Lobbying: administrative actions.

Existing provisions of the Political Reform Act of 1974 impose requirements on lobbyists and lobbyist employers involved in administrative actions, and generally define "administrative action" to mean, among other things, the proposal, drafting, development, consideration, amendment, enactment, or defeat by any state agency of any rule, regulation, or other action in any ratemaking or quasi-legislative proceeding. A violation of the act is a crime. Existing law requires the Insurance Commissioner and the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care to approve certain transactions involving insurers and health care service plans, respectively. This bill would expand the definition of "administrative action" under the Political Reform Act of 1974 to include any decision or approval by the Insurance Commissioner or the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care under these provisions. By expanding the scope of requirements imposed on lobbyists and lobbyist employers, the violation of which is subject to criminal penalties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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 of the Legislature and compliance with specified procedural requirements. This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.