In an effort to increase public awareness about the need for electronic filing, Kim Alexander of the California Voter Foundation tracked California legislation as it moved through the legislative process in 1996 and 1997. She posted email messages to CVF-NEWS, the California Voter Foundation's electronic newsletter, distributed to more than 1,000 people. Below is an archive of her postings, which provide a useful history of California's successful efforts to enact a mandatory electronic filing law. The 1997 legislation, SB 49, was signed into law by Governor Pete Wilson on October 11,1997. CVF's efforts to publicize this legislation through the Internet have been widely credited as instrumental in raising public awareness of, and support for mandatory electronic filing laws. Click here to view the text of SB 49 and related documents.
October 13, 1997
Re: Online disclosure - news stories, Guv's message, CVF's plans
This edition of CVF-NEWS features:* a round-up of news coverage on SB 49;
* comments from Governor Wilson on SB 49;
* a preview of what's next for the California Voter Foundation.
RE: Internet disclosure now the law in California
The big day finally arrived - Governor Wilson has signed SB 49 into law! Here is a new release the California Voter Foundation issued today. Please feel free to send this around, and thanks to everyone for the kind words and wishes!
RE: Digital Sunlight Progress Report: 1997 Legislative Round-up
We are still waiting to hear the final word from Governor Pete Wilson on SB 49. The latest news is that it looks like there won't be a signing ceremony after all, due to a time crunch and scheduling problems. (I have been assured that this doesn't indicate he has changed his mind about the bill, but nothing is final until the bill is signed).
In the meantime, I thought it would be helpful to put together a state-by-state round-up on digital sunlight efforts among state legislatures. (continued)
RE: Governor Wilson to SIGN SB 49!!
GREAT NEWS! ! ! I just heard from a very good source that Governor Wilson is planning to sign SB 49 into law! I donât know exactly when he will sign the bill -- it is likely that there will be a signing ceremony here in Sacramento over the weekend, perhaps Saturday afternoon. (continued)
RE: SB 49 -- waiting for the day
I just wanted to give everyone a quick update on SB 49/Karnette, which would mandate the electronic filing of, and Internet access to political disclosure records in California. (continued)
RE: SB 49 news releases
Here are two recent news releases -- one from Senator Betty Karnette, the author of SB 49, and the other from Secretary of State Bill Jones, one of SB 49's lead proponents. (continued)
RE: SB 49 Head to Governor's Desk!
I am very pleased to report that SB 49/Karnette has been passed by the California Legislature and is now headed to Governor Pete Wilson's desk! (continued)
RE: Assembly passes SB 49/Karnette, 73 -- 3
Below is the final, official Assembly Floor vote on SB 49/Karnette, which mandates the electronic filing of, and Internet access to state campaign finance and lobbying disclosure records. The bill passed by a landslide, with a final count of 73 votes in favor, three in opposition, and three abstentions. (continued)
RE: SB 49 passes off Assembly Floor!!
Great news!! SB 49 sailed off the Assembly floor today! The bill was taken up around 6:15 p.m., and passed on a 71 - 3 vote, with the only no votes cast coming from Dick Ackerman (R - Fullerton), Gary Miller (R -Diamond Bar), and Bruce Thompson (R - Fallbroock). (continued)
RE: Assembly Vote on SB 49
The big question of the day is.....Will the State Assembly vote in favor of putting their campaign contributions on the Internet? We will soon find out! SB 49/Karnette, a bill that would mandate the electronic filing of, and Internet access to political disclosure records will be taken up by the California State Assembly either today, September 8th or tomorrow, September 9th. (continued)
RE: SB 49 advances to Assembly Floor!!
