Political Reform Act of 1974: candidacy for elective state office.

The Political Reform Act of 1974 requires an individual to file a statement of intention to be a candidate for an elective office, signed under penalty of perjury, prior to soliciting or receiving a contribution or loan. The act requires the individual to establish one campaign contribution account, as specified, upon filing the statement of intention to be a candidate. This bill would provide that, if an individual files a statement of intention to be a candidate for elective state office, the filing of a subsequent statement of intention to be a candidate for a different elective state office to be voted upon at the same election would effect a revocation of the prior statement of intention to be a candidate, and the individual would thereafter be prohibited from soliciting or receiving a contribution or loan for the elective state office for which he or she previously filed a statement of intention to be a candidate. The bill would prohibit an individual from filing, and the Secretary of State from accepting, a statement of intention to be a candidate for an Assembly, Senate, or other constitutional office at an election other than the next election or next 2 regularly scheduled elections at which that office will appear on the ballot, as specified. A violation of the act's provisions 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 act's purposes upon a 23 vote of each house and compliance with specified procedural requirements. This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.