Signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that establishes the Fair Elections Fund using the fees charged to lobbyists to provide eligible candidates for Secretary of State with the option of public financing beginning January 1, 2011.

Highlights:

- Requires lobbyists to pay a $700 licensing fee to the Secretary of State every two years, of which $25 shall be deposited in the General Fund and the remaining amount will be deposited in the Fair Elections Fund [sec. 1 (a)]. - Specifies that in order to be eligible for public financing, a major-party candidate candidate must collect 7,500 five-dollar contributions and file a declaration with the Fair Political Practices Commission stating that he or she will not accept or spend private contributions that are not approved by this Act [sec. 4 (91071) (a)]. - Specifies that in order to be eligible for public financing, a non-major-party candidate must collect at least 3,750 five-dollar contributions and file a declaration with the Fair Political Practices Commission stating that he or she will not accept or spend private contributions that are not approved by this Act [sec. 4 (31073) (a)]. - Allows independent candidates who did not run in a primary to qualify for major-party candidate financing if they collect at least 15,000 five-dollar donations [sec. 4 (91073) (b)]. - Appropriates $1 million from the Fair Elections Fund to each eligible major-party candidate in a primary election, and $200,000 to non-major-party candidate [sec. 4 (91099) (a)]. - Appropriates $1.3 million from the Fair Elections Fund to each eligible major-party candidate, and $325,000 to each non-major-party candidate [sec. 4 (91099) (b)]. - Prohibits the use of funds to pay for legal defense costs and fines stemming from campaign law enforcement, or indirect campaign purposes, including personal or family support, independent electioneering, and contributions to other candidates or political committees [sec. 4 (91083) (a) (1)]. - Classifies violations of this Act as a misdemeanor [sec. 4 (91145)]. - Terminates the provisions of the Act on January1, 2019 [sec. 4 (91157)].

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the Fair Elections Fund using the fees charged to lobbyists to provide eligible candidates for Secretary of State with the option of public financing beginning January 1, 2011.

Highlights:

- Requires lobbyists to pay a $700 licensing fee to the Secretary of State every two years, of which $25 shall be deposited in the General Fund and the remaining amount will be deposited in the Fair Elections Fund [sec. 1 (a)]. - Specifies that in order to be eligible for public financing, a major-party candidate candidate must collect 7,500 five-dollar contributions and file a declaration with the Fair Political Practices Commission stating that he or she will not accept or spend private contributions that are not approved by this Act [sec. 4 (91071) (a)]. - Specifies that in order to be eligible for public financing, a non-major-party candidate must collect at least 3,750 five-dollar contributions and file a declaration with the Fair Political Practices Commission stating that he or she will not accept or spend private contributions that are not approved by this Act [sec. 4 (31073) (a)]. - Allows independent candidates who did not run in a primary to qualify for major-party candidate financing if they collect at least 15,000 five-dollar donations [sec. 4 (91073) (b)]. - Appropriates $1 million from the Fair Elections Fund to each eligible major-party candidate in a primary election, and $200,000 to non-major-party candidate [sec. 4 (91099) (a)]. - Appropriates $1.3 million from the Fair Elections Fund to each eligible major-party candidate, and $325,000 to each non-major-party candidate [sec. 4 (91099) (b)]. - Prohibits the use of funds to pay for legal defense costs and fines stemming from campaign law enforcement, or indirect campaign purposes, including personal or family support, independent electioneering, and contributions to other candidates or political committees [sec. 4 (91083) (a) (1)]. - Classifies violations of this Act as a misdemeanor [sec. 4 (91145)]. - Terminates the provisions of the Act on January1, 2019 [sec. 4 (91157)].

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the Fair Elections Fund using the fees charged to lobbyists to provide eligible candidates for Secretary of State with the option of public financing beginning January 1, 2011.