SB 8, a political reform bill by State Senator Nell Soto (D – Pomona), passed out of the Assembly Committee on Redistricting & Elections Tuesday by a vote of 4-1.

Prohibits a former elected state official, or former designated employee of a state administrative agency, from representing any other person before the agency for which the individual was employed for 12 months after leaving office if the appearance or communication is for the purpose of influencing legislative or administrative action.

Soto’s bill seeks to extend the same one-year prohibition to local elected officials.

Specifically, SB 8 would prohibit an elected official of a county, city, or district, a chief administrative officer of a county, a city manager, or a general manager of a special district from representing any other person by appearing before, or communicating with, the local government agency with which he or she was employed, for the purpose of influencing administrative or legislative action, or influencing any action or proceeding involving a permit, license, grant, or contract, or the sale or purchase of goods or property, for a period of one year after leaving his or her  respective position.

The new law would not apply to any individual who is appearing or communicating on behalf of another local government or public agency of which the individual is a board member, officer, or employee.

“This is a common sense policy that some cities have enacted although most have not,” Senator Soto said. “The people of this state expect their elected officials to serve in order to benefit their communities – not to better themselves financially from their position.”

The Consumer Federation of California says that SB 8 “takes a common sense approach in elevating the people's trust in their elected officials.  Existing law already prohibits members of the state Legislature and state elected officials from lobbying the body they served for one year after leaving service.  It makes sense that the same standard should be applied to officials at the city and county level.  SB 8 would help prevent former local elected officials from wielding unfair influence with the office they once held."