Senate Panel OKs Bill to Close Loophole in Lobbying Law

A bill to close a loophole in a 1990 law prohibiting former public officials from lobbying their former colleagues for one year after leaving office has been approved by the Senate Rules Committee.

A 4-0 vote sent the legislation (SB 230) by Sen. Milton Marks (D-San Francisco) to the Appropriations Committee.

The Fair Political Practices Commission has ruled that the so-called revolving door statute applies to former state legislators--but not to former executive branch aides in some cases.

Under the FPPC ruling, a member of the governor’s staff could conceivably write a memo urging the governor to sign a bill on Monday, resign on Tuesday, and lobby the governor to sign the bill again on Wednesday, according to Marks.

His bill would eliminate the loophole by making it clear that the law prohibits former public officials from lobbying their former colleagues regarding administrative or legislative actions for one year after leaving office.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

* Senior Citizens: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 73-0 vote a bill (AB 1549) by Assemblyman Bob Epple (D-Cerritos) to allow judges to add an additional three, five or seven years to the prison sentences of people convicted of inflicting great bodily harm on victims who are 70 or older.

* Job Discrimination: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 42-28 vote a bill (AB 1204) by Assemblyman Curtis Tucker Jr. (D-Inglewood) to prohibit job discrimination against employees based upon their past or present membership in a labor union.

* Labor-Management Relations: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 42-31 vote a bill (AB 990) by Assemblyman Tucker to establish a labor-management relations council to initiate problem-solving programs and stimulate the state’s economy.

* Jurors’ Names: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 73-0 vote a bill (AB 1915) by Assemblywoman Paula Boland (R-Granada Hills) requiring the courts to inform jurors in criminal trials that they can request that their identities be sealed to prevent public disclosure.

Committee Action

* Secondhand Smoke: The Judiciary Committee rejected a bill (AB 432) by Assemblyman Byron Sher (D-Palo Alto) allowing people to sue tobacco companies for health problems caused by secondhand smoke.

* Breast Cancer: The Revenue and Taxation Committee approved a bill (AB 478) by Assemblywoman Barbara Friedman (D-Los Angeles) to increase the state cigarette tax by 2 cents a package to raise $38 million annually to finance breast cancer research, detection and education. A 7-2 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

* Defense Conversion Funds: The Utilities and Commerce Committee approved a bill (AB 1365) by Assemblywoman Debra Bowen (D-Marina del Rey) to create a defense conversion coordinator post to work with local officials to obtain federal funds to reduce the impact of base closures and lost defense industry contracts. A 10-0 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

SENATE

Floor Action

* Compton Schools: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 27-9 vote a bill (SB 399) by Sen. Teresa Hughes (D-Inglewood) granting a $16.5-million emergency loan to the financially troubled Compton Unified School District. The Assembly already has approved similar legislation.

* Club Discrimination: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 21-12 vote a bill (SB 182) by Sen. Teresa Hughes (D-Inglewood) prohibiting the issuance of state liquor licenses to private clubs that deny membership on the basis of a person’s race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age.