Calif. lawmakers agree to pay fines for failing to report lobbyists’ gifts, as required by law

Calif. lawmakers to be fined for unreported gifts

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Thirty-one California lawmakers have agreed to pay fines for failing to report hotel stays, dinners, concert tickets and other gifts given by lobbyists.

Enforcement staff at the state Fair Political Practices Commission have proposed that lawmakers pay $200 for each violation.

Roman Porter, the commission’s executive director, said Monday the lawmakers signed stipulations acknowledging failure to report the gifts and agreed to pay the recommended fines. The commission will have the final say at its Feb. 11 meeting.

The commission last month sent letters to 38 members of the Assembly and Senate for failing to report gifts totaling thousands of dollars.

Seven lawmakers accused of reporting violations have pending cases. Porter declined to comment on those.