California’s Political Reform Act (PRA) establishes filing and disclosure requirements for candidates, campaign committees, lobbyists, public officials, and other regulated persons, including campaign reports and statements of economic interests.
SB 401 authorizes the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) to extend PRA filing deadlines for individuals whose ability to timely file is affected by a declared emergency. An extension granted by the FPPC may not extend the deadline by more than 60 days from the original filing deadline. The authority is also limited during elections: the FPPC may not use this emergency-extension authority for deadlines applicable to campaign statements or reports that are due during the 90 days preceding an election. Thus, qualifying filers affected by a declared emergency may receive additional time for PRA filings, but the law preserves campaign-reporting deadlines during the period immediately preceding an election.
The new law does not automatically extend every filing deadline whenever an emergency is declared. Rather, it gives the FPPC authority to grant an extension when the statutory conditions are satisfied.
SB 401 adds Section 91013.1 to the Government Code.
