HomeMy WebLinkAboutSB 594 LTR to Wieckowski 20130815t Y off.
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l4 / ♦ OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
S O� 990 Palm Street ■ San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3249 ■ 805/781-7119
August 15, 2013
VIA FACSIMILE ONLY 916-319-2125
The Honorable Bob Wieckowski
Chair, Assembly Judiciary Committee
State Capitol, Room 4016
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: SB 594 (Hill): Use Of Public Resources
NOTICE OF OPPOSITION
Dear Assemblyman Wieckowski,
The City of San Luis Obispo wishes to inform you of our opposition to SB 594 (Hill) as it
is currently written. We stand with the League of California Cities, an organization representing
97 percent of California cities, in our respectful opposition.
SB 594 places unnecessary and significant new restrictions on nonprofit organizations
that receive public funds and participate in campaign activities — primary, ballot measures. It
prohibits local government organizations, their officers, employees and agents from any form of
communication advocating for or against ballot measures. By curbing the vital influence of local
government organization in the ballot measure arena, SB 594 delivers a direct attack on an
organization's ability to ensure the opinions and political voices of cities are heard.
The bill also creates a new system that would require the Attorney General to audit local
government organizations every two years to ensure that they have complied with this measure.
In the event that the Attorney General determines that a local government organization has been
in violation of this measure through the audit, local government organizations would be subject
to stiff financial penalties. Given the vague language in the current version of this bill, local
government organizations would in effect not participate in weighing -in on ballot measures that
would impact their members to avoid any potential penalties against their organizations.
In its current form, SB 594 lacks a consistent and equitable approach to this issue.
If public resource disclosure is the main intent of the bill, then I believe that the author and SB
594 supporters should amend the bill so it applies equally to all organizations. The current
version of SB 594 singles out specific types of organizations for these restrictive provisions, but
exempts others such as educational organizations.
city of san luis oBispo
SB 594 Use of Public Resources
Page 2
For the reasons stated above, the City of San Luis Obispo is opposed to SB 594.
Sincerely,
Jan Marx
Mayor
cc: Senator Jerry Hill, fax 916-651-4913
Council Member Katcho Achadjian, fax 916-319-2135
City Council
Katie Lichtig
David Mullinax, League of CA Cities