California Political Treasurers Association
Greetings!

Now that summer is over the election season kicks into high gear. Consequently, the California Secretary of State is advising Committees to be alert to illegal attempts to access their campaign information. Secretary of State Alex Padilla sent correspondence to political parties to remind them and their party’s candidates to be alert and to take measures to reduce a risk of being victimized by cyberattacks.
Padilla recommends that campaigns establish a security framework, monitor user activity, back up data and educate campaign staff on best practices to guard against cyberattacks.

On a related note...if you find yourself lounging on a pristine beach in the sunny Caribbean, gazing at the aqua-blue sea, enjoying a local rum drink or you are sailing among the Greek Isles, quaffing ouzo, and have a sudden need to log into Netfile to file an LCR, it may not be the excessive alcohol preventing you from logging in. Netfile has erected a firewall preventing foreign intrusions into their database, especially from Boris and Natasha. However, Netfile can open up the firewall from foreign locales on a country-by-country basis for specified periods of time. If you are abroad and need access, just let Netfile know and they’ll help you get connected.

While on the topic of getting connected, we are pleased to introduce CPTA's new Membership Coordinator, Kristin Lippstreau. Kristen's duties will include contacting inactive members to encourage their participation and meeting attendance. Kristen is featured in this issue's Member Spotlight.

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Legislative Update
by Branché Jones


The Legislative Session Ends


Last Friday the Legislature adjourned for the year after sending hundreds of bills to the Governor for his signature. With elections being held in November a new legislature will convene on the first Monday in December for an organizational session. They will meet for one day and then they will reconvene in January. Below are the bills that could impact CPTA members that are on the Governor’s desk awaiting his signature or veto.

AB 84 by Assemblyman Mullin would have re-written the Political Reform Act and drastically changed how expenditures are reported was placed on the Senate Inactive File and did not pass the legislature.

AB 2188 by Assemblyman Mullin which also amended the Political Reform Act around how emails and websites are treated, how disclosures are handled, how electronic media and online platforms are regulated and created new penalties passed the legislature and is on the Governor’s desk.

AB 2707 by Assemblyman Mullin would require the Secretary of State, January 1, 2020, to establish an Internet Web site that displays the names and contact information of each voter’s local, state and federal elected officials. This bill is also on the Governor’s desk.

SB 1239 by Senator Hertzberg would generally recast certain provisions governing the processing of campaign reports and statements to provide for the filing, verification, delivery, amendment, retention and inspection of those documents online or electronically. The bill also changes some committee reporting requirements. It is also on the Governor’s desk.

To view any of these measures in their entirety go to leginfo.legislature.ca.gov and hit the bill link at the top left of the page.


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For additional Legislation information click on this link:


SAVE THE DATE

The next CPTA meeting will be held in Sacramento on Friday, November 16th from 10:00 - 4:00 at
The Embassy Suites
100 Capitol Mall

Representatives from both the FPPC and the SOS are guest speakers. CPTA member Dave Bauer will demonstrate how using a desk-top scanner for document retention increases efficiency and enables his office to go paperless. Additional ideas geared towards efficiencies will be discussed.

To simplify the RSVP process you will receive the meeting invite via Evite from Stacy Owens.

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FYI

Special FPPC Phone Hours

Starting September 4, 2018, the California Fair Political Practices Commission will change their phone advice hours to accommodate the influx of phone calls received during election season.

The phone advice hours from September 4th through the November 6 election will be as follows:

Mondays and Tuesdays     
9:00 am to 12:00 pm. 

Wednesdays and Thursdays       
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

E-mail advice will still be available Monday through Friday during business hours.

Please note that after November 6th, the phone advice hours will return to the regular schedule .
DID YOU KNOW?
The FPPC Enforcement Division now has the capability to accept electronic payments for penalties through the FPPC website. This will make it faster and more convenient for those who have incurred a fine.
With this system, enforcement penalties can be paid via credit or debit card. The system accepts Visa, Mastercard and Discover Card.
You will need: 
  • A valid email address to receive notification that the payment has been received.
  • The information from your Visa, Mastercard or Discover Card, including security code.
  • The case number assigned to your case (for your payment to be properly attributed to you).

This system is now active. Just go to the FPPC website ( fppc.ca.gov ) under the Enforcement tab there will be a link called “Pay an Enforcement Penalty.” Click there and you will be ready to put in your information.
CPTA Web Site: www.cpta.info
CPTA Meeting minutes and copies of newsletters are posted on the CPTA website. If you need a login and password to access the Members Only section, please contact Marissa Quaranta. Marissa's email is mquaranta@seowenscompany.com.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Kristen Lippstreau

Kristen Lippstreu joined Nielsen Merksamer in July 2013, and under the brilliant tutelage of Sheila Scally, became a Manager of the California-Federal section of the firm’s Political Reporting Unit in 2015. 

Kristen supervises the firm’s Political Reports Specialists responsible for preparing the Federal and California state campaign reports as well as California and local lobby reports. In her short time with Nielsen Merksamer, Kristen has developed considerable experience handling California and Federal PACs, ballot measures, Federal, California and local lobby disclosure.

Kristen grew up in Marin County, and is proud to call Marin home. Ever the avid athlete, she spent her springs and summers traveling around the country playing competitive softball, while fall was reserved for volleyball, and winter for basketball. She attended Marin Catholic (class of ’08 – and no, she will not be attending her 10-year reunion) where she participated in a variety of clubs/teams before graduating with honors and heading up to the University of Oregon. At the U of O, Kristen joined her mother’s sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and had just about as good of a time as one would expect. She is still known to rep her Oregon gear with great fervor, and can often be heard exclaiming, “Go Ducks!”

In Kristen’s (limited) free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, taking in a concert or ball game (preferably a Ducks game), and traveling. Her next bucket list location is Croatia, which she will be crossing off her list in September. She is known by her friends and family to be a walking juke box, mysteriously missing an off-button.

To add a new member for your firm or to revise your current members - contact Nancy Haley, the CPTA Treasurer. Nancy's email address is nhaley@thinkcpa.com.