Lobbyist certification.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on how existing certifications will be handled if someone was convicted of public corruption before the law's enactment.

Lobbyist Certification

AB-1560 prohibits individuals convicted of public corruption from becoming lobbyists for 12 years and requires the Secretary of State to enforce this rule.

What This Bill Does

• Prohibits a person who has been convicted of a crime of public corruption from serving as a lobbyist for 12 years following their conviction.
• Requires the Secretary of State not to accept lobbying certifications from individuals convicted of public corruption within the last 12 years.
• Mandates that all lobbyist certification applications include a statement declaring whether they have been convicted of a crime of public corruption in the past 12 years.

Who It Names or Affects

• Individuals who want to become lobbyists after being convicted of public corruption crimes.
• The Secretary of State, responsible for enforcing these new rules.

Terms To Know

Public Corruption

A crime involving dishonest or illegal actions by someone in a position of power or trust within the government.

Lobbyist Certification

A document that lobbyists must file with the Secretary of State to show they meet certain requirements and rules.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if someone tries to become a lobbyist without following these new rules.
• It is unclear how this will affect existing certifications for those who have been convicted of public corruption crimes before the law was passed.

Official Summary Text

AB 1560, as amended, Tangipa.
Lobbyist certification.
The Political Reform Act of 1974 requires individual lobbyists to prepare certifications, as specified, for filing with the Secretary of State. The act also requires lobbying firms and certain lobbyist employers to register with the Secretary of State. The act makes a violation of these provisions a misdemeanor. Under existing law, a person who violates the act is prohibited from acting as a lobbyist for a period of four years following the date of conviction, except as specified.
This bill would prohibit a person who has been convicted of a crime of public corruption, as defined, from serving as a
lobbyist.
lobbyist for 12 years following the date of the conviction.
The bill would prohibit the Secretary of State from accepting a lobbying certification from such a person, and it would also void an existing lobbying certification in the event of such a conviction. The bill would require a lobbying certification to include a statement that the applicant has not been convicted of a crime of public
corruption.
corruption within the previous 12 years.
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
2
/
3
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.
A violation of the Political Reform Act of 1974 is punishable as a misdemeanor. By creating a new crime, this 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.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF