Political Reform Act of 1974: postgovernment employment restrictions.

Under existing law, Members of the Legislature, elected state officers, and designated employees of state administrative agencies are subject to various restrictions on their activities following their departure from state service. This bill would, for a period of one year after leaving office, prohibit the head of a state administrative agency from acting as an agent or attorney for any other person by making an appearance before, or making an oral or written communication to, a state administrative agency or the Legislature if the appearance or communication is made for compensation and for the purpose of influencing legislative or administrative action. A violation of the Political Reform Act of 1974 is punishable as a misdemeanor. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, the 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 of the Legislature and compliance with specified procedural requirements. This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.