BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                      



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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                   SB 801|
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                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SB 801
          Author:   Kehoe (D), et al.
          Amended:  4/25/11
          Vote:     27

           
           SENATE ELECTIONS & CONST. AMEND. COMMITTEE  :  4-0, 4/5/11
          AYES:  Correa, La Malfa, De Le�n, Gaines
          NO VOTE RECORDED:  Lieu

           SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  :  Senate Rule 28.8


           SUBJECT  :    Statements of economic interest

           SOURCE  :     Author


           DIGEST  :    This bill requires that persons appointed a 
          state board, commission, or similar multimember body of 
          their original statements of economic interest (SEIs) with 
          their agencies which shall retain the original and forward 
          a copy to the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).

           ANALYSIS  :    Existing law requires specified state and 
          local officials to file periodic SEIs disclosing their 
          financial interests in accordance with state law or the 
          provisions of their respective agency's conflict of 
          interest code.  Existing law generally requires elected 
          state, county, and city officers as well as members of 
          state licensing or regulatory boards, bureaus, or 
          commissions to file their original SEIs with their agencies 
          or their county/city clerks who must make and retain a copy 
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          and forward the original to the FPPC.  Most other 
          individuals required to file SEIs, whether state or local 
          officials, file their originals with their agencies or with 
          their agency's code reviewing body as provided by the 
          agency's conflict of interest code.

           Background

          SEI Filers  .  Existing law specifically enumerates that 
          certain high ranking state and local officials and other 
          public officials designated in their agency's conflict of 
          interest code to file periodic SEIs disclosing their 
          financial interests.  Additionally, existing state law 
          prohibits any public official from making or participating 
          in the making of any governmental decision in which he or 
          she has a financial interest.

           Comments
           
          According to the author's office, the Political Reform Act 
          of 1974 (PRA), among other things, established a detailed 
          process to protect against intentional and accidental 
          conflicts of interest among state and local elected 
          leaders, political appointees and key staff members.  In 
          order to further the purposes of the PRA, it is important 
          to equalize the conflict of interest oversight policies 
          regarding political appointees of the governor to boards, 
          commissions and similar multimember bodies of the state.  
          Appointees of the governor often serve in sensitive 
          positions where they initiate, make or are asked to approve 
          financial decisions regarding the use of public funds.  

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  Yes   
          Local:  Yes

           SUPPORT  :   (Verified  5/2/11)

          California Common Cause


          DLW:kc  5/2/11   Senate Floor Analyses 

                         SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE








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