Campaign Contribution Limits & Disclosure Filings

CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE FILINGS

The Political Reform Act of 1974 (Act) requires the filing of specified statements, reports and other documents by public officials, whether elected or appointed.

Assembly Bill No. 2151 (Gallagher) approved by the Governor of California on September 28, 2020, added Government Code § 84616 to the Act.  Effective January 1, 2021, local governmental agencies are required to post campaign statements and reports on their agency’s website, within 72 hours of each applicable filing deadline – please see relevant code section below.

84616. 
(a) Within 72 hours of each applicable filing deadline, a local government agency shall post on its internet website a copy of any statement, report, or other document required by Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 84100) that is filed with that agency in paper format. If the final day of the 72-hour period is a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the period is extended to the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday. Before posting, the local filing officer shall redact the street name and building number of the persons or entity representatives listed on any statement, report, or document, or any bank account number required to be disclosed by the filer. Providing a link on the agency’s internet website to the statement, report, or other document satisfies this subdivision.

(b) A statement, report, or other document posted pursuant to this section shall be made available for four years from the date of the election associated with the filing.

(Added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 214, Sec. 1. (AB 2151) Effective January 1, 2021.)

CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS 

Assembly Bill No. 571 (Mullin) approved by the Governor of California on October 8, 2019, added provisions to the Act, commencing January 1, 2021, prohibiting a person from making to a candidate of elective county or city office, and prohibiting a candidate for elective county or city office from accepting from a person, a contribution totaling more than the amount set forth in the Act for limitations on contributions to a candidate for elective state office.  This bill also authorizes a county or city by ordinance or resolution to establish campaign contribution limits that are different from what is imposed by this bill.