California Bill Would Bar Elected Officials From Voting on Contracts to Benefit Relatives
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California state Sen. Dave Min speaks to reporters in Huntington Beach, Calif., on Oct. 6, 2021. (Eugene Garcia/AP Photo)
By Jill McLaughlin
4/30/2024Updated: 4/30/2024

California legislation to prohibit public officials from voting on public contracts that benefit their family members and relatives is winning bipartisan support in the Legislature.

Senate Bill 1111, introduced by Sen. Dave Min, unanimously passed the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee April 22, after also unanimously passing the Senate Local Government Committee the week before.

The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Min said he introduced the measure after an LAist news report, published in January, revealed Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do voted on contracts that included $13.5 million to the nonprofit Warner Wellness Center, where his 22-year-old daughter is listed on tax filings as president.

Mr. Do did not disclose publicly he had any connection to the organization.

Despite the apparent conflict of interest, existing state law does not prohibit supervisors from awarding public contracts to their adult children, Mr. Min said in a press release April 18.

“It is simply outrageous that public officials are able to award lucrative government contracts to their own family members without violating the law,” Mr. Min said. “That ends under SB 1111.”

The senator said he hoped the bill would help the state rebuild public trust and confidence in the government and hold “bad actors” accountable,” he said in the press release.

Current California law, covered by the Political Reform Act of 1974, requires public officials to disclose their interest in the public record, and abstain from voting on a contract or influencing others that will.

Mr. Min’s legislation would expand this requirement to include financial interest of a public official’s adult family member or the spouses of those individuals.

The bill would prohibit members of the Legislature, state, county, district, judicial district, and city officers or employees from being financially interested in a contract made by them in their official capacity, or by anyone on a board of which they are members, according to a bill analysis.

The measure would also mandate a public officer disclose their interest in the contract, and the board must authorize, approve, or ratify the contract in good faith without counting the vote of the public officer.

Similar laws have been proposed in 2015 and 2016. Both measures were tabled in the Assembly’s Appropriation Committee.

If passed, the law would be implemented Jan. 1, 2026.

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Jill McLaughlin is an award-winning journalist covering politics, environment, and statewide issues. She has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Oregon, Nevada, and New Mexico. Jill was born in Yosemite National Park and enjoys the majestic outdoors, traveling, golfing, and hiking.

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