DOWNEY – Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia presented five political conduct and ethics bills before the Assembly Elections Committee last week. Garcia presented the following bills:

AB 1673 – Eliminating Influence Peddling: prevent lobbyists from hosting political fundraisers at their homes.

AB 1666 – Penalties & Bribes: would double the existing restitution amounts and prohibit the use of campaign funds to pay a restitution fine under this section.

AB 1692 – Personal Use of Campaign Funds: to prevent campaign funds from being used to pay for fines that resulted in abuse of the personal use of campaign funds laws.

AB 1716 – Permanent Ban on Switching Sides: amends existing law to also ban local administrative officials from switching sides where their former agency was a party to the proceeding in which the official was involved.

AB 1728 – Conflicts Stemming from Contributions: prevents appointed members of water boards who are running as candidates from making decisions that affect contributors or potential contributors who appear before them in a proceeding involving a license, permit or entitlement for use.

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Published: April 10, 2014 - Volume 12 - Issue 52