BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
SB 31 (Correa)
Hearing Date: 1/17/2012 Amended: 1/10/2012
Consultant: Maureen Ortiz Policy Vote: E&CA 5-0
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BILL SUMMARY: SB 31 extends the "revolving door" prohibitions
to include officials who are appointed to local governing boards
or commission, as specified.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 Fund
FPPC admin costs $108 $174
$174 General
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STAFF COMMENTS: This bill meets the criteria for referral to the
Suspense file.
The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) indicates the
following costs associated with personal services: 0.1 PY for a
Senior Commission Counsel in the Legal Division, 1 PY for a
Political Reform Consultant in the Technical Assistance
Division, and 0.5 PY for each of an Enforcement Counsel and
Special Investigator in the Enforcement Division. Additionally,
the FPPC will incur one-time costs of $8,200 and ongoing
communication/training expenses of approximately $4,600
annually.
Existing law prohibits, for a period of one year after the
official leaves his or her position, local elected officials,
chief administrative officers of a county, city managers,
general managers or chief administrators of a special district,
from representing for compensation any other person by appearing
before, or communicating with, that local government agency if
the appearance or communication is made for the purpose of
influencing administrative or legislative amendment, awarding or
revocation of a permit, license, grant, or contract of the sale
or purchase of goods or property.
SB 31 (Correa)
Page 1
However, this existing prohibition does not apply to any
individual who is appearing or communicating on behalf of
another public agency, nor does it apply to appointed officials
or members of local governing boards who served in those
positions by virtue of holding a separate elected office.
SB 31 will apply the one-year prohibition to any local public
official serving as a member of a governing board or commission
with decision-making authority. The FPPC estimates that there
could potentially be thousands of local governing boards and
commissions including school boards, and multi-county agencies.
The prohibition does not apply to an individual who is a member
of a local governing board or commission that is solely
advisory.
The Political Reform Act places several restrictions on the
activities of public officials who are leaving governmental
employment including "one-year" bans which generally restrict
the post-employment activities of former state officials, air
pollution control/air quality management district members,
officers and employers, and local officials. Some individuals
are governed by "permanent" bans such as prohibiting former
state officials from permanently being paid to appear in a
proceeding involving specific parties (e.g., a lawsuit,
administrative law judge hearing, or a state contract) in which
the official previously participated.
The Political Reform Act also prohibits all public officials
from making, participating in making, or influencing a
governmental decision that directly relates to a prospective
employer.