Among the bills that Governor Schwarzenegger signed last week was SB 8, a measure by Senator Nell Soto (D – Pomona) to extend the “revolving door” prohibition on lobbying by former state elected officials (and designated state employees) to former city and county officials as well. The new law, which will take effect on July 1, 2006, also applies to officials of school districts and special districts.

The Political Reform Act of 1974 banned state officers and designated employees of state agencies from representing any other person before their former agency for one year after leaving office if the appearance or communication is for the purpose of influencing legislative or administrative action.

Current law imposes a similar prohibition on board members, officers, and employees of air pollution control districts and air quality management districts.

However, these prohibitions don't apply to former members, officers or employees if the appearance or communication is for the purpose of influencing legislative or administrative action on behalf of another public agency.

Soto’s legislation now expands the Political Reform Act to prohibit an elected official of a county, city, or district, a chief administrative officer of a county, a city manager, or a general manager or chief administrator of a special district from being compensated to represent 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;

• Influencing any action or proceeding involving the issuance, amendment, awarding, or revocation of a permit, license, grant, or contract, or the sale or purchase of goods or property, for one year after leaving that position.

“My legislation will help prevent former elected officials from wielding unfair influence with the offices they recently held,” Senator Soto says. “The people of this state expect their elected officials to serve in order to benefit their communities, not to better themselves financially.

“In my county alone – San Bernardino – we have had a rash of corruption and bribery charges against local elected officials, and I feel this is an important step towards giving the public more reason to trust their elected officeholders.”