89513
. This section governs the use of campaign funds for the
specific expenditures set forth in this section. It is the intent of
the Legislature that this section shall guide the interpretation of
the standard imposed by Section 89512 as applied to other
expenditures not specifically set forth in this section.
(a) (1) Campaign funds shall not be used to pay or reimburse the
candidate, the elected officer, or any individual or individuals with
authority to approve the expenditure of campaign funds held by a
committee, or employees or staff of the committee or the elected
officer's governmental agency for travel expenses and necessary
accommodations except when these expenditures are directly related to
a political, legislative, or governmental purpose.
(2) For the purposes of this section, payments or reimbursements
for travel and necessary accommodations shall be considered as
directly related to a political, legislative, or governmental purpose
if the payments would meet standards similar to the standards of the
Internal Revenue Service pursuant to Sections 162 and 274 of the
Internal Revenue Code for deductions of travel expenses under the
federal income tax law.
(3) For the purposes of this section, payments or reimbursement
for travel by the household of a candidate or elected officer when
traveling to the same destination in order to accompany the candidate
or elected officer shall be considered for the same purpose as the
candidate's or elected officer's travel.
(4) Whenever campaign funds are used to pay or reimburse a
candidate, elected officer, his or her representative, or a member of
the candidate's household for travel expenses and necessary
accommodations, the expenditure shall be reported as required by
Section 84211.
(5) Whenever campaign funds are used to pay or reimburse for
travel expenses and necessary accommodations, any mileage credit that
is earned or awarded pursuant to an airline bonus mileage program
shall be deemed personally earned by or awarded to the individual
traveler. Neither the earning or awarding of mileage credit, nor the
redeeming of credit for actual travel, shall be subject to reporting
pursuant to Section 84211.
(b) (1) Campaign funds shall not be used to pay for or reimburse
the cost of professional services unless the services are directly
related to a political, legislative, or governmental purpose.
(2) Expenditures by a committee to pay for professional services
reasonably required by the committee to assist it in the performance
of its administrative functions are directly related to a political,
legislative, or governmental purpose.
(3) Campaign funds shall not be used to pay health-related
expenses for a candidate, elected officer, or any individual or
individuals with authority to approve the expenditure of campaign
funds held by a committee, or members of his or her household.
"Health-related expenses" includes, but is not limited to,
examinations by physicians, dentists, psychiatrists, psychologists,
or counselors, expenses for medications, treatments or medical
equipment, and expenses for hospitalization, health club dues, and
special dietary foods. However, campaign funds may be used to pay
employer costs of health care benefits of a bona fide employee or
independent contractor of the committee.
(c) (1) Campaign funds shall not be used to pay or reimburse
fines, penalties, judgments, or settlements, except those resulting
from either of the following:
(A) Parking citations incurred in the performance of an activity
that was directly related to a political, legislative, or
governmental purpose.
(B) Any other action for which payment of attorney's fees from
contributions would be permitted pursuant to this title. However,
campaign funds shall not be used to pay a fine, penalty, judgment, or
settlement relating to an expenditure of campaign funds that
resulted in either of the following:
(i) A personal benefit to the candidate or officer if it is
determined that the expenditure was not reasonably related to a
political, legislative, or governmental purpose.
(ii) A substantial personal benefit to the candidate or officer if
it is determined that the expenditure was not directly related to a
political, legislative, or governmental purpose.
(2) Campaign funds shall not be used to pay a restitution fine
imposed under Section 86 of the Penal Code.
(d) Campaign funds shall not be used for campaign, business, or
casual clothing except specialty clothing that is not suitable for
everyday use, including, but not limited to, formal wear, if this
attire is to be worn by the candidate or elected officer and is
directly related to a political, legislative, or governmental
purpose.
(e) (1) Except where otherwise prohibited by law, campaign funds
may be used to purchase or reimburse for the costs of purchase of
tickets to political fundraising events for the attendance of a
candidate, elected officer, or his or her immediate family, or an
officer, director, employee, or staff of the committee or the elected
officer's governmental agency.
(2) Campaign funds shall not be used to pay for or reimburse for
the costs of tickets for entertainment or sporting events for the
candidate, elected officer, or members of his or her immediate
family, or an officer, director, employee, or staff of the committee,
unless their attendance at the event is directly related to a
political, legislative, or governmental purpose.
(3) The purchase of tickets for entertainment or sporting events
for the benefit of persons other than the candidate, elected officer,
or his or her immediate family are governed by subdivision (f).
(f) (1) Campaign funds shall not be used to make personal gifts
unless the gift is directly related to a political, legislative, or
governmental purpose. The refund of a campaign contribution does not
constitute the making of a gift.
(2) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the use of campaign
funds to reimburse or otherwise compensate a public employee for
services rendered to a candidate or committee while on vacation,
leave, or otherwise outside of compensated public time.
(3) An election victory celebration or similar campaign event, or
gifts with a total cumulative value of less than two hundred fifty
dollars ($250) in a single year made to an individual employee, a
committee worker, or an employee of the elected officer's agency, are
considered to be directly related to a political, legislative, or
governmental purpose. For purposes of this paragraph, a gift to a
member of a person's immediate family shall be deemed to be a gift to
that person.
(g) Campaign funds shall not be used to make loans other than to
organizations pursuant to Section 89515, or, unless otherwise
prohibited, to a candidate for elective office, political party, or
committee.