Third Quarter Update
Lobbying
Regulations adopted by the Commission.
The following are regulatory changes approved by the Commission during the past quarter concerning lobbying. To receive updates for all regulations before the Commission, please sign up for our mailing list here.
None.
Advice Letters
The following are advice letters issued by the Commission’s Legal Division during the past quarter concerning lobbying. To receive the monthly report with all advice letters issued, please sign up for our mailing list here.
None.
Commission Opinions
None.
Enforcement Matters
The following are summaries of significant enforcement actions approved by the Commission in the past quarter involving violations of the Act’s lobbying laws. To receive a monthly report of all enforcement actions, please sign up for our mailing list here.
Lobbying Reporting
In the Matter of A. O. Smith Corporation and Joshua C. Greene; FPPC No. 25/464. Staff Chance Felkins, Commission Counsel. A. O. Smith Corporation is a Lobbyist Employer and was registered to lobby for the 2019 – 2020 legislative session. Joshua C. Greene is A.O. Smith Corporation’s responsible officer. A. O. Smith Corporation and Greene failed to timely file a lobbyist employer report, in violation of Government Code Section 86117 (1 count). Fine: $2,098 (Tier Two).
In the Matter of Pebble Beach Caddie Liaison Board and Michael Lehotta; FPPC No. 25/889. Staff: Chance Felkins, Commission Counsel. The respondents were represented by Sara Lang of Bell McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP. Pebble Beach Caddie Liaison Board is a Lobbyist Employer and was registered to lobby for the 2019-2020 legislative session. Pebble Beach Caddie Liaison Board failed to timely file two lobbyist employer reports, in violation of Government Code Section 86117 (2 counts). Fine: $1,800 (Tier Two).
In the Matter of Mars, Incorporated and Peter Rowan; FPPC No. 25/965. Staff: Chance Felkins, Commission Counsel. The respondents were represented by Caroline Kilvein of Political Solution LLC. Mars, Incorporated is a Lobbyist Employer and was registered to lobby for the 2019-2020 legislative session. Mars, Incorporated failed to timely file one lobbyist employer report, in violation of Government Code Section 86117 (1 count). Fine: $533 (Tier One).
Legislation
AB 808 (Addis) – Cal-Access Replacement System Clean-Up Bill
Short Summary: AB 808 makes conforming amendments to sections in the PRA that become operative after the certification of the Cal-Access Replacement System by the Secretary of State.
Detailed Summary:
Background: Cal-Access is the statewide campaign finance and lobbying reporting platform, created and administered by the Secretary of State. The Cal-Access Replacement System, known as CARS, is currently in development and will be a modernized, data-driven filing and search system. Several sections of the PRA have been amended by prior legislation with delayed operative dates, set to take effect after CARS is certified by SOS.
Eliminates filing by fax: AB 808 would eliminate references to filing by fax in the PRA.
Deletes reference to “forms”: AB 808 would delete the reference to “forms” in the definition of “campaign statement.”
Clarifies when signature verification is needed: AB 808 would clarify for campaign finance reporting, verification is needed for semiannual and pre-election statements. This would clarify that, once CARS is certified, this verification is not needed for the 24-hour/10-day independent expenditure reports, consistent with current law.