Political Reform Act of 1974: lobbying.

Existing law, the Political Reform Act of 1974, regulates the activities of lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers in connection with attempts to influence legislative and administrative action by legislative and other state officials, including by requiring that lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers register and file periodic reports with the Secretary of State. This bill, beginning one year after the Secretary of State certifies for public use an online filing and disclosure system for lobbying information, or beginning January 1, 2023, whichever is later, would require lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers to include information in the periodic reports that identifies each bill or administrative action subject to lobbying activity during that period. For certain activities involving issue lobbying advertisements, the bill would require disclosure of the position on the bill or administrative action advocated by the advertisement. This bill would require additional specified disclosures for lobbying activity during the 60-day period before the Legislature is scheduled to adjourn for interim recess or final recess. The bill would require certain persons to file specified reports following a calendar quarter in which that person incurs cumulative costs equal to or exceeding $5,000 for issue lobbying advertisements, as defined. The bill would authorize entities filing related reports in paper with the Secretary of State to verify those filings by electronic signature. A violation of the act is punishable as a misdemeanor, and reports and statements filed under the act are required to be signed under the penalty of perjury. By expanding the scope of existing crimes, 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 of the Legislature and compliance with specified procedural requirements. This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.