dave demerjian - la county distict attorney's office of public integrity
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EIGHT SIMPLE RULES
(for avoiding the PID)
EIGHT SIMPLE RULES
(for avoiding the PID)
Dave DemerjianDave DemerjianHead Deputy District AttorneyHead Deputy District Attorney
Public Integrity DivisionPublic Integrity Division(213) 974-6515(213) 974-6515
Rule #1:Rule #1:
American Express…American Express…leave home leave home without itwithout it
Credit CardsCredit Cards
Any expenditure of public fundsAny expenditure of public funds1. Must be 1. Must be authorizedauthorized by law by law2. Must serve a 2. Must serve a public purposepublic purpose (a benefit to the public) (a benefit to the public)
PC 424 (felony)PC 424 (felony)4 yrs prison and lifetime ban4 yrs prison and lifetime ban
General law city: GC 36514.5General law city: GC 36514.5
ActualActual and and necessarynecessary expense expense“Indispensable, unavoidable…”“Indispensable, unavoidable…”ConnectionConnection between expense and between expense and
performance of official dutiesperformance of official duties
Credit CardsCredit Cards
Problem areas:Problem areas:GolfGolfAlcoholAlcoholNon-travel rental carsNon-travel rental carsMeals for third partiesMeals for third parties
Non-travel mealsNon-travel mealsGiftsGiftsPolitical expendituresPolitical expenditures
Credit CardsCredit Cards
Rule #2:Rule #2:
Is this trip necessary?Is this trip necessary?
ActualActual and and necessarynecessary expense expense
Clear nexusClear nexus between attendance between attendance and performance of official dutyand performance of official duty
Must serve a Must serve a public purposepublic purpose
TravelTravel
Problem areas:Problem areas:EntertainmentEntertainmentMeals for third partiesMeals for third partiesAlcoholAlcoholSpousesSpouses“Double dipping”“Double dipping”Failure to return excess advanceFailure to return excess advance
TravelTravel
Rule #3:Rule #3:Home is where Home is where
your stuff isyour stuff is
Statutes require Statutes require residencyresidency within within represented district represented district (domicile)(domicile)
Habitation isHabitation is fixed fixedIntention ofIntention of remaining remainingIntention ofIntention of returning returning
The place where youThe place where you live live
ResidencyResidency
Not living in the district is Not living in the district is not a not a crime crime but…but…
Filing false documentsFiling false documentsFalse voter registrationFalse voter registrationPerjuryPerjuryAnd voter fraudAnd voter fraud
Are all Are all feloniesfelonies
ResidencyResidency
Rule #4:Rule #4:It is better to give It is better to give
than receivethan receive
Limits established by FPPCLimits established by FPPC
Gift:Gift:Personal benefitPersonal benefit without equal without equal considerationconsideration, and, andRebateRebate or or discountdiscount not available to not available to
the publicthe public
Value = Value = fair market valuefair market value
GiftsGifts
GiftsGifts
Problem areas:Problem areas:Movie passesMovie passesEvent ticketsEvent ticketsLocal business discountsLocal business discountsHosted mealsHosted mealsTravelTravelUse of house/condo/aptUse of house/condo/apt
Rule #5:Rule #5:
Observe and report Observe and report ……accuratelyaccurately
Statement of Economic InterestStatement of Economic InterestForm 700Form 700
Report giftsReport giftsComplete and accurateComplete and accurate
Signed under Signed under penalty of perjurypenalty of perjuryPerjury is a Perjury is a felonyfelony
GiftsGifts
Rule #6:Rule #6:Don’t serveDon’t servetwo masterstwo masters
GC 87100GC 87100
MakeMake, or , or influence;influence;An An official decision;official decision;In which official (or spouse) has a In which official (or spouse) has a financial interestfinancial interest
When in doubt – sit it outWhen in doubt – sit it outOr contact the FPPC - immunityOr contact the FPPC - immunity
Conflicts of InterestConflicts of Interest
Special rule for Special rule for contractscontracts::Cannot Cannot vote onvote on, or , or influence;influence;A A contract contract In which official (or spouse) has a In which official (or spouse) has a financial interest financial interest (GC 1090)(GC 1090)
Willful and knowing violation = Willful and knowing violation = felonyfelony
FPPC FPPC cannotcannot provide advice/immunity provide advice/immunity
Conflicts of InterestConflicts of Interest
Rule #7:Rule #7:Political campaignsPolitical campaigns
(keep it clean)(keep it clean)
ReportReport all contributions all contributionsForm 460 signed under Form 460 signed under penalty penalty of perjuryof perjury
No No cashcash contributions contributionsCannot solicit employeesCannot solicit employeesNo anonymous No anonymous “hit piece”“hit piece” mailers mailersCampaign Campaign money launderingmoney laundering
Campaign IssuesCampaign Issues
Rule #8:Rule #8:Don’t keep secretsDon’t keep secrets
(The Brown Act)(The Brown Act)
Err on the side of transparencyErr on the side of transparencyEspecially Especially controversial issuescontroversial issues
The gadflies are watchingThe gadflies are watchingNo No “gray areas”“gray areas”Must be a specified exceptionMust be a specified exceptionAll exceptions benefit the residentsAll exceptions benefit the residents
NOT THE OFFICIALSNOT THE OFFICIALSWe don’t negotiateWe don’t negotiate
Brown ActBrown Act