Article X — Dark Money

The purpose of this article is to provide the maximum transparency to the voters of the City of Santa Clara about who is spending money on local campaigns and to create specific disclosure requirements for contributions to organizations that have historically refused to disclose contributions ("dark money").

(Ord. 1979 § 1, 5-15-2018)

• (a) This article is intended to be interpreted consistently and as an enhancement to the provisions of the California Government Code and the regulations of the California Fair Political Practices Act.

• (b) The City Manager, or designee, is hereby authorized to adopt such regulations and forms as to facilitate the interpretation of this article and to provide such forms necessary for the filing of the required disclosures.

• (Ord. 1979 § 1, 5-15-2018)

All contributions of one hundred dollars ($100.00) or more to any organization, including but not limited to multipurpose organizations as such organizations are defined in Government Code Section 84222 , that makes expenditures that affect or are intended to affect a local Santa Clara election to City office or for or against a local Santa Clara ballot measure shall be reported in the same manner as campaign contributions are required to be reported under SCCC § 2.130.280 . (Ord. 1979 § 1, 5-15-2018)

It shall be presumed that if any multipurpose organization makes a contribution of one hundred dollars ($100.00) or more to an entity that qualifies as a recipient committee under Government Code Section 84211 , the source of the contributions to the multipurpose organization shall be subject to the mandatory disclosure requirements of this article. (Ord. 1979 § 1, 5-15-2018)

• (a) The provisions of this article shall be enforceable as set forth in Article VI of this chapter.

• (b) The provisions of this article are hereby incorporated into all contracts of the City, the Santa Clara Stadium Authority, the Santa Clara Housing Authority, and the Sports and Open Space Authority as provisions of law to which all parties to such contract are subject. The violation of this article shall be considered a material breach of the contract by a contracting party and grounds for termination of the contract. A contracting party shall be considered in violation of this section if the contracting party fails to disclose contributions made by the contracting party or by an intermediary of the contracting party or by contribution of earmarked funds as defined and regulated by Government Code Section 18432 .

• (Ord. 1979 § 1, 5-15-2018)