Political Reform Act of 1974: agents of foreign principals.

The Political Reform Act of 1974 provides for the comprehensive regulation of lobbyists, as defined. Among its provisions, the act requires a lobbyist to prepare a certification and periodic expenditure and contribution reports, containing specified information, to be filed with the Secretary of State. The act also contains various proscriptions regarding lobbyists giving gifts and engaging in other specified activities that may unduly influence governmental functions. This bill would expand the definition of "lobbyist" to include an individual who acts as an agent or representative of a foreign principal, as defined, and who communicates with any elective state official, agency official, or legislative official for the purpose of influencing legislative or administrative action. This bill would require those individuals to register by filing a certification with the Secretary of State and to file periodic expenditure and contribution reports with the Secretary of State. This bill would also make those individuals subject to all of the act's existing proscriptions regarding gift giving and engaging in other prohibited activities. In addition, this bill would provide that if a lobbyist who is an agent of a foreign principal violates any of the act's requirements or proscriptions, all representatives of that foreign principal shall be prohibited from entering the State Capitol Building and all other legislative offices for the balance of the legislative session during which the violation occurred. Existing law makes a willful violation of the Political Reform Act of 1974 a misdemeanor and subjects offenders to criminal penalties. This bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating additional crimes. 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. 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 23 vote of each house and compliance with specified procedural requirements. This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.