SACRAMENTO – Lobbyists’ financial disclosure activities in California have gone largely ignored in recent years, thanks to a paucity of required audits on them during the past 10+ years. That will be the subject of an oversight hearing tomorrow, March 7, in the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee.

Senator Steve Glazer, chair of the committee, will review the Franchise Tax Board’s responsibilities for auditing lobbyists and lobbying activities.

This Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee hearing will start tomorrow March 7, at 9:30 a.m. at the O Street Building, Room 2200.

“For too long, lobbyists have slipped under the radar while wielding immense influence and power at the State Capitol,” Senator Glazer said. “The law requires that the Franchise Tax Board audit the activities of 25 percent of lobbyists every two years for compliance with influence disclosure rules. Unfortunately, the typical audit rate is more like 2 percent, and in some years, no audits were done. We need to find out why that is the case and how we can bring the audits in line with the law.”

Who: Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments

What: Oversight hearing on the Franchise Tax Board’s responsibilities for auditing lobbyists and lobbying activities as required by the Political Reform Act of 1974.

When: March 7 at 9:30 am

Where: O Street Building, Room 2200

Why: To learn more about the Franchise Tax Board’s audit role and compliance with the Political Reform Act of 1974.

How to watch the livestream: www.senate.ca.gov