Prison Guard Union Faces Fine For Not Reporting $25,000 In Gifts To State Lawmakers
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The union that represents California prison guards has agreed to pay a $5,500 fine for failing to report nearly $25,000 in gifts to state lawmakers, according to the state's campaign finance watchdog, the Fair Political Practices Commission.
The commission said it has reached an agreement in which the California Correctional Peace Officers Association agreed to pay the fine as part of a settlement. It says the union failed to include the gifts in reports it filed as a lobbyist employer in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
The gifts include hotel stays valued at $1,460, wine, spa bags, blankets and golf games given to lawmakers who attended the annual Governor's Cup Foundation golf tournament held at Pebble Beach.
"The public harm inherent in these violations is that the public is deprived of important information regarding the amounts and nature of reportable lobbying activity and activity expenses that may influence public officials," commission staff said in a report.
The union also failed to provide the lawmakers with documentation of the gifts, which they also were required to report, the report said. All of the gifts were legal.
A spokesman for the union did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
Commission members will consider whether to approve the fine at their Nov. 20 meeting.
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