Court Opinion

ID: 6329547
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-04-04 17:02:10.865222+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:53.139600
License: Public Domain

TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

                       OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
                                 State of California

                                      ROB BONTA
                                     Attorney General

                              _________________________

                                             :
                 OPINION                     :                No. 19-1001
                                             :
                     of                      :                April 1, 2022
                                             :
              ROB BONTA                      :
             Attorney General                :
                                             :
         CATHERINE BIDART                    :
         Deputy Attorney General             :

      THE HONORABLE GALENA WEST, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
FAIR POLITICAL PRACTICES COMMISSION, has requested an opinion relating to
campaign contributions by Commissioners.

                   QUESTION PRESENTED AND CONCLUSION

       Does Government Code section 83105, which bans campaign contributions by
members of the Fair Political Practices Commission, apply to election campaigns for
President and Congress?

       Yes, the statutory ban applies to elections held in California, which includes
elections for President and for seats in the United States Senate and House of
Representatives.

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                                     BACKGROUND

       The Fair Political Practices Commission administers and implements the Political
Reform Act of 1974, which contains Government Code section 83105. 1 The Act,
adopted as a voter initiative measure in the wake of the Watergate scandal, seeks to
prevent political corruption by regulating lobbying, conflicts of interest, and campaign
disclosures, among other things. 2 These concepts were not new in 1974, but voters
determined that state and local authorities had inadequately enforced prior laws. 3 So the
voters established an independent government body to oversee implementation and
enforcement of the Act: the Fair Political Practices Commission.

      The Commission comprises five appointees; the method of their appointment is
designed to limit partisan influence by spreading appointments across political parties. 4
Voters entrusted the Commission with “primary responsibility for the impartial, effective
administration and implementation” of the Act, to ensure that the Act would be
“vigorously enforced.” 5

     To that end, the Commission has extensive oversight powers. For example, the
Commission may investigate possible violations, hold hearings, order penalties, and
compel disclosures. 6 The Commission may also make rules and regulations, prescribe

1
 Gov. Code, § 81000 et seq. All statutory references in the text are to the Government
Code unless otherwise noted.
2
 Ibid.; see generally Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians v. Superior Court (2006) 40
Cal.4th 239, 244; People v. Snyder (2000) 22 Cal.4th 304, 307.
3
 Gov. Code, § 81001, subd. (h); see Warden v. Brown (1960) 185 Cal.App.2d 626, 627–
628 (discussing long history of “election purity laws” requiring disclosures of
contributions).
4
 See Gov. Code, §§ 83100, 83101, 83102. For example, no more than three of the five
Commissioners may be of the same political party. (Gov. Code, § 83100.) The Governor
appoints the Chair and one Commissioner, who may not be of same party. (Gov. Code,
§ 83101.) The Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and the Controller each appoints
a Commissioner; if these appointing officers are of the same party, then the Controller
appoints from a list (if provided) by other parties. (Gov. Code, § 83102.)
5
    Gov. Code, §§ 81002, subd. (f), 83111; see Gov. Code, §§ 82012, 91001, subd. (b).
6
    Gov. Code, §§ 83115, 83116, 90009, subd. (a).

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forms and publish manuals to facilitate compliance and enforcement, and issue opinions
on which a requesting party may rely as a safe harbor. 7

       The provision we consider here, Government Code section 83105, fosters
impartiality by prohibiting Commissioners from engaging in certain political activities
during their tenure. Commissioners may not serve as an officer of a political party or
partisan organization, work as a lobbyist, or hold or seek another public office.8 Nor may
Commissioners “participate in or contribute to an election campaign.” 9 This brings us to
the issue at hand: whether this statutory ban on contributing to an election campaign
applies to one for President or Congress. 10

       The Commission’s own manual provides that it does. 11 But at its September 2019
meeting, the Commission decided to suspend its own rule against donations to federal
candidates, reevaluate related manual provisions governing Commissioner conduct, and
seek this Attorney General opinion. 12 At its December 2019 meeting, the Commission

