November 19, 2021 - Introduced by Senator Bernier, cosponsored by
Representatives Wichgers, Cabral-Guevara, Murphy and Spiros. Referred
to Committee on Elections, Election Process Reform and Ethics.

SB720,1,7 1An Act to repeal 13.685 (7), 16.753, 19.45 (12), 19.48 (11) and 20.9305 (2) (e); to
2renumber and amend 19.42 (12); to amend 16.298 (5), 19.43 (1), 23.41 (5),
325.18 (1) (a), 25.18 (1) (f), 25.18 (1) (m), 84.01 (13), 84.01 (36) (e), 84.06 (2) (a),
484.06 (3), 84.06 (4), 85.015, 102.81 (2) and 655.27 (2); and to create 19.42 (12)
5(b), 19.42 (12) (c), 19.42 (12) (d), 19.42 (12) (e), 19.42 (12) (f), 19.43 (2m), 19.45
6(14) and 19.59 (1b) of the statutes; relating to: changes to the administration
7of the code of ethics, as recommended by the Ethics Commission.

This bill bill makes various changes to the administration of the code of ethics,
as recommended by the Ethics Commission.

The bill eliminates a requirement that the Ethics Commission compile and post
on its Internet site for access by the public information received by the commission
from state agencies and related to certain pending contracts and orders with the
agencies. The bill also eliminates a requirement that the commission regularly,
during the course of a legislative session, give reports to the legislature that provide
information about licensed lobbyists, principals, and their lobbying activities.

The bill changes the definition of “security” as that term is used in connection
with the types of financial information an individual required to file with the Ethics
Commission must disclose on his or her statement of economic interests. Current law

requires state public office holders and certain state employees to annually file a
statement of economic interests and to identify the employers, investments, real
estate, commercial clients, and creditors of the individual and his or her family
members.

Current law requires a state public official to file a statement of economic
interests with the commission no later than April 30 of any year in which the
individual held office on January 1 of that year. The bill modifies current law so that
an official must file the statement only if he or she held office on January 1 and for
at least 14 days. The bill also requires an official to file a statement no later than 21
days following the date on which the official leaves office. The individual is then not
required to file another statement of economic interests until such time as the
individual again becomes a state public official.

Under the bill, if a state or local public official receives an item that the code of
ethics does not permit the official to accept or retain, the official must do one of the
following: