Independent Expenditures - Limitations On Contributions - Government - CA

Section § 85500

This law requires political committees, including party committees, to report any independent spending of $1,000 or more during an election cycle to the Secretary of State within 24 hours. The report must include specific information about the spending, similar to other financial disclosures.

If the spending occurs with the candidate's involvement or at their suggestion, it is not considered independent but as a contribution to the candidate. Such coordination includes cooperation, consultation, or any arrangement with the candidate or their campaign team.

(a) In addition to any other report required by this title, a committee, including a political party committee, that is required to file reports pursuant to Section 84605 and that makes independent expenditures of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more during an election cycle in connection with a candidate for elective state office or state ballot measure, shall file online or electronically a report with the Secretary of State disclosing the making of the independent expenditure. This report shall disclose the same information required by subdivision (b) of Section 84204 and shall be filed within 24 hours of the time the independent expenditure is made.

(b) An expenditure may not be considered independent, and shall be treated as a contribution from the person making the expenditure to the candidate on whose behalf, or for whose benefit, the expenditure is made, if the expenditure is made under any of the following circumstances:

(1) The expenditure is made with the cooperation of, or in consultation with, the candidate on whose behalf, or for whose benefit, the expenditure is made, or any controlled committee or any agent of the candidate.

(2) The expenditure is made in concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, the candidate on whose behalf, or for whose benefit, the expenditure is made, or any controlled committee or any agent of the candidate.

(3) The expenditure is made under any arrangement, coordination, or direction with respect to the candidate or the candidate’s agent and the person making the expenditure.

independent expenditure reporting election cycle spending political committees ...

Section § 85501

This law states that a candidate's controlled committee is not allowed to spend money independently or give money to another committee in order to independently support or oppose other candidates.

A controlled committee of a candidate may not make independent expenditures and may not contribute funds to another committee for the purpose of making independent expenditures to support or oppose other candidates.

controlled committee candidate's committee independent expenditures ...

Section § 85505

This section requires the California Secretary of State to post independent expenditures related to state office candidates and statewide ballot measures on their website. These expenditures are part of publicly disclosed campaign finance activities. The information should be easily accessible and linked to the candidate or ballot measure it relates to.

Additionally, the law states that the reporting forms for these expenditures should have specific fields for the legislative district number and the measure's number or letter, ensuring precise tracking of such financial activities.

(a) The Secretary of State shall include on the Internet Web site of the Secretary of State’s office, as part of the campaign finance activity that is publicly disclosed, any independent expenditure, as defined in Section 82031, that is reported pursuant to Section 85500 with respect to a candidate for elective state office and a statewide ballot measure. This information shall be linked to the part of the Web site that the Secretary of State maintains concerning that candidate or ballot measure.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that all forms created for the purpose of filing the online or electronic report required pursuant to Section 85500 include a separate field for the filer to input the legislative district number and the number or letter of a statewide ballot measure.

Secretary of State website independent expenditure campaign finance disclosure ...