Act of 1974: contribution prohibitions.

The Political Reform Act of 1974 imposes various limitations on contributions that may be made to, or accepted by, candidates for elective office. The act generally prohibits a person from making a contribution totaling more than $3,000 to a candidate for elective state office, and a candidate for elective state office from accepting a contribution totaling more than $3,000, except as specified. A violation of the act’s provisions is punishable as a misdemeanor and subject to specified penalties.

This bill would prohibit an investor-owned utility from making a contribution to a candidate for elective state office. The bill would also prohibit a candidate for elective state office from accepting a contribution from an investor-owned utility. By expanding the scope of existing crimes with regard to contribution limitations, 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 ²/₃ 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.

Digest Key

Vote: 2/3   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 85322 is added to the Government Code, to read:

85322.

 (a) Notwithstanding any other law, an investor-owned utility shall not make a contribution to a candidate for elective state office.

(b) A candidate for elective state office shall not accept a contribution from an investor-owned utility.

SEC. 2.

 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.

SEC. 3.

 The Legislature finds and declares that this bill furthers the purposes of the Political Reform Act of 1974 within the meaning of subdivision (a) of Section 81012 of the Government Code.