7
     Gov. Code, §§ 83112, 83113, 83114.
8
 Gov. Code, § 83105. The latter prohibition also applies during their term of
appointment. (Ibid.)
9
     Gov. Code, § 83105.
10
  We have been asked only to interpret the statute, not to resolve any potential free-
speech issue that might arise under the state or federal Constitution.
11
  Fair Political Practices Commission, Commissioner Code of Conduct (Oct. 2020),
pp. 3–4 (hereafter “Manual”). Prior editions provided the same. (See, e.g., Fair Political
Practices Commission, 2019 Commissioner Manual (June 2019), pp. 14–15.)
12
  See, e.g., Fair Political Practices Commission Minutes of Hearing, Sept. 19, 2019, p. 3,
available at https://fppc.ca.gov/content/dam/fppc/NS-
Documents/AgendaDocuments/Minutes/2019/Approved/sept%202019.pdf (as of Mar. 7,
2022); Commissioner Cárdenas, mem. on Commissioner Manual Revision, Dec. 19,
2019, pp. 1–2, on file; McGreevy, L.A. Times, California Campaign Watchdog Suspends
Donation Rules after a Member Gives to Sanders, Dec. 4, 2019, available at
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-12-04/california-campaign-watchdogs-
want-to-make-their-own-political-donations (as of Mar. 7, 2022).

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decided to return to its rule embodied in its manual. 13 The Commission’s request for an
Attorney General opinion on this topic remains open.

                                          ANALYSIS

       To interpret the scope of the statutory ban on FPPC Commissioner contributions to
election campaigns, we look to the usual principles governing questions of statutory
interpretation, which apply equally to a voter-enacted initiative such as the Act. 14 As we
explain below, the language, history, and purpose of Government Code section 83105 all
compel the conclusion that the ban extends to all federal elections held in California.

Statutory Language

         Government Code section 83105 provides in relevant part:

         A member of the commission, during the member’s tenure, shall not hold
         any other public office, serve as an officer of any political party or partisan
         organization, participate in or contribute to an election campaign, or
         employ or be employed as a lobbyist nor, during the member’s term of
         appointment, seek election to any other public office. 15

       Does this reference to “an election campaign” include one for President or
Congress? Based on the definition of “election” provided in the Act, we believe it does.
While silent on the meaning of “campaign” and “election campaign,” Government Code
section 82022 defines “election” to mean “any primary, general, special or recall election
held in this state.” 16 A “general election” held in California includes federal elections for
President, Vice President, and seats in the United States Senate and House of

13
  Fair Political Practices Commission Minutes of Hearing, Dec. 19, 2019, p. 3, available
at https://fppc.ca.gov/content/dam/fppc/NS-
Documents/AgendaDocuments/Minutes/2019/Approved/dec%202019.pdf (as of Mar. 7,
2022); McGreevy, L.A. Times, California’s Campaign Watchdog Reverses Course,
Won’t Allow Its Leaders To Donate to Politicians, Dec. 19, 2019, available at
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-12-19/california-fair-political-practices-
commission-political-donations (as of Mar. 7, 2022).
14
     Day v. City of Fontana (2001) 25 Cal.4th 268, 272.
 Gov. Code, § 83105, italics added; see Gov. Code, § 82012 (“Commission” is Fair
15

Political Practices Commission).
16
     Gov. Code, § 82022, italics added.

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Representatives. 17 Those federal elections therefore fall squarely within the Act’s
definition of an “election.”

       The Act states that its definitions govern the interpretation of the Act, “[u]nless the
contrary is stated or clearly appears from the context.” 18 And nothing in the Act suggests
an intent to alter the definition of “election” for section 83105. In contrast, other parts of
the Act do provide customized definitions limited to particular sections. For example,
one section of the Act limits gifts to Commissioners, and defines “gift” uniquely for
purposes of that section, ousting the definition that would otherwise apply. 19

       The Act’s drafters demonstrated that they knew how to exclude federal elections
when that was their intent. For instance, the Act separately defines “statewide election”
to exclude elections for federal office. 20 It also defines “candidate,” “elective office,”
“elective state office,” “state candidate,” and “statewide elective office” in terms that
exclude federal offices or federal candidates. 21 But the Act does not use any of these
other terms in section 83105. Instead, it uses the term “election,” which is defined to
encompass federal elections held in this State.

