Public Utilities Commission: solicitation of contributions from regulated persons or corporations.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, as defined. Existing law prohibits a commissioner from holding an official relation to or having a financial interest in a person or corporation subject to regulation by the commission and requires the commission to adopt an updated Conflict of Interest Code and State of Incompatible Activities. This bill would prohibit a commissioner or employee of the commission from knowingly soliciting charitable, political, or other contributions from any person or corporation subject to regulation by the commission, or from any person that is representing, or regularly represents, persons or corporations regulated by the commission. The bill would additionally require the commission to annually report certain information to the Legislature relative to organizations that solicit charitable, political, or other contributions from any person or corporation subject to regulation by the commission, or from any person that is representing, or regularly represents, persons or corporations regulated by the commission on which a commissioner, the executive director, an assistant executive director, the attorney, an administrative law judge, or other exempt employee of the commission serves as an officer or member of the board of directors or other leadership body for the organization.