Levine Act (SB1439) Compliance for Applicants to Grant Programs

Photo courtesy of Body Weather Laboratory.

The County of Los Angeles requires all applicants to Department of Arts and Culture grant programs to complete a Contribution and Agent Declaration Form to comply with the Levine Act (SB1439), new California legislation effective January 1, 2023 that prohibits certain appointed and elected local officers, including members of the Board of Supervisors, from taking part in decisions about awarding contracts, grants, licenses, or permits if the officer received a political contribution of more than $250 in the last 12 months from a bidder, proposer, or applicant (or the bidder, proposer, or applicant’s paid representative/agent). For more information about the Levine Act, visit Pay-to Play Limits and Prohibitions (ca.gov). 

To comply with the Levine Act, California State law requires you to disclose information about contributions made by certain individuals (such as paid employees, paid agents, or paid board members) that represent your organization/agency. You will disclose any required information by completing the Contribution and Agent Declaration Form, a digital form that is a required component of our online grant application. Information is being collected for transparency and compliance purposes only. Reporting contributions will not disqualify you from the grant program.

Failure to respond to required questions will result in immediate disqualification of your application to the grant program without exception. No grace period will be provided to complete this requirement. Applicants should be prepared to dedicate extra time to the process of reviewing the form, collecting, and assessing data, and preparing accurate responses. Additional resources, including the questions you will be asked in the application, an FAQ, and registration links for informational workshops sessions about the Levine Act, are below.

Resources

Sample Template

Download and review a PDF of the Levine Act Contribution and Agent Declaration Form. (This is for your review and awareness; the form you'll fill out is included in your online application.) 

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about completing the Contribution and Agent Declaration Form as part of your grant application.

 

Workshops