Legislature OKs Sen. Dodd’s Government Ethics Bill

SACRAMENTO – The California Legislature on Saturday approved legislation from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that would update conflict of interest laws to ensure local governments and other parties can more effectively implement and follow the law to prevent corruption or the appearance of corruption.   

“This bill builds on the state’s local government ethics safeguards by focusing in on situations prone to abuse or breach of the public’s trust” Sen. Dodd said. “It is critical everyone is clear on how to follow the law, which is why my bill makes clear what is and isn’t allowed. We need to ban conduct that risks creating a reasonable appearance of impropriety while safeguarding fair and reasonable participation in the political process. I thank my colleagues on both side of the aisle for advancing my bill to the governor’s desk, and I look forward to this important government .”

Under current law, known as the Levine Act, an elected official such as a city council member must disclose contributions of more than $250 from anyone who has pending business like a contract, permit or housing development before the body, and must recuse themselves from participation in the decision. Sen. Dodd’s proposal, Senate Bill 1243, goes further by banning agents to a party or a participant from making a contribution in any amount to an officer during the proceeding and for 12 months following the date of the final decision. While state-levels lobbyists have been prohibited from donating to legislators, there has not been a similar requirement at the local level. Sen. Dodd’s bill would effectively ban local lobbyists from contributing while they are working on projects and for the year afterwards, providing a nation-leading model.

The bill also makes numerous updates and clarifications to existing law to improve workability and efficacy. These include updating the reporting and recusal threshold to $500, better defining who counts as a participant or agent, and providing a mechanism for local elected officials to return contributions that would trigger recusal. 

The bill is supported by civil prosecutors, local governments, the California Clean Money Campaign and the League of Women Voters. It was approved by a unanimous vote of the Assembly and the Senate on Saturday evening and heads next to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature.

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Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Solano, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties. More information on Senator Bill Dodd can be found at www.senate.ca.gov/dodd.