If it is discovered that a committee received a contribution and the donor and intermediary were not properly identified, the contribution must be paid to the Secretary of State for deposit in the State General Fund. When the action is brought under a local campaign ordinance, a local committee may pay the contribution to the local jurisdiction for deposit in its general fund. Cash Contributions The committee may not accept a cash contribution of $100 or more. Such a contribution will not be deemed “received” if it is not deposited or spent and is returned to the contributor prior to the end of the reporting period of the campaign statement on which the contribution would otherwise be reported. Even if the contribution is inadvertently deposited, it is not deemed “received” if it is refunded within 72 hours of receipt. However, a cash contribution of $1,000 or more that is received in the 90 days before the election, including the date of the election, that is inadvertently deposited must be refunded within 48 hours in order to not be deemed “received.” QUICK TIP: Even if change is immediately provided, a committee may not accept $100 or more in cash from a single source. For example, if the committee is holding a fundraiser and charging $50 per person, an attendee may not pay with a $100 bill. The payment must be made by personal check, debit card, or credit card. Anonymous Contributions Anonymous contributions of $100 or more are prohibited. If a committee receives a cash contribution of $100 or more from an unknown source, it must be sent to the Secretary of State for deposit in the State General Fund. Contributions Made by Money Orders/Cashier’s Checks/ Traveler’s Cheques Contributions of $100 or more made by money order, cashier’s check, or traveler’s cheque are prohibited and must be returned to the contributor, or, if made anonymously, sent to the Secretary of State for deposit in the State General Fund.
Fair Political Practices Commission advice@fppc.ca.gov
Chapter 5.3
Campaign Manual 2 August 2023 Page 223
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