In January, I wrote about Senator Noreen Evans bill, SB 121, that would require any corporation (as defined) that has shareholders located in California and that makes a contribution or expenditure (as defined):
- to issue a report on the political expenditures of the corporation in the previous fiscal year, and
- to notify shareholders not less than 24 hours prior to each political contribution during the fiscal year, by specified means, including posting the report and notification on the corporation’s Internet web site, if any.
See
Senator Seeks 24-Hour Advance Notice Of Corporate Political Contributions/Assemblymember Asks For Constitutional Convention. The bill was amended on April 1 to make some minor changes. As amended, the bill now applies to a corporation (as defined) that "reasonably believes it has one or more shareholders who reside in California" and that engages in political activity. This is, of course, a ridiculously impractical standard.
The bill will have its first committee hearing today before the Senate
Banking and Financial Institutions Committee. The bill has long lists of supporters, including the bill's sponsor,
CalPIRG. The bill also has a long list of opponents, including the
California Chamber of Commerce which led a group of 36 opponents.