(a) (1) “Public official” means every member, officer, employee, or consultant of a state or local government agency.
(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (e) of Section 6001 of the Business and Professions Code, “public official” includes a designated employee of, and a Member of the Board of Trustees of, the State Bar of California.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), “public official” does not include the following:
(1) A judge or court commissioner in the judicial branch of government.
(2) A member of the Judicial Council.
(3) A member of the Commission on Judicial Performance, provided that the member is subject to the provisions of Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 6035) of Chapter 4 of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code as provided in Section 6038 of that article.
(4) A federal officer or employee serving in an official federal capacity on a state or local government agency.