Political Reform Act of 1974

The law modernizes candidate filing requirements for judicial offices, gives the Fair Political Practices Commission more civil-service flexibility, and makes gift disclosures on certain invitations easier to read.

What the law does ​

• Allows the Fair Political Practices Commission to place nonclerical jobs in civil-service classifications shared with other state departments or agencies.
• Requires candidates for judicial offices to file their candidate-intention statements online or electronically with the Secretary of State.
• Increases the minimum type size for notices that attendance at an event constitutes acceptance of a reportable gift from 8-point to 10-point bold type.
• Declares that these changes further the purposes of the Political Reform Act of 1974.

Who it affects ​

• Fair Political Practices Commission employees and job applicants.
• Candidates for judicial office.
• Lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers sending covered invitations.
• State officials, candidates, legislative officials, and agency officials receiving covered invitations.

Breakdown ​

FPPC Civil Service Classifications ​

This part allows the Fair Political Practices Commission to place its nonclerical jobs in the same civil service classification as jobs at other state departments or agencies. Previously, those positions had to be kept in separate classifications.

Key takeaways

• The bill removes the rule requiring the commission’s nonclerical positions to have civil service classifications separate from other state agencies’ positions.
• The Fair Political Practices Commission may now share civil service classifications for nonclerical jobs with other departments or agencies.
• The commission’s authority to appoint staff remains subject to applicable civil service laws.

Electronic Filing for Judicial Candidates ​

The bill requires people seeking judicial office to file their candidate statement of intention online or electronically with the Secretary of State. This extends the electronic filing rule that already applies to candidates for elective state office.

Key takeaways

• Candidates for judicial office must file their statement of intention electronically or online with the Secretary of State.
• The bill expands the existing electronic filing requirement beyond elective state offices to include judicial offices.
• A candidate must still file a statement of intention before becoming a candidate for a specific office.

Larger Gift Disclosure on Invitations ​

The bill makes the required gift disclosure on certain invitations from lobbyists easier to read. It increases the minimum font size for the notice that a public official's attendance would count as accepting a reportable gift.

Key takeaways

• Lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers must include a gift disclosure notice when they send covered invitations to specified state officials and candidates.
• The bill raises the notice's minimum type size from 8-point to 10-point Roman boldface type.
• The notice must still be presented in a contrasting color or print so it is easy to read.
• The required notice states that attending the event will constitute acceptance of a reportable gift.

Finding That the Amendment Furthers the Act ​

The bill formally states that its changes further the purposes of the Political Reform Act of 1974. This declaration addresses the act’s requirement that legislative amendments further the act’s purposes.

Key takeaways

• The bill declares that it furthers the purposes of the Political Reform Act of 1974.
• This finding supports the bill’s amendment of an initiative measure that may be changed by the Legislature only under specified conditions.
• The bill must still meet the act’s required legislative vote and procedural requirements.