Anti-Nepotism Bill Gains Momentum, Bars Public Officials From Awarding Government Contracts to Family

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Local Government passed Senate Bill (SB) 1111 authored by Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine). The bill was introduced after news reports uncovered that an Orange County Supervisor voted to award multi-million dollar contracts to an organization run by his daughter. The $3.1 million in COVID-19 relief funding was granted without disclosing the Supervisor’s family connection to the public. Despite the apparent conflict of interest, existing law does not forbid Supervisors from awarding public contracts to their adult children.

SB 1111 would expressly forbid state and local officials from voting on public contracts that benefit their adult children, spouse, parents, siblings, in-laws, or other relatives. Originally, the Political Reform Act of 1974, a landmark anti-corruption statute, was designed to prohibit conflicts of interest that extend only to a public official’s minor child. Senator Min’s bill applies a more expansive ban to conflicts involving adult family members and would also levy penalties against those who violate the law.

“It is simply outrageous that public officials are able to award lucrative government contracts to their own family members without violation of the law. That ends under SB 1111,” said Senator Min. “Here in Orange County, millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief were exploited for personal gain. The public deserves better. This bill will help us rebuild public trust and confidence in our government and hold bad actors accountable.”

Section 1090 et seq. of the Government Code and the Political Reform Act of 1974 requires public officials with a remote interest to publicly disclose their interest in the public record, and abstain from voting on a contract or influencing other board members. SB 1111 would expand this requirement to financial interests of a public official’s adult family member or the spouses of those individuals.

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