(a) The services of a California Science and Technology Policy Fellow provided by the California Council on Science and Technology and duly authorized by an executed memorandum of understanding between the council and an executive branch agency or department are not compensation of a state elective or appointive officer for the purposes of this article.

(b) For purposes of this section, a California Science and Technology Policy Fellow is “duly authorized by an executed memorandum of understanding between the council and an executive branch agency or department” only if both of the following requirements are satisfied:

(1) The California Science and Technology Policy Fellow has been selected according to criteria, and pursuant to a process, included in the executed memorandum of understanding between the council and an executive branch agency or department.

(2) The California Council on Science and Technology has executed an agreement with an executive branch agency or department whereby the California Science and Technology Policy Fellow is bound to abide by standards of conduct, economic interest disclosure requisites, and other requirements specified by the state.

(c) This section does not constitute a change in, but is declaratory of, existing law.

(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 112, Sec. 2. (SB 698) Effective January 1, 2024.)