17
  See U.S. Const., art. I, § 4, cl. 1 (state legislatures to provide times, places, and manner
of congressional elections); Elec. Code, §§ 324, subd. (b) (each general election to
include congressional candidates), 6901 (Secretary of State to place presidential and vice-
presidential candidates on general election ballot).
18
  Gov. Code, § 82000. This echoes the general rule that “if the Legislature, or the
electorate in the case of an initiative measure, has provided an express definition of a
term, that definition ordinarily is binding on the courts.” (People v. Zeigler (2012) 211
Cal.App.4th 638, 650, quoting People v. Canty (2004) 32 Cal.4th 1266, 1277, internal
quotation marks omitted.)
19
  Compare Gov. Code, § 83117.5 (prohibiting gift of $10 or more per month to
Commissioners, and defining “gift” for these purposes only) with Gov. Code, § 82028
(defining “gift” for rest of Act).
20
     Gov. Code, § 82052.5.
21
  See, e.g., Gov. Code, §§ 82007, subd. (c) (“candidate” excludes federal), 82023
(“elective office” excludes federal), 82024 (“elective state office” excludes federal),
82050 (“state candidate” excludes federal), 82053 (“statewide elective office” excludes
federal).

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        The definition provided in the Act is clear. We will not “interpret away clear
language in favor of an ambiguity that does not exist.” 22 We therefore interpret the
statute using the defined term for “election” in the Act, and conclude that section 83105
bars Commissioners from contributing to federal elections held within the State.

       As noted above, the Commission’s manual agrees with this conclusion. It
provides that the statutory ban applies to “any primary, general, special or recall election
held in this state,” which echoes the Act’s governing definition of election. 23 It
continues: “The Commission interprets this to include contributions to the campaign of
any candidate for President and contributions to the campaign of any other candidate for
federal office when the election is held in California.” 24

       Our interpretation of the text is also consistent with the history of amendments to
the Act. The Act has been amended over 200 times. 25 None of these amendments altered
the language of the ban on contributions in Government Code section 83105. 26 But the
larger context of one amendment is arguably relevant to our analysis. When first
adopted, the Act required certain campaign disclosures by federal candidates. 27
Specifically, section 84208 stated that every person required by a provision of federal law
(section 309(a) of Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971) to file any statement or report
with the California Secretary of State, must file two copies and must also file two copies

 Lennane v. Franchise Tax Bd. (1994) 9 Cal.4th 263, 268, quoting Hartford Fire Ins.
22

Co. v. Macri (1992) 4 Cal.4th 318, 326.
23
  Manual, supra, at p. 3; Gov. Code, §§ 82000, 82022 (“‘Election’ means any primary,
general, special or recall election held in this state”).
24
     Manual, supra, at p. 3.
 Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. v. Newsom (2019) 39 Cal.App.5th 158, 163, citing
25

People v. Kelly (2010) 47 Cal.4th 1008, 1042, fn. 59.
26
  The statute containing the ban, section 83105, has been amended twice, but neither
amendment had any effect on the scope of the ban. (Stats. 2021, ch. 50, § 152
[modernizing gender-neutral language]; Stats., 1986, ch. 620, § 1 [decapitalizing
“Commission” and extending prohibition on seeking election to other public office to
appointment term].)
27
  See former Gov. Code, § 84208 (added by Initiative Measure approved by the electors
June 4, 1974); see also Pub. L. No. 92-225, (Feb. 7, 1972) 86 Stat. 3, § 403(a) (providing
nothing in the federal law “shall be deemed to invalidate or make inapplicable” state law,
unless complying with it would result in federal law violation).

