Plain English Breakdown
The official text does not specify an effective date, only that it passed the legislature and reached final enrollment.
Changes to Rules for Charity Fundraising Platforms
This law stops fundraising platforms from using outside lists to check charity status, requires new warnings about where money goes if a charity cannot receive it, and moves all registration filings to an online system.
What This Bill Does
- Removes the rule that lets fundraising websites use specific electronic lists to check if a charity is approved or excused from checking if those lists are unavailable.
- States that rules requiring charities to be in good standing do not apply to groups that are not required to register under this act.
- Requires platforms to tell donors what will happen with their money if the chosen charity cannot receive it, including an explanation of alternative uses for the funds.
- Sets a rule that a registration filing counts as being in good standing if the registry does not process or reject it within 10 days.
- Mandates that all future registrations and reports be filed through the Attorney General's online service.
Who It Names or Affects
- Charitable fundraising platforms
- Platform charities
- The California Attorney General's Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Organizations required to register or file reports with the registry
Terms To Know
- Good standing
- A status showing a charity has met legal requirements, such as having an active registration.
- Charitable fundraising platform
- An online website or service that allows people to donate money to charities and must register with the Attorney General.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not state an effective date.
- Specific details about how the new online filing system works are left for future rules and regulations by the Attorney General.
- The text requires modernization of the registry to support electronic administration but sets a deadline of January 1, 2028, rather than immediate full functionality.