California Legislators to Consider Stricter Conflict of Interest Law

Courtesy of WikiCommons

As conflict of interest issues within governmental bodies is becoming increasingly prevalent in recent years, particularly as it relates to the financial interests of public figures, members of the California State Senate are seeking to mitigate the issue through more stringent and defined laws.

SB 330 is geared toward restoring public trust and accountability and was recently approved by the Assembly Committee on Elections and Redistricting and the Assembly Committee on Local Government on bipartisan votes.

While conflicts of interest are not necessarily inherently evil, issues arise when political figures abuse their power to seek personal gain over the public’s good.

The legislation was originally introduced by State Senator Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia), with provisions that specify and expand what family relationships would constitute a financial conflict interest for any public official when voting on public contracts before any governmental body, board or commission.

“I want to make sure that elected and government officials abstain from voting when a family member has a financial interest or may benefit in the outcome of a public contract decision under the jurisdiction of that official,” said Mendoza, explaining that recent conflict of interest scandals have warranted such legislation.

Under the current law, any public official that has a direct or indirect financial conflict of interest must disqualify themselves from voting or participating in decisions related to that contract.

This legislation would amend the Government Code to define when a public official is deemed to have a financial interest in a public contract to include situations where the official’s spouse, child, parent, sibling or the spouse of the child, parent, or sibling, has a financial interest in any contract under consideration in their official capacity.

“Government officials should be prevented from using their positions to enrich themselves financially, directly or indirectly,” said Senator Mendoza. “As public officials, we should be held to high ethical standards to avoid any conflicts of interest or perception of impropriety…”

Should the bill become law, stringent punishments would ensue for those in violation. Individuals found guilty would be disqualified from ever holding any office in California, face prison time, and or a fine of not more than $1000.

A local district attorney or the California Attorney General would have the authority to investigate alleged violations of the law and the discretion to pursue criminal prosecution. Should neither pursue a criminal prosecution, the case could potentially be sent to the Fair Political Practices Commission for an administrative or civil action. This enforcement process is currently in place, and not changed by this legislation.

The bill now goes to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations for consideration, and if passed in its current form, would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2017. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Recent Forum Topics

Recent Forum Replies

  • Nick on Where to Get Apostille Services in Los Angeles? "Hello. Need to fly to Moldova but don't know how? This is not a problem . I recently flew there with a cool airline. I bought business class tickets at a very low price. I bought tickets here https://voyagu.com/destinations/business-class-flights-to-europe-moldova/ They have fast and safe service, which I really liked. I think I will always use it now."
  • paul on In what different materials do women’s activewear comes? "You may get a variety of fabrics for the best activewear for women online, including cotton, spandex, synthetic, bamboo fiber, and Gore-Tex. Each of these materials has distinctive properties that set them apart. Since polyester is incredibly light and comfortable to wear, we advise you to utilize it. Athletic clothing frequently uses polyester as a fabric. Shirts for activewear, sweatpants and jogging jackets usually contain polyester blends. Polyester often dries quickly, making it the perfect fabric for intense workouts."
  • PaulWatkins on How does a real estate agency work? "Hi Dans Andrew, I'm glad you have made the right decision because a real estate agency is a promising career. Real estate agency involves dealing with properties either for selling or purchasing. When a client comes to a real estate agency to sell a property, it is the estate agent's job to find a buyer. If the agent finds a buyer and closes the deal at a good price for both parties, the estate agent gets a 1% commission from both buyer and seller. This is how real estate agencies work, and estate agents earn."
  • dans on Where can we find the best kratom capsules? "Hi, sir, I don't know which state you live in because many states in the U.S. have prohibited the sale of the best kratom capsules, but you can still find them online. Many online pharmaceutical stores provide the best kratom capsules at affordable prices. You can look for such online stores on Google or even social media. The store will deliver the best kratom capsule to your home without charging the delivery charges."
  • dans on How to choose the right weight loss clinic? "A reputable weight loss clinic should preferably include counseling while being overseen by a doctor or other qualified medical expert. However, some weight-loss facilities allow clients to quickly obtain weight-loss medications and leave without providing a thorough medical history or seeking a physician's opinion. You should stay away from these types of locations because they're dangerous and probably won't result in long-term weight loss. Find a facility that focuses on the behavioral treatment or lifestyle counseling instead. They can provide you with the tools you need to make healthy decisions and advice on how to fit exercise into your daily schedule. Some of these tactics include keeping track of your meals and keeping a weekly workout log."
ADVERTISEMENT
Skip to content