SB 976

Bill Subjects

Abstract

The Milton Marks Postgovernment Employment Restrictions Act of 1990 prohibits a Member of the Legislature, for a period of one year after leaving office, from acting as a compensated agent or attorney for, or otherwise representing, any other person by making appearances before or communications with the Legislature or its committees, present Members, or officers or employees, if the appearance or communication is made for the purpose of influencing legislative action. This bill would extend the time period for these prohibitions for a Member of the Legislature who resigns from office to 2 years commencing with the effective date of the resignation. The bill would additionally prohibit a Member from engaging in the above-described post legislative employment activities before the Governor, or any officer or employee thereof. Existing law prohibits an elected state officer, other than a Member of the Legislature, for a period of one year after leaving office, from acting as a compensated agent or attorney for, or otherwise representing any other person by making any formal or informal appearance or by making any oral or written communication before any state administrative agency or any officer or employee thereof, if the appearance or communication is for the purpose of influencing specified administrative actions. The bill would extend the time period for these prohibitions for an elected state officer who resigns from office to 2 years commencing with the effective date of the resignation. Because a violation of the act is punishable as a misdemeanor, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides that the Legislature may amend the act to further the act's purposes upon a 23 vote of each house and compliance with specified procedural requirements. This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.