Plain English Breakdown
The effective date is missing from the provided official metadata and text excerpts.
AB-953: Rules on Money from Foreign Nationals in California Elections
This law expands existing rules to ban contributions and spending by foreign nationals, defined as non-citizens who are not permanent residents or active DACA recipients, in state and local elections.
What This Bill Does
- Expands current bans on political money from foreign governments and principals to include foreign nationals for state and local ballot measures and office elections.
- Defines a 'foreign national' as someone who is not a U.S. citizen and not a lawfully admitted permanent resident, excluding those with active Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.
- Makes it illegal for people or committees to ask for or accept money from foreign nationals for election purposes.
- Keeps violations of these rules as a misdemeanor crime.
Who It Names or Affects
- People who are not U.S. citizens and do not have permanent resident status, unless they have active DACA protection.
- Political committees or individuals soliciting money for elections.
- Local agencies that must enforce these rules without state reimbursement.
Terms To Know
- Foreign national
- A person who is not a U.S. citizen and does not have lawful permanent resident status, unless they have active DACA protection.
- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
- A federal program under which certain people brought to the United States as children may be granted deferred action that has not expired.
- Misdemeanor
- The type of crime for violating these prohibitions, punishable by fines or jail time.
Limits and Unknowns
- The official text does not state the specific effective date.
- The bill states no reimbursement is required but only notes it is 'for a specified reason' without detailing that reason in this summary.