AB 2911: Campaign contributions: agency officers.

Session Year: 2023-2024
House: Assembly

Current Status:

Failed

(2024-07-02: In committee: Set, first hearing. Held without recommendation.)

Introduced

First Committee Review

First Chamber

Second Committee Review

Second Chamber

Enacted

Version:

The Political Reform Act of 1974 prohibits an officer of an agency from accepting, soliciting, or directing a contribution of more than $250 from any party, participant, or a party or participants agent, while a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use is pending before the agency and for 12 months following the date a final decision is rendered in the proceeding, if the officer knows or has reason to know that the participant has a financial interest, as defined. Existing law permits an officer who violates this prohibition to cure the violation by returning the contribution, or portion of the contribution in excess of $250, within 14 days of accepting, soliciting, or directing the contribution, as specified. Existing law also prohibits a party or partys agent from making a contribution of more than $250 to any officer of an agency while a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use is pending before the agency and for 12 months following the date a final decision is rendered by the agency in that proceeding.

This bill would shorten the prohibition on contributions from 12 to 3 months following the date a final decision is rendered in the proceeding. The bill would revise the definition of agency for the purposes of these prohibitions to exclude a local governmental agency whose members are directly elected by the voters. The bill would additionally eliminate the ability of an officer to cure a violation of the prohibition by returning the contribution, or portion of the contribution in excess of $250, within 14 days of accepting, soliciting, or directing the contribution. raise the threshold for contributions regulated by these provisions to $1,500, as specified.

A violation of the provisions of the Political Reform Act of 1974 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 acts 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.

Discussed in Hearing