SB 548

Present law prohibits a candidate for public office, an official in the legislative branch, or an official in the executive branch, or the immediate family of such candidate or official, from solicit ing or accept ing , directly or indirectly, a gift from an employer of a lobbyist or a lobbyist. This bill clarifies that an indirect gift includes, but is not limited to, a gift provided by an entity that is related to, and its business or political activities intertwined with, the employer of a lobbyist. This bill requires disclosure to be made of, by the governor or an officer of the governor's cabinet, the amount and source, by name, of any travel expenses, including any expenses incidental to such travel, paid on behalf of the governor or officer by a person with an interest in a public policy of thi s state if the travel was for the purpose of informing or advising the governor or officer with respect to the public policy. Travel expenses do not include expenses for travel, if such expenses are paid for or reimbursed by a governmental entity or an e s tablished and recognized organization of elected or appointed state government officials, staff of state government officials, or both officials and staff, or any other established and recognized organization that is an umbrella organization for such offi c ials, staff, or both officials and staff .