BILL NUMBER: SB 739INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Strickland FEBRUARY 27, 2009 An act to add Section 84307.5 to the Government Code, relating to the Political Reform Act of 1974. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 739, as introduced, Strickland. Political Reform Act of 1974: fundraising. The Political Reform Act of 1974 provides for the comprehensive regulation of campaign financing, including restricting the circumstances under which a candidate for elective office or an elected officer may receive campaign contributions and proscribing the commingling of campaign funds and personal funds. This bill would prohibit the spouse or domestic partner of an elected officer or a candidate for elective office from receiving compensation for services rendered in connection with fundraising for the benefit of the elected officer or candidate for elective office. Existing law makes a willful violation of the Political Reform Act of 1974 a misdemeanor and subjects offenders to criminal penalties. This bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating additional crimes. 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 and compliance with specified procedural requirements. This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act. Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 84307.5 is added to the Government Code, to read: 84307.5. A spouse or domestic partner of an elected officer or a candidate for elective office shall not receive compensation for services rendered in connection with fundraising for the benefit of the elected officer or candidate for elective office. 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.