Blanca Pacheco

Existing law requires the legislative ethics committee of each house of the Legislature to conduct at least semiannually an orientation course on the relevant ethical issues and laws related to lobbying, in consultation with the Fair Political Practices Commission. Existing law requires the committees to impose fees on lobbyists for attending these courses, as specified.

This bill would, commencing on January 1, 2029, require the Fair Political Practices Commission to develop, maintain, and offer an orientation course for registered lobbyists on the relevant ethical issues and laws relating to lobbying, and on each house of the legislature's policies against harassment, including sexual harassment, in connection with lobbying activities. The bill would require the course be developed with the legislative ethics committees and give the committees final approval over the content of the course that relates to the legislature's polices against harassment. The bill would require the course be available on-demand through an online platform, internet webpage, or application. The bill would authorize the commission to impose a fee on a lobbyist for the course, as specified. The bill would update cross-references.

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.