Political Reform Act of 1974: nondisclosure agreements.

Existing law prohibits lobbyists from engaging in various activities, as specified. This bill would prohibit lobbyists and certain public officials and employees, as specified, from entering into, or requesting that another party enter into, a nondisclosure agreement relating to the drafting, negotiation, discussion, or creation of legislation. The bill would also make any nondisclosure agreement relating to the drafting, negotiation, discussion, or creation of legislation entered into after the effective date of this bill void and unenforceable. A violation of the Political Reform Act of 1974 is punishable as a misdemeanor. By creating a new crime under the act, this 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.