Political Reform Act of 1974: online filing and disclosure system.

The Political Reform Act of 1974 requires the filing of specified statements, reports and other documents. Under the act, a local government agency may require these filings to be made online or electronically with the local filing officer, as specified. The act requires the local filing officer to make all data so filed available on the internet in an easily understood format that provides the greatest public access. This bill would require a local government agency to post on its internet website, within 72 hours of the applicable filing deadline, a copy of any specified statement, report, or other document filed with that agency in paper format. This bill would require that the statement, report, or other document be made available for four years from the date of the election associated with the filing. By imposing a new duty on local government agencies, 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. 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 of the Legislature and compliance with specified procedural requirements. This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.