Campaign expenditures: criminal convictions: fees and costs.

Existing law, the Political Reform Act of 1974, deems all campaign contributions to be held in trust for expenses associated with seeking or holding office, and generally authorizes expenditures associated therewith if they are reasonably related to a political, legislative, or governmental purpose. Existing law prohibits the use of campaign funds to pay or reimburse fines, penalties, judgments, or settlements, except as specified. Existing law provides that the expenditure of campaign funds for attorney's fees and other costs in connection with administrative, civil, or criminal litigation are not related to a political, legislative, or governmental purpose unless the litigation is directly related to activities of a committee that are consistent with its primary objectives or arises directly out of a candidate's or elected officer's activities, duties, or status as a candidate or elected officer, as specified. This bill would prohibit campaign funds from being used to reimburse expenditures for attorney's fees and other costs in connection with criminal litigation if the litigation results in a conviction of the candidate or elected officer for a felony involving certain types of offenses, as specified. The bill would prohibit the use of campaign funds to pay or reimburse a candidate or elected officer for a fine, penalty, judgment, or settlement relating to a conviction for a felony involving such specified offenses. The bill would require the candidate or elected officer, if convicted, to reimburse the campaign for all funds used in connection with other legal costs and expenses related to claims of criminal acts. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 89513 of the Government Code proposed by SB 1170 to be operative only if this bill and SB 1170 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. A violation of the Political Reform Act of 1974 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 of the Legislature and compliance with specified procedural requirements. This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.