Attorneys’ Fees Generally, attorneys’ fees and other costs related to administrative, civil, or criminal litigation may only be paid with campaign funds if the litigation is directly related to activities of the committee that are consistent with its primary objectives. Campaign funds may be used to pay for expenses related to the following:
• Action to halt defamation;
• Defense of an action to halt defamation;
• Defense of an action for violation of state or local campaign, disclosure, or election laws; • Litigation to secure a place on the ballot or challenge the wording of the ballot pamphlet;
• Contested election;
• Election recount; and
• Compliance expenses (for example, completing campaign disclosure reports).
Reimbursements If a bank account is required (see Chapter 1), the candidate must deposit personal funds in the campaign bank account and make expenditures from that account instead of spending personal funds for the campaign and later seeking reimbursement from campaign funds. However, any other individual (e.g., a volunteer or campaign worker) may make expenses from personal funds and be reimbursed, so long as the expenses are incurred for political, legislative, or governmental purposes and repayment is made within 45 days. An officeholder may use personal funds and be reimbursed for “officeholder” expenses. (See Chapter 8 for specific reporting rules and deadlines for reimbursements.)
Fair Political Practices Commission advice@fppc.ca.gov
Chapter 6.2
Campaign Manual 2 August 2023 Page 232
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