HS HCS HB 1150 -- ETHICS (May)

This substitute changes the laws regarding ethics and campaign
contribution disclosures. In its main provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Requires lobbyists to file verified registration forms with
the Missouri Ethics Commission no later than January 5 of each
year or five days after beginning lobbyist activities and deletes
the requirement that lobbyists provide the commission with a
summary of legislation they supported or opposed (Section
105.473, RSMo);

(2)  Changes the dates when the financial interest statements
must be filed (Section 105.487);

(3)  Gives lobbyists and other individuals the right to appeal a
late fee assessment on a disclosure report (Sections 105.492 and
105.963);

(4)  Requires certain complaints regarding campaign finance
disclosure report violations to be filed within 30 days of the
filing of the report; requires that the person named in the
complaint be given the complainant's name, address, and telephone
number; permits the commission to assess reasonable investigation
and defense costs against persons filing complaints when the
commission finds the complaints to be motivated by malice or
reasons contrary to the spirit of the law; makes the complaint a
closed record until the commission completes its investigation
and renders its findings and conclusions and makes late fee
assessments closed records until close of the next business day
after assessment and nonpayment; and subjects persons who
disclose the fact of the complaint or the late fee assessment
while it is still a closed record to a civil penalty not to
exceed $2,500 and a criminal penalty not to exceed $2,500 and/or
a term of imprisonment not to exceed one year (Sections 105.957,
105.963, and 130.054);

(5)  Changes the language regarding the notice that must be given
to subjects of complaints and commission investigations from
actual notice to notice and changes the body to which they may
appeal commission actions from the Administrative Hearing
Commission to the circuit court of Cole County (Section 105.961);

(6)  Deletes direct dollar amounts from various sections limiting
campaign contributions and instead references the section setting
the base amount and the method of computing the biennial increase
(Sections 130.011 and 130.046);

(7)  Allows candidates or committees who file with the local
election authorities to not report the name and account number of
bank accounts (Section 130.021);

(8)  Changes wording from the campaign finance review board to
Missouri Ethics Commission (Section 130.036);

(9)  Eliminates the requirement of filing campaign finance
disclosure reports with an election authority if the reports have
been filed electronically with the commission and the candidate
has filed a declaration that electronic filing will be used
exclusively (Section 130.041);

(10)  Requires persons requesting to inspect or copy disclosure
reports to provide photo identification (Section 130.042);

(11)  Reorganizes various sections regarding reporting
requirements for out-of-state committees and candidates nominated
by political party committees (Sections 130.049 and 130.050);

(12)  Changes from $15,000 to $5,000 the amount of contributions
which triggers the requirement for continuing committees to file
electronic reports and extends the requirement to political party
committees and campaign committees (Section 130.057);

(13)  Moves a section regarding nomination of candidates from
Section 130.050 to Section 130.062 (Section 130.062);

(14)  Deletes the requirement that the commission print and make
available a summary of all laws for which they have enforcement
powers (Section 105.973);

(15)  Requires a governor-elect to form a gubernatorial inaugural
committee, which will be subject to all the requirements of the
campaign finance disclosure laws.  No public funds may be spent
on a gubernatorial inaugural activity until the committee is
formed.  For any governor-elect not seeking re-election, any
funds remaining in the committee's account will escheat to the
state;

(16)  Requires the House of Representatives and the Senate to
form legislative inaugural committees, which will be subject to
all the requirements of the campaign finance disclosure laws.  No
public funds may be spent on a legislative inaugural activity
until the committee is formed, and any funds remaining in the
committee's account will escheat to the state; and

(17)  Establishes the commission as the filing officer for all
other persons required to file a financial statement for which no
filing officer is otherwise designated.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Income on General Revenue Fund of $10,000
in FY 2005, FY 2006, and FY 2007.  No impact on Other State Funds
in FY 2005, FY 2006, and FY 2007.

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:14 am