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with certain county clerks. 28 Candidates for President, Vice President, and United States
Senate had to file their additional copies with the county clerks of Los Angeles and San
Francisco; candidates for the United States House of Representatives had to file theirs
with the clerk for each county in their congressional district. 29

       As we have noted, the voters created the Commission to impartially administer
and implement the Act, including the provision just described. The inclusion of federal
candidates in that provision suggests that the voters intended Commissioners to remain
impartial with respect to federal candidates—including by not contributing to the
campaigns of federal candidates.

       Federal law preempted the disclosure requirements for federal candidates shortly
after voters adopted the Act. 30 Now, the Act directs that, when federal law requires
federal candidates to furnish disclosures to California’s Secretary of State, the onus is on
the Secretary of State (rather than the candidates) to furnish copies to the county clerks. 31

        We have considered a possible argument that this change impliedly amended
section 83105, such that its contributions ban would no longer apply to campaigns for
federal elections held in this State. Under this view, when the Legislature amended the
Act to remove the requirement that federal candidates submit campaign disclosures to
state officials, it also impliedly removed federal elections from the ban on Commissioner
contributions. This implied amendment supposedly occurred because one obvious reason
for the ban—to maintain Commissioner impartiality in its oversight of federal candidate
disclosures—no longer existed. We reject this notion for two reasons.

28
  Former Gov. Code, § 84208 (as added by Initiative Measure approved by the electors
June 4, 1974).
29
     Ibid.
30
  52 U.S.C. § 30143 (current preemption provision); Pub. L. No. 93–443 (Oct. 15, 1974)
88 Stat 1263, § 301 (original preemption provision); 2 FPPC Op. 61, In the Matter of:
Opinion requested by Jeffrey A. Dennis-Strathmeyer (1976) (concluding that federal law
preempts section 84208, so Congressman and campaign committee treasurer “are
required to file copies of campaign statements only with those persons specified by
federal law”).
 Gov. Code, § 84217; see also Stats. 1977, ch. 1095, p. 3509, § 3 (similarly providing as
31

much in amendments to former section 84208).

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         First, implied amendments are generally disfavored. 32 Second, the Act contains
strict limits on amending it, which apply to implied amendments. 33 The limits here
would mean that the implied amendment to the statutory ban would have to further the
Act’s purposes. 34 But amending the statute on Commissioner contributions, so that the
ban no longer applies to federal elections held in this State, would not further the Act’s
purposes. Instead, as explained below, the ban on those contributions still furthers the
purposes of the Act.

The Statutory Purpose

       The Act directs that it “should be liberally construed to accomplish its purposes.” 35
A central purpose of the Act was to create a commission that would vigorously enforce
its provisions. 36 In addition to what the Act itself expresses about its goals, the ballot
arguments in favor of the measure further reveal the Act’s purposes. 37 The ballot
arguments state that a “yes” vote will “[e]nforce the law by establishing a tough,
nonpolitical commission.” 38 They further state: “Rather than leading to unfounded
charges or selective enforcement, [the Act] will at last bring full, fair and independent
enforcement of the law.” 39

      The goal of a “tough, nonpolitical” Commission is furthered by construing section
83105 to ban Commissioners from contributing to campaigns for federal elections held in

 Environmental Protection Information Center v. California Dept. of Forestry and Fire
32

