SECOND REGULAR SESSION
[TRULY AGREED TO AND FINALLY PASSED]
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
SENATE SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
AN ACT
To repeal sections 105.470, 105.473, 105.485, 105.957, 105.959, 105.963, 130.011, 130.016, 130.032, 130.046, 130.050, and 130.054, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof sixteen new sections relating to ethics, with an effective date.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Sections 105.470, 105.473, 105.485, 105.957, 105.959, 105.963, 130.011, 130.016, 130.032, 130.046, 130.050, and 130.054, RSMo, are repealed and sixteen new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 105.470, 105.473, 105.485, 105.957, 105.959, 105.963, 115.342, 115.350, 130.011, 130.016, 130.032, 130.042, 130.046, 130.050, 130.054, and 1, to read as follows:
105.470. As used in section 105.473, unless the context requires otherwise, the following words and terms mean:
(1) "Elected local government official lobbyist", any natural person employed specifically for the purpose of attempting to influence any action by a local government official elected in a county, city, town, or village with an annual operating budget of over ten million dollars;
(2) "Executive lobbyist", any natural person who acts for the purpose of attempting to influence any action by the executive branch of government or by any elected or appointed official, employee, department, division, agency or board or commission thereof and in connection with such activity, meets the requirements of any one or more of the following:
(a) Is acting in the ordinary course of employment on behalf of or for the benefit of such person's employer; or
(b) Is engaged for pay or for any valuable consideration for the purpose of performing such activity; or
(c) Is designated to act as a lobbyist by any person, business entity, governmental entity, religious organization, nonprofit corporation, association or other entity; or
(d) Makes total expenditures of fifty dollars or more during the twelve-month period beginning January first and ending December thirty-first for the benefit of one or more public officials or one or more employees of the executive branch of state government in connection with such activity.
An "executive lobbyist" shall not include a member of the general assembly, an elected state official, or any other person solely due to such person's participation in any of the following activities:
a. Appearing or inquiring in regard to a complaint, citation, summons, adversary proceeding, or contested case before a state board, commission, department, division or agency of the executive branch of government or any elected or appointed officer or employee thereof;
b. Preparing, filing or inquiring, or responding to any audit, regarding any tax return, any public document, permit or contract, any application for any permit or license or certificate, or any document required or requested to be filed with the state or a political subdivision;
c. Selling of goods or services to be paid for by public funds, provided that such person is attempting to influence only the person authorized to authorize or enter into a contract to purchase the goods or services being offered for sale;
d. Participating in public hearings or public proceedings on rules, grants, or other matters;
e. Responding to any request for information made by any public official or employee of the executive branch of government;
f. Preparing or publication of an editorial, a newsletter, newspaper, magazine, radio or television broadcast, or similar news medium, whether print or electronic;
g. Acting within the scope of employment by the general assembly, or acting within the scope of employment by the executive branch of government when acting with respect to the department, division, board, commission, agency or elected state officer by which such person is employed, or with respect to any duty or authority imposed by law to perform any action in conjunction with any other public official or state employee; or
h. Testifying as a witness before a state board, commission or agency of the executive branch;
[(2)] (3) "Expenditure", any payment made or charge, expense, cost, debt or bill incurred; any gift, honorarium or item of value bestowed including any food or beverage; any price, charge or fee which is waived, forgiven, reduced or indefinitely delayed; any loan or debt which is canceled, reduced or otherwise forgiven; the transfer of any item with a reasonably discernible cost or fair market value from one person to another or provision of any service or granting of any opportunity for which a charge is customarily made, without charge or for a reduced charge; except that the term "expenditure" shall not include the following:
(a) Any item, service or thing of value transferred to any person within the third degree of consanguinity of the transferor which is unrelated to any activity of the transferor as a lobbyist;
(b) Informational material such as books, reports, pamphlets, calendars or periodicals informing a public official regarding such person's official duties, or souvenirs or mementos valued at less than ten dollars;
(c) Contributions to the public official's campaign committee or candidate committee which are reported pursuant to the provisions of chapter 130, RSMo;
(d) Any loan made or other credit accommodations granted or other payments made by any person or entity which extends credit or makes loan accommodations or such payments in the regular ordinary scope and course of business, provided that such are extended, made or granted in the ordinary course of such person's or entity's business to persons who are not public officials;
(e) Any item, service or thing of de minimis value offered to the general public, whether or not the recipient is a public official or a staff member, employee, spouse or dependent child of a public official, and only if the grant of the item, service or thing of de minimis value is not motivated in any way by the recipient's status as a public official or staff member, employee, spouse or dependent child of a public official;
(f) The transfer of any item, provision of any service or granting of any opportunity with a reasonably discernible cost or fair market value when such item, service or opportunity is necessary for a public official or employee to perform his or her duty in his or her official capacity, including but not limited to entrance fees to any sporting event, museum, or other venue when the official or employee is participating in a ceremony, public presentation or official meeting therein;
(g) Any payment, gift, compensation, fee, expenditure or anything of value which is bestowed upon or given to any public official or a staff member, employee, spouse or dependent child of a public official when it is compensation for employment or given as an employment benefit and when such employment is in addition to their employment as a public official;
[(3)] (4) "Judicial lobbyist", any natural person who acts for the purpose of attempting to influence any purchasing decision by the judicial branch of government or by any elected or appointed official or any employee thereof and in connection with such activity, meets the requirements of any one or more of the following:
(a) Is acting in the ordinary course of employment which primary purpose is to influence the judiciary in its purchasing decisions on a regular basis on behalf of or for the benefit of such person's employer, except that this shall not apply to any person who engages in lobbying on an occasional basis only and not as a regular pattern of conduct; or
(b) Is engaged for pay or for any valuable consideration for the purpose of performing such activity; or
(c) Is designated to act as a lobbyist by any person, business entity, governmental entity, religious organization, nonprofit corporation or association; or
(d) Makes total expenditures of fifty dollars or more during the twelve-month period beginning January first and ending December thirty-first for the benefit of one or more public officials or one or more employees of the judicial branch of state government in connection with attempting to influence such purchasing decisions by the judiciary.
