Senate Bill 23/Assembly Bill 74/Senate Bill 22
February 1, 2007
These proposals seek to address the “revolving door” between government and special interest groups. Senate Bill 23 and its companion bill Assembly Bill 74 prohibit legislators from serving as lobbyists for a year following the date on which the individual leaves office. SB 23 was introduced and referred to their committee on Ethics Reform and Government Operations on February 1, 2007, and AB 74 was introduced and referred to the Assembly committee on Judiciary and Ethics on February 20. The Senate committee held a public hearing on SB 23 on April 10, 2007. On May 9 the Senate passed SB 23 on a 30-3 vote.
Senate Bill 22 prohibits Public Service Commission (PSC) commissioners and certain staff from serving as lobbyists for a year following the date they leave their PSC posts. The PSC regulates public utilities and, to varying degrees, nonutilities that provide certain telecommunications services. Current law prohibits a commissioner from having a financial interest in a public utility. SB 22 was introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Utilities and Rail on February 1, 2007.