Public contracting: conflicts of interest: exemption.

Existing law regulates the acquisition by the state of goods or services by contract. A provision of that existing law prohibits an officer or employee in the state civil service or other appointed state official, for compensation or with a personal financial interest, to engage in any employment, activity, or enterprise that is funded, or sponsored and funded, by any state agency or department through or by a state contract, unless required to do so as a condition of the officer's or employee's regular state employment. This bill would exempt an employee or state officer, not including a member of the board of directors, of a district agricultural association from that conflict of interest prohibition for purposes of contracting with another district agricultural association, subject to the approval of the board of directors of the association of which the person is an employee or state officer.