SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6225
AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE, FEBRUARY 3, 1994
Brief Description: Preventing conflict of interest by agency lobbyists.
SPONSORS: Senators Williams, Drew, Quigley and Sheldon
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6225 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators A. Smith, Chairman; Ludwig, Vice Chairman; Hargrove, Nelson, Quigley, Roach, Schow and Spanel.
Staff: Dick Armstrong (786‑7460)
Hearing Dates: January 27, 1994; February 3, 1994
BACKGROUND:
Existing law allows state and local agencies to employ lobbyists for the purpose of informing state officials about official agency business. Some agencies, particularly small agencies, hire lobbyists on a contract basis to represent the agency during the legislative session. Contract lobbyists oftentimes have clients from both the public and private sector.
It has been suggested that lobbyists who represent public agencies should not also be representing clients from the private sector, because such situations can present conflict of interest.
SUMMARY:
The original bill was not considered.
EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:
A lobbyist for a state agency must be an employee or officer of the agency.
Appropriation: none
Revenue: none
Fiscal Note: none requested
TESTIMONY FOR:
Sometimes agencies hire lobbyists who represent several private entities. At the least, this presents the appearance of a conflict of interest. The Legislature should prevent this from occurring.
TESTIMONY AGAINST: None
TESTIFIED: Senator Williams (pro)