Large-format public advertisements: public expense.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not explicitly state its alignment with the Political Reform Act's purposes, but declares it furthers those purposes.

Large-format Public Ads: No Free Ride for Politicians

AB-2413 stops public money from being used to pay for large-format advertisements featuring a politician's picture and prepared with their help.

What This Bill Does

• Defines 'large-format public advertisement' as billboards, bus wraps, ads at bus stops, or other big signs larger than 24 inches by 36 inches.
• Prohibits these big ads from being paid for using public money if they include a politician's picture and were prepared with their help.

Who It Names or Affects

• Local government agencies and school districts
• Elected officials who might want their pictures on public ads

Terms To Know

mass mailing

Sending over 200 similar pieces of mail at once.

Political Reform Act of 1974

A law that controls how campaigns are funded and run in California.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify which other public ads might be added to the list by regulation.
• The bill does not address what happens if a large ad is already being paid for with public money when this law takes effect.
• It only applies to new advertisements and does not affect existing ones.

Official Summary Text

AB 2413, as amended, Ransom.
Large-format public advertisements: public expense.
The Political Reform Act of 1974 provides for the comprehensive regulation of campaign financing and activities. The act defines “mass mailing” to mean over 200 substantially similar pieces of mail, and defines “mass electronic mailing” to mean sending more than 200 substantially similar pieces of electronic mail within a calendar month. The act prohibits a mass mailing from being sent at public expense if, among other things, the mailing features an elected officer affiliated with the agency that produces or sends the mailing, or includes the name, office, photograph, or other reference to the elected officer and is prepared or sent in cooperation, consultation, coordination, or concert with the elected officer.
This bill would define “large-format public advertisement” as a billboard, wrap on a bus or other public transportation vehicle,
advertisement affixed to a bus stop, and other public advertisements designated by the commission by regulation that are
larger than those designed to be individually distributed.
24 inches by 36 inches or more in size.
This bill would prohibit a large-format public advertisement from being published or displayed at public expense if, among other things, the advertisement includes the photograph of an elected officer affiliated with the agency that produces or purchases the large-format public advertisement and is prepared in cooperation, consultation, coordination, or concert with the elected officer.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions
establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides that the Legislature may amend the act to further the act’s purposes upon a
2
/
3
vote of each house of the Legislature and compliance with specified procedural requirements.
This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF