AB 51

This bill prohibits any individual who serves as a member of the legislature, for

24 months following the date on which the individual ceases to hold office, from being

employed as a lobbyist. "Lobbyist" is defined as an individual who is compensated

by a principal and whose duties include attempting to influence state legislative

action or state administrative rule-making action on behalf of the principal; if an

individual's duties on behalf of a principal are not limited exclusively to lobbying, the

individual is a lobbyist only if he or she makes lobbying communications on each of

at least five days during a six-month reporting period.

Violators of the prohibition are subject to a forfeiture (civil penalty) of not more

than $5,000 for each violation. Intentional violators are guilty of a misdemeanor and

are subject to a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $5,000 or imprisonment for

not more than one year or both for each violation.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,

the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a

report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to

result if the bill is enacted.