(a) A public official of a state agency shall not, for compensation, act as an agent or attorney for, or otherwise represent, any other person by making any formal or informal appearance before, or any oral or written communication to, the official’s state agency or any officer or employee thereof, if the appearance or communication is for the purpose of influencing a decision on a contract, grant, loan, license, permit, or other entitlement for use.

(b) For purposes of this section, “public official” includes a member, officer, employee, or consultant of an advisory body to a state agency, whether the advisory body is created by statute or otherwise, except when the public official is representing the official’s employing state, local, or federal agency in an appearance before, or communication to, the advisory body.

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Terms Used In California Government Code 87104

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
  • Person: includes any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, corporation, or company. See California Government Code 17
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Government Code 18
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 50, Sec. 196. (AB 378) Effective January 1, 2022.)