Campaign funds: security expenses: security personnel.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about the definition of 'security expenses', which is already covered by the Political Reform Act of 1974.

Campaign Funds for Security: Licensing Requirements

AB-2655 limits the use of campaign funds to pay for security personnel if they hold a license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services.

What This Bill Does

• Limits the use of campaign money to hire security guards only if they are licensed by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services.

Who It Names or Affects

• Candidates running for office
• Elected officials
• Campaign committees

Terms To Know

Political Reform Act of 1974

A law that sets rules for how campaign money can be used.

Security expenses

Money spent on protecting a candidate, elected official, or their family and staff.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if security personnel do not have the required license.
• It is unclear how this change will affect current spending practices for security before January 1, 2029.

Official Summary Text

AB 2655, as introduced, Valencia.
Campaign funds: security expenses: security personnel.
The Political Reform Act of 1974 regulates the use of campaign funds held by candidates for elective office, elected officers, and campaign committees. The act authorizes the use of campaign funds to pay or reimburse the state for security expenses to protect a candidate, an elected officer, or the immediate family or staff of a candidate or elected officer, as specified. The act defines “security expenses” to include, among other things, the reasonable costs of providing personal security to a candidate, elected officer, or the immediate family or staff of a candidate or elected officer. The act permits a candidate or elected officer to expend campaign funds for these purposes without any monetary cap until January 1, 2029.
This bill would limit the use of campaign funds to pay for security personnel to only those instances where the security
personnel hold the appropriate license issued by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services.
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