Today the Assembly Appropriations Committee voted 16 - 2 to pass SB 49/Karnette, a bill that would mandate electronic filing of, and Internet access to campaign finance and lobbying disclosure data. (continued)
RE: SB 49 Update - Floor Vote, Lobbying $ Online
This edition of CVF-NEWS will provide...* an update on SB 49,
* Mandatory electronic filing becomes law in New York
* Secretary of State publishes lobbying expenditure data on Web
(continued)
RE: SB 49 Update; NY Passes Electronic FilingI have lots of news to report on electronic filing/online disclosure. (continued)
RE: News, SB 49: Update, Chicago conferenceThis edition of CVF-NEWS includes: a brief review of the recent Chicago Roundtable on Electronic Filing; an update on SB 49; an electronic filing editorial from yesterday's San Jose Mercury News. (continued)
RE: SB 49: Next hearing, Sac Bee EditorialThe next hearing on SB 49, authored by Senator Betty Karnette (D-Long Beach) is likely to be on August 20th, before the Assembly Appropriations Committee. (continued)
RE: Electronic Filing: What some lawmakers don't want you to knowOn a vote of 5-1 the California State Assembly's Elections Committee yesterday passed SB 49/Karnette, a bill that would mandate electronic filing of, and online access to political disclosure records. (continued)
RE: SB 49: July 14th Hearing, Amendments, ColumnsSB 49, a bill that would mandate electronic filing of, and online disclosure to campaign finance records by 2000, is scheduled to be heard by the Assembly Elections Committee next Monday. (continued)
RE: Electronic Filing/Online Disclosure UpdateTime for another update on electronic filing/online disclosure.....This message will bring you up to date on the status of SB 49, which is set to next be heard on July 14th. (continued)
RE: CA State Senate Passes Online Disclosure BillToday the California State Senate passed SB49/Karnette, a bill that would mandate electronic filing of, and online access to political disclosure records. (continued)
RE: State Senate Online Disclosure Vote June 4, 10:30 a.m.The big day has almost arrived...on Wednesday, June 4 at 10:30 a.m. the California State Senate will take up SB 49/Karnette, which would make political disclosure records available on the Internet. (continued)
RE: Online DisclosureAs previously mentioned, SB 49/Karnette will be taken up by the California Senate for a full floor vote this Wednesday, June 4th. (continued)
RE: SB 49/Karnette heads to the Senate FloorToday, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted 12-0 to send SB 49/Karnette to the Senate Floor. Senator Karnette is planning to take her bill up for a vote on Wednesday, June 4th at around 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. (continued)
RE: Online Disclosure -- Floor Votes & AmendmentsI have some important news on AB 63/Cunneen, and SB 49/Karnette, two bills that would require mandatory electronic filing of, and online access to campaign disclosure records. (continued)
RE: Electronic Filing/Online Disclosure UpdateWe are coming closer to floor votes on electronic filing legislation. If the two remaining bills continue to advance, we can anticipate that the California State Senate and Assembly will be voting on electronic filing by early June. (continued)
RE: Online political disclosure bill passes Senate committeeThe Senate Elections Committee met this morning and took up two bills that would mandate electronic filing of, and Internet access to political disclosure records: SB 49/Karnette, and SB 7/Kopp. (continued)
RE: California moves forward on electronic filingLots of news to report on electronic filing. In the past few days, major advances have been made to bring about computerized, immediate online access to California political disclosure records. (continued)
RE: Voluntary electronic filing planned for '98On Monday, Secretary of State Bill Jones will announce his plans to move forward with a voluntary electronic filing system for 1998. (continued)
RE: CA Legislature to take up electronic filing bills
Next week several bills mandating electronic filing of California political disclosure records will be heard by the State Legislature's elections committees. (continued)
RE: Hearing on electronic filing delayedThe hearing on two electronic filing bills, SB 7/Kopp and SB 49/Karnette, has been delayed. The Senate Elections Committee had been scheduled to take up the bills at its hearing tomorrow, April 2 at the State Capitol, but the legislation is now instead scheduled to be heard at the committee's April 16th hearing. (continued)
RE: Electronic Filing Bills to be heard April 2The California State Legislature's bill introduction deadline has passed and a total of three bills have been introduced to enact some form of electronic filing of, and online access to political disclosure statements. (continued)
RE: Senate Kills Electronic FilingToday the California State Senate's Elections Committee killed SB 108/Kopp, a bill that would have required state candidates to file their political disclosure records electronically, and that those records be published on the Internet. (continued)
RE: SB 108/Kopp: Electronic FilingIn a surprising turn of events, the California State Assembly yesterday passed SB 108/Kopp, a bill that would result in Internet access to political disclosure records by requiring that those records be filed electronically rather than on paper. SB 108, which amends the Political Reform Act and therefore requires a two-thirds vote to pass, easily sailed out of the Assembly on a 65-4 vote (the vote tally is available at the end of this message). (continued)
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. (continued)
RE: SB 108/Kopp: Electronic Filing of Political Disclosure RecordsToday the Assembly Appropriations Committee voted to place SB 108 on its suspense calendar, which will be taken up by the committee on August 21st. If enacted, SB 108 would require candidates, elected officials and lobbyists to file their political disclosure records electronically, which would allow for convenient and timely access to such records via the Internet. (continued)
RE: Vote on electronic filing delayedThe vote on SB 108, a bill that would mandate electronic filing of political disclosure records, has been delayed until Monday, August 12. (continued)
RE: Electronic Filing bill up on August 7thThe State Legislature will consider yet another electronic filing bill this Wednesday, August 7th. The bill, SB 108, is authored by Senator Quentin Kopp and co-authored by Assembly Members Bruce McPherson, Dom Cortese and Jackie Speier. The bill has multi-partisan backing: Kopp is an Independent, McPherson is a Republican, Cortese belongs to the Reform party, and Speier is a Democrat. (continued)
Re: Senate stalls on electronic filing, Assembly moves forwardToday the Senate Elections Committee considered AB 1026, by Assemblyman Bruce McPherson (R-Santa Cruz), a bill that would require candidates and others to file their political disclosure reports electronically. (continued)
Re: Electronic Filing Legislation to be heard July 3rdAssembly Bill 1026, authored by Assembly Member Bruce McPherson (R-Santa Cruz) will be considered by the Senate Elections Committee when it meets this week. (continued)
Re: AB 1026/Another Electronic Filing Bill to be Considered...The effort to pass electronic filing legislation this year continues: last week, Assemblyman Bruce McPherson (R-Santa Cruz) amended his bill, AB 1026, to provide for electronic filing of political disclosure records and require that those records be made available on the Internet. AB 1026 is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Elections Committee on July 3, 1996.(continued)
Re: AB 2546/Speier Bill Goes Down Again...As anticipated, Assembly Member Jackie Speier's motion to withdraw her electronic filing bill, AB 2546, from the Assembly Appropriations Committee failed today. The motion required a majority vote to pass.(continued)
Re: Another Vote on Electronic FilingI have big news -- it appears that the fight over Jackie Speier's electronic filing bill, AB 2546, is not quite over yet. She has decided to ask the Assembly to withdraw the bill, currently held in Assembly Appropriations, and bring it to a (continued)
Re: Electronic Filing Legislation Goes DownI'm very sorry to report that AB 2546 by Jackie Speier, a bill that would mandate electronic filing of political disclosure records, was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee today. In effect, the bill is now dead. (continued)
Re: AB 2546 to be heard in Assembly AppropriationsAB 2546, if enacted, would establish mandatory electronic filing of political disclosure records, and require that the records be made available to the public on the Internet, thereby vastly improving public access to campaign finance data (continued)
Re: More Details on the Software DilemmaFirst, I want to thank everyone for the input received so far on the electronic filing software issue. Second, I want to add a few caveats to the current dilemma that may help inform the debate: (continued)
Re: Request for Advice on Software IssueI am looking for guidance and advice on an important public policy issue, and I am hoping you can take the time to give it some consideration. (continued)
Re:A Post-Mortem on AB 2546's First HearingI'm happy to tell you all that Assembly Bill 2546 passed out of its first committee on April 8th. The bill, authored by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-Burlingame) and sponsored by Secretary of State Bill Jones, will require (continued)
Re:Electronic Filing Legislation IntroducedI'm very happy to announce that California State Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-Burlingame) introduced legislation yesterday to mandate electronic filing of political disclosure records in California. (continued)
Home | Legislative Updates | Publications | News Stories | Search