TO: Interested Parties
FROM: Kim Alexander, California Voter Foundation
DATE: August 21, 1996
RE: Electronic Filing Advances to Assembly FloorYes, it's true....the Assembly Appropriations Committee today voted to remove SB 108/Kopp from its suspense file and send the bill on to the Assembly floor, where it will be taken up for a vote next week.
If enacted, SB 108 will require that candidates and other filers of political disclosure records file their reports electronically rather than on paper, and that those records be published on the Internet.
As you may recall, this is the fourth electronic filing bill to be considered by the Legislature this year. Earlier bills (AB 2546/Speier, AB 1026/McPherson, and SB 1893/Hayden) have all been defeated. The Kopp bill, however, enjoys multi-partisan support, and is co-authored by Democrat Jackie Speier, Republican Bruce McPherson, and Reform Party member Dominic Cortese. The author, Quentin Kopp, is an independent.
Because SB 108 amends the Political Reform Act, the version of the bill to be voted upon by the Assembly must be in print for at least 12 days before it can be taken up for a vote on the Assembly floor. Since SB 108 was last amended on August 15, the soonest the bill can be heard in August 27th. SB 108 cannot be amended again if it is to be considered in this session.
Another factor to keep in mind is that bills that amend the Political Reform Act require a two-thirds vote to pass - that means 54 votes in the Assembly, and 27 votes in the Senate.
For those of you who are interested in this issue, now is the time to contact your state representatives and share your concerns with them.
Today's Assembly Appropriations vote was a squeaker - the bill got the bare majority needed for passage. Here's a look at how the members of the Appropriations Committee voted:
AYE VOTES (11)
Charles Poochigian (Chair) (R-Fresno)
Valerie Brown (Vice-Chair) (D-Sonoma)
Fred Aguiar (R-Chino)
Marguerite Archie-Hudson (D-Los Angeles) Steve Baldwin (R-El Cajon)
Tom Bordonaro (R-Paso Robles)
John Burton (D-San Francisco)
Sal Cannella (D-Ceres)
Barbara Friedman (D-North Hollywood)
Martin Gallegos (D-Baldwin Park)
Tom Woods (R-Shasta)
NO VOTES (6)
Dick Ackerman (R - Fullerton)
Marilyn Brewer (R-Newport Beach)
George House (R-Hughson)
Jim Morrissey (R-Santa Ana)
Keith Olberg (R-Victorville)
Bruce Thompson (R-Fallbrook)
DID NOT VOTE (4)
Diane Martinez (D-Monterey Park)
Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside)
Nao Takasugi (R-Oxnard)
Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles)For more information about electronic filing, please visit the California Voter Foundation's "Digital Sunlight" web site, at http://www.digitalsunlight.org, where you'll find a collection of news articles, reports and legislative updates.
Kim Alexander, Executive Director, California Voter Foundation
cvf@netcom.com
916/325-2120
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