Calif. Lawmakers Back Bill to Beef Up Charity Enforcement

The California Assembly unanimously approved legislation last week that would authorize regulators to use the registration fees paid by nonprofits and professional fundraisers to crack down on charities that spend little of their money on their mission, the Orange County Register writes. The 76-0 vote sent the measure to the state Senate.

The $7-million account is now off-limits to investigators from the California Department of Justice. Assemblyman Travis Allen, the bill’s sponsor, said tapping the fees would help regulators target groups that spend most of their money on fundraising.

According to a legislative analysis, for $1.4-million a year the state’s attorney general could create 13 staff positions to handle administrative and court proceedings related to suspect nonprofits, help unregistered charities comply with paperwork requirements, and review charities’ applications and financial reports.