Los Angeles County Municipal Code Ch. 2.195 Electronic Campaign Disclosure Filings

The purpose of this Ordinance is to require candidates for Countywide office or supervisor, committees supporting or opposing those candidates, and committees supporting or opposing County ballot measures, to file certain campaign statements and reports electronically when certain dollar thresholds are met in order to facilitate expeditious access to these documents by the public.

(Ord. No. 2014-0025 § 1, 2014.)

A.

The Board of Supervisors finds that timely public access to campaign statements and reports regarding contributions and expenditures is vital to ensure the transparency and integrity of campaigns within Los Angeles County.

B.

Effective January 1, 2013, Government Code section 84615 authorizes local governments to require the online or electronic filing of campaign statements and reports, or other documents required to be filed pursuant to Chapter 4 of Title 9 of the Government Code (commencing with section 84100).

C.

The Board of Supervisors finds that reducing the filing of campaign statements and reports in paper format, and requiring online or electronic filing of the statements and reports required by this chapter will expedite the public's access to the information disclosed in campaign statements and reports, as well as conserve resources of County staff who must currently process the involved campaign statements and reports manually when filed in paper format.

D.

The Board of Supervisors finds that the County's online or electronic filing system will operate securely and effectively for this purpose and would not unduly burden filers.

(Ord. No. 2014-0025 § 1, 2014.)

A.

The words and terms contained in this Chapter shall have the same definitions as provided for such words and terms in the Political Reform Act of 1974, as amended (Government Code section 81000 et seq.), and as supplemented from time to time by the Regulations of the Fair Political Practices Commission (Title 2, Division 6 of the California Code of Regulations), unless a word or term is specifically defined in Chapter 2.190 of this Code, in which case such definition shall apply to any candidates or committees governed by Chapter 2.190 of this Code.

B.

Any reference to "reports and statements" in this Chapter shall mean California Form 460 and all corresponding schedules.

(Ord. No. 2014-0025 § 1, 2014.)

This Chapter applies to any candidate or committee governed by Chapter 2.190 of this Code, and to any committee supporting or opposing any County ballot measure.

(Ord. No. 2014-0025 § 1, 2014.)

A.

Each candidate or committee governed by Chapter 2.190 of this Code, and each committee supporting or opposing any County ballot measure, that receives a total of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more in contributions, or makes a total of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more in expenditures, within the applicable reporting period, shall electronically file campaign statements and reports with the Registrar-Recorder pursuant to the relevant deadlines and timeframes provided by the Political Reform Act of 1974, as amended (Government Code section 81000 et seq.), and as supplemented from time to time by the Regulations of the Fair Political Practices Commission (Title 2, Division 6 of the California Code of Regulations).

B.

Once a candidate or committee is subject to this Chapter, electronic filing will continue to be required until the candidate or committee files a termination statement pursuant to Government Code section 84214.

C.

All reports and statements filed electronically under this Chapter shall be signed under penalty of perjury and verified by the filer pursuant to Government Code section 81004, on the form provided by the Registrar-Recorder, within 5 business days of filing.

D.

All electronic filings required pursuant to this Chapter shall be free of charge.

E.

A candidate or committee that is not required to file statements and reports electronically, may do so voluntarily, and will not be required to also file in paper format if electronic reports are filed.

F.

This Chapter shall be applicable to candidate and committee filings due on or after July 31, 2014.

(Ord. No. 2014-0025 § 1, 2014.)

A.

Violations of any provision of this Chapter shall be subject to the fines and penalties authorized under Government Code section 91013.

Nothing in this Chapter supersedes or otherwise modifies any deadline or duty to file statements or reports within the times prescribed by law.

No paper format submissions will be accepted by the Registrar-Recorder when electronic filing is required under this Chapter.

B.

The Registrar-Recorder shall be responsible for administration of this Chapter, including investigating alleged violations and imposing fines and penalties, as set forth herein.

(Ord. No. 2014-0025 § 1, 2014.)

If any provision of this Chapter, or its application to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of this Chapter to the extent it can be given effect, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby, and to this extent the provisions of this Chapter are severable.

(Ord. No. 2014-0025 § 1, 2014.)