On July 21, California’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) approved a regulation to further clarify the definition of “lobbyist.”

The regulation creates a rebuttable presumption that all compensation from a person for services that include direct communication with a qualifying official for the purpose of influencing legislative or administrative action received within a calendar month is for the purpose of direct compensation.

The regulation will become effective 30 days after the FPPC files it with the Office of the Secretary of State.

The California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has announced a project with the University of California and California Forward to update the Political Reform Act (PRA).

The FPPC plans to submit revisions based on public input from this project to the Legislature in 2017. A webinar is scheduled for Thursday, July 14, at 10 a.m. with FPPC Chair Jodi Remke to discuss the project. Interested persons can register for the webinar at www.cafwd.org/PRAtalk.

California’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) will consider a proposed regulation to further clarify the definition of “lobbyist” at a public hearing set for July 21, 2016.

The proposed regulation would create a rebuttable presumption that all compensation from a person for services that include direct communication with a qualifying official for the purpose of influencing legislative or administrative action received within a calendar month is for the purpose of direct compensation.

The FPPC is accepting written comments on the proposal until July 18, 2016.

At its March 17, 2016, meeting, the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) passed an amendment to lobbying regulations narrowing the “ride along” exception to the definition of direct communication for registration.

The new amendment limits the ride along exception to employees of the lobbyist employer who participate in the meeting or communication only as a subject matter expert.

The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has proposed an amendment to lobbying regulations with the goal of clarifying the “ride along” exception to the definition of direct communication for registration.

The proposed amendment limits the ride along exception to employees of the lobbyist employer who participate in the meeting or communication only as a subject matter expert.

The proposed amendment will be considered at a public hearing on March 17, 2016.

At its January 21, 2016, meeting, the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) adopted rules amending reporting requirements for “other payments to influence legislative or administrative action”, as provided in California Government Code section 86116. The adopted regulations require such payments to be itemized on periodic disclosure reports.

According to the FPPC, these payments encompass a range of expenditures and lump sum reporting does not provide the type of transparency imagined by the drafters of the statute. The amended regulations affect lobbyist employers and persons spending $5,000 or more to influence legislative or administrative action.

The rules become effective 30 days after they are filed with the Secretary of State.

On December 17, 2015, the Fair Political Practices Commission amended its regulations related to agency provided tickets or passes. Currently, tickets and passes an agency provides to agency officials for entertainment, amusement, or recreational events are treated as gifts.

Regulation 18944.1 creates an exception from the statutory definition of “gift” for tickets or passes provided by an agency to certain agency officials under specified circumstances, allowing agency officials to use tickets and passes without violating the state’s gift law.

The proposed regulation was adopted with a vote of 5-0. It will go into effect 30 days after filing with the Secretary of State.

The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has proposed rules amending reporting requirements for “other payments to influence legislative or administrative action”, as provided in California Government Code section 86116. The proposed regulations require such payments to be itemized on periodic disclosure reports.

According to the FPPC, these payments encompass a range of expenditures and lump sum reporting does not provide the type of transparency imagined by the drafters of the statute. The amended regulations affect lobbyist employers and persons spending $5,000 or more to influence legislative or administrative action.

The FPPC will hold an interested persons meeting on December 3, 2015 at 10 a.m. to solicit public comment regarding the proposed rules. The rules will be considered for adoption at the FPPC’s January 21, 2016, meeting.

On November 19, the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) will consider a proposed regulation concerning the procedures for notification of enforcement complaints. The proposals to be heard at the public hearing will include a revised policy for media and public record inquiries. The FPPC is accepting written comments submitted to the Commission offices no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 17, 2015. The notice for the proposed regulatory changes can be accessed here.

The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has come out in opposition to Assembly Bill 1544. This bill, currently awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature or veto, would change disclosure requirements for certain types of behested payments.

Currently, elected officials must disclose if an entity provides funding to a charity or government program based on the official’s request, including any funding coming from government agencies. Should the governor sign AB 1544, elected officials would no longer have to report payments provided by government agencies to nonprofit or for-profit groups when the purpose of the funding is primarily for a governmental or legislative purpose.

Assemblyman Ken Cooley, the bill’s sponsor, said disclosure should not be required when payments are sought from government agencies, as it is part of a legislator’s job to advocate for such grants and opportunities on behalf of his or her district.

The FPPC opposes the bill because eliminating these types of behested payments from disclosure requirements could result in the public not being informed of millions of dollars in behested payments to nonprofit and for-profit groups.

The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) adopted a regulation during its meeting on February 19 to ban political fundraisers in the homes and offices of lobbyists.

Regulation 18215 modifies the definition of “contribution” to include the value of a lobbyist home or office if the lobbyist were to host a campaign fundraiser. Previously, lobbyist fundraisers did not qualify as an otherwise prohibited contribution so long as the value of hosting the fundraiser did not exceed $500.

The change in regulation was necessary following recent amendments to the Political Reform Act effectively prohibiting all fundraisers hosted by a lobbyist or lobbying firm.

The FPPC rejected arguments to exempt hosted fundraisers for local candidates or fundraisers for which the lobbyist was reimbursed.

The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has made adjustments to the gift and campaign contribution limits by adopting amendments to state regulations. The adjusted annual gift limit for covered candidates, officers, and employees will increase from $440 to $460.

Contribution limits will increase to $4,200 from $4,100 for candidates to the Legislature, the Board of Administration of the Public Employees Retirement System, and the Teachers’ Retirement Board.

The new limits are based on changes to the consumer price index and effective for the period from January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2016.

The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has given notice of proposed amendments to regulations in Title 2, Division 6 of the California Code of Regulations. The FPPC will make adjustments to the gift and campaign contribution limits to reflect changes in the consumer price index.

In order to provide the adjustment in time for the new calendar year, the November index is used to make the final calculation. The proposed amendments make adjustments for the period from January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2016.

The FPPC will consider the proposed regulations at a public hearing on or after November 20, 2014. The proposed amendments are available here.

Gov. Jerry Brown has appointed Judge Jodi Remke as the new chair of the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).

Remke is currently the presiding judge of the State Bar Court, which is responsible for the discipline of attorneys.

The appointment fills a vacancy created by Ann Ravel’s appointment to the Federal Election Commission.