Bill > AB1648

This bill, an amendment to the Political Reform Act of 1974, aims to enhance transparency in political advertising by requiring more detailed disclosure of funding sources. It defines "advertisement" broadly to include public communications supporting or opposing candidates or ballot measures, but excludes certain items like member communications or small campaign materials. The bill mandates that committees paying for advertisements must disclose their top identifiable contributors (those who have given at least $10,000 cumulatively) on radio, television, video, and print advertisements, including their logos and names, and provide a link to a dedicated "committee disclosure Internet Web site" for full funding details. For individual contributors, their occupation and employer must be disclosed if the ballot measure directly impacts their employer, or if the committee is supporting a candidate. The bill also requires candidates to approve their own advertisements and specifies how these disclosures should appear visually and audibly, with detailed formatting requirements for different media types. Additionally, it clarifies that disclosures need not use formal legal terms for contributors and allows for common abbreviations or acronyms. The bill also calls for a special election on November 4, 2014, to approve these changes, which will take effect immediately upon passage.