Protection (2008) 44 Cal.4th 459, 514; Lesher Communications, Inc. v. City of Walnut
Creek (1990) 52 Cal.3d 531, 540–541.
33
  Gov. Code, § 81012 (providing that amendments to Act may be made by voters or by a
2/3 vote in the Legislature; if the latter, the amendment must further the Act’s purposes);
Huening v. Eu (1991) 231 Cal.App.3d 766, 777, 779 (Act’s limit on amendments in
section 81012 applies to implied amendments).
34
  See Gov. Code, § 81012; Stats. 1977, ch. 1095, p. 3509, § 3 (legislative removal of
preempted material from former section 84208).
35
     Gov. Code, § 81003.
36
     Gov. Code, §§ 81001, subd. (h), 81002, subd. (f), 83111.
37
  See People v. Snyder, supra, 22 Cal.4th at p. 309, fn. 5 (referring to Act’s ballot
arguments as interpretative aid).
 Ballot Pamp., Primary Elec. (June 4, 1974), argument in favor of Prop. 9, p. 36, bold
38

omitted.
39
     Ballot Pamp., Primary Elec. (June 4, 1974), rebuttal to argument against Prop. 9, p. 37.

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this State. Because the way the Commission interprets, applies, and enforces the Act
may affect those candidates, a ban on Commissioner contributions to them promotes the
impartial administration and implementation of the Act. Several concrete examples
illustrate this.

       To begin with, individuals who remain under the Commission’s purview by virtue
of a current or past office or candidacy may become federal candidates. In general, the
Commission has at least four years to enforce compliance with the Act. 40 Applying the
contributions ban to federal elections preserves this statutory safeguard of impartiality
toward covered officials and candidates, who may then become federal candidates in
California. Otherwise, Commissioners could be enforcing the Act against those
candidates while also contributing to their campaigns.

       Additionally, at least two provisions of the Act independently illustrate the
ongoing relevance of the ban to federal elections held in this State. Government Code
section 89519 allows state and local candidates to use their “surplus campaign funds” to
support or oppose a federal candidate. 41 The Commission might well be called on to
consider whether funds were actually “surplus campaign funds,” properly used for that
purpose, or properly disclosed. 42 In that scenario, preserving Commissioner
impartiality—by prohibiting Commissioners from contributing to federal candidates—
would help promote full, fair, and independent enforcement of section 89519.

       Similarly, Government Code section 84308 prohibits an officer of certain state and
local agencies from directing contributions exceeding $250 to federal candidates from
anyone who is a party to a proceeding pending at the agency involving a license, permit,
or other entitlement. 43 In overseeing this prohibition, the Commission may find itself

40
  See Gov. Code, §§ 91000.5 (five-year statute of limitations, unless tolled, on
administrative action), 91011 (generally setting forth four-year statute of limitations on
civil action, but limitations period for violations of filing reports and statements is either
four years after audit could begin or one year after Franchise Tax Board sends
Commission report of audit of alleged violator, whichever is less); see also Gov. Code,
§ 91013.7 (Commission has four years to seek court judgment to collect unpaid civil
monetary penalty).
41
     Gov. Code, § 89519, subds. (a) & (b)(5); see Gov. Code, § 82023.
42
  See Gov. Code, § 89519, subd. (a) (requiring disclosure of surplus campaign funds
pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with section 84100)).
43
  Gov. Code, § 84308, subds. (a)–(b). The same prohibition exists for agents and
“participants”—someone who is not a party to, but who has a financial interest in and
actively supports or opposes a particular decision in the proceeding. (Ibid.)

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directly involved in a matter implicating federal candidates. The goal of impartiality is
served by a Commission whose members have not contributed to such candidates.

        Another example pertains to the state ballot pamphlet, which the Act intends to be
useful to voters. 44 The Act authorizes a candidate for United States Senate to buy
pamphlet space for a 250-word statement, but prohibits mentioning opponents. 45 If a
question arose relating to this aspect of the pamphlet, the Commission could again find
itself involved in a matter involving federal candidates.

       As these examples illustrate, applying the ban on Commissioner contributions to
federal candidates promotes impartiality and the full, fair, and independent enforcement
of the Act by the Commission. The objects sought to be achieved by the Act, like its
history, reinforce that the words of the Act mean what they say: the statutory ban on
Commissioner contributions applies to candidates in federal elections held in this State.

44
     Gov. Code, § 81002, subd. (d).
45
  Gov. Code, § 88001, subd. (i); see also Elec. Code, § 9084, subd. (i) (containing same
language).

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