Calif. Senate Backs Nonprofit Politicking Disclosure Bill

The California Senate approved legislation Thursday that would require politically active nonprofit groups to disclose the source of big contributions to state campaigns, reversing a narrow rejection of the measure earlier this year, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The bill failed in March when, due to uniform Republican opposition, it fell one vote shy of the two-thirds “supermajority” needed to approve it as an emergency measure that would take effect this year. The new version will not apply to donations made before July 1, a concession that secured sufficient GOP support for passage.

The revised bill has been approved by the State Assembly and now goes to Gov. Jerry Brown for consideration. If enacted, it would force an organization to reveal donor data if it spends or contributes at least $50,000 in one year or more than $100,000 over four consecutive years on California campaigns. The proposal was prompted by the 2012 controversy over millions of dollars funneled by an Arizona nonprofit into campaigns on two California ballot initiatives.