The Hospital Association of Southern California, a regional trade group for hospitals, could face a $17,500 fine from the Ethics Commission in Los Angeles for failing to accurately report the amount of money it had spent on lobbying at City Hall, according to a Los Angeles Times report.
The Ethics Commission found that the HASC, which has been vocal about city issues, including opposing the creation of a city health department, registered with the city and filled out city forms, according to the report. However, it did not report any expenditures for nearly two years, even though it had lobbied during that time, the report notes. The trade group later submitted revised reports, which showed more than $108,000 spent during 2013 and part of 2014.
According to the report, the hospital association could have been fined twice as much, but Ethics Commission staffers recommended cutting their proposed penalty in half since the group was cooperative and had no history of violations at the Ethics Commission.
The hospital association attributed the errors to misunderstanding the rules, and said it has modified its reporting process and procedures, the report reads.
The proposed fine is pending approval from the Ethics Commission, which is scheduled to meet next week.