Bills, Ballots and Bites! 2016 Legislation Roundup

Sylvia MooreSouthern California OrganizerCalifornia Common Cause

The Overturn Citizens United Act

Formerly SB 254 (Allen, Leno). Allowed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown

Will place a measure on the November 2016 ballot instructing Legislature and Congress to support overturning Citizens United

CA Supreme Court ruled voter instructions are legal

SB 1107 (Allen, Hancock) – Public financing

Allows state and local governments to create campaign public financing systems

Current law only allows charter cities to have public financing (e.g., Los Angeles, Long Beach)

Would decrease amount of time candidates spend fundraising, and encourage more small dollar donors

SB 1349 (Hertzberg) – Cal-Access

Modernizes Cal-Access, the Secretary of State’s online system for campaign finance filing

Among other things, tracks and aggregates contributions, allowing voters to see who the top donors are

Allocates up to $13.5 million to replace outdated online system with a more streamlined one

AB 700 (Gomez)California Disclose Act

Changes current law to require ballot measures to prominently list top 3 funders on campaign ads

Applies to radio, TV and print ads, and robocalls

Discourages original donors of a ballot measure from hiding behind misleading names and multiple layers of organizations

CA Legislative Transparency Act

Slated for November 2016 ballot; still counting signatures

Requires 72-hour notice in print and Internet for all bills in the Legislature before a final vote

Requires all Legislative meetings be recorded and made freely available online to the public within 24 hours

Take Action!

What You Can Do!Contact your Assemblymember and State SenatorSign our petition to support a new Cal-AccessGo to these web sites for more information

Overturn Citizens United Act MoneyOutVotersIn.orgCa.commoncause.org/Prop49

SB 1107 – Ca.commoncause.org/RemoveTheBanSB 1349 (Cal-Access) – Ca.commoncause.orgHoldPoliticiansAccountable.org – CA Legislative Transparency Act CAClean.org – California Disclose Act

Questions?