A "judicial lobbyist" shall not include a member of the general assembly, an elected state official, or any other person solely due to such person's participation in any of the following activities:
a. Appearing or inquiring in regard to a complaint, citation, summons, adversary proceeding, or contested case before a state court;
b. Participating in public hearings or public proceedings on rules, grants, or other matters;
c. Responding to any request for information made by any judge or employee of the judicial branch of government;
d. Preparing, distributing or publication of an editorial, a newsletter, newspaper, magazine, radio or television broadcast, or similar news medium, whether print or electronic; or
e. Acting within the scope of employment by the general assembly, or acting within the scope of employment by the executive branch of government when acting with respect to the department, division, board, commission, agency or elected state officer by which such person is employed, or with respect to any duty or authority imposed by law to perform any action in conjunction with any other public official or state employee;
[(4)] (5) "Legislative lobbyist", any natural person who acts for the purpose of attempting to influence the taking, passage, amendment, delay or defeat of any official action on any bill, resolution, amendment, nomination, appointment, report or any other action or any other matter pending or proposed in a legislative committee in either house of the general assembly, or in any matter which may be the subject of action by the general assembly and in connection with such activity, meets the requirements of any one or more of the following:
(a) Is acting in the ordinary course of employment, which primary purpose is to influence legislation on a regular basis, on behalf of or for the benefit of such person's employer, except that this shall not apply to any person who engages in lobbying on an occasional basis only and not as a regular pattern of conduct; or
(b) Is engaged for pay or for any valuable consideration for the purpose of performing such activity; or
(c) Is designated to act as a lobbyist by any person, business entity, governmental entity, religious organization, nonprofit corporation, association or other entity; or
(d) Makes total expenditures of fifty dollars or more during the twelve-month period beginning January first and ending December thirty-first for the benefit of one or more public officials or one or more employees of the legislative branch of state government in connection with such activity.
A "legislative lobbyist" shall include an attorney at law engaged in activities on behalf of any person unless excluded by any of the following exceptions. A "legislative lobbyist" shall not include any member of the general assembly, an elected state official, or any other person solely due to such person's participation in any of the following activities:
a. Responding to any request for information made by any public official or employee of the legislative branch of government;
b. Preparing or publication of an editorial, a newsletter, newspaper, magazine, radio or television broadcast, or similar news medium, whether print or electronic;
c. Acting within the scope of employment of the legislative branch of government when acting with respect to the general assembly or any member thereof;
d. Testifying as a witness before the general assembly or any committee thereof;
[(5)] (6) "Lobbyist", any natural person defined as an executive lobbyist, judicial lobbyist, elected local government official lobbyist, or a legislative lobbyist;
[(6)] (7) "Lobbyist principal", any person, business entity, governmental entity, religious organization, nonprofit corporation or association who employs, contracts for pay or otherwise compensates a lobbyist;
[(7)] (8) "Public official", any member or member-elect of the general assembly, judge or judicial officer, or any other person holding an elective office of state government or any agency head, department director or division director of state government or any member of any state board or commission and any designated decision-making public servant designated by persons described in this subdivision.
105.473. 1. Each lobbyist shall, not later than January fifth of each year or five days after beginning any activities as a lobbyist, file standardized registration forms, verified by a written declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury, along with a filing fee of ten dollars, with the commission. The forms shall include the lobbyist's name and business address, the name and address of all persons such lobbyist employs for lobbying purposes, the name and address of each lobbyist principal by whom such lobbyist is employed or in whose interest such lobbyist appears or works. The commission shall maintain files on all lobbyists' filings, which shall be open to the public. Each lobbyist shall file an updating statement under oath within one week of any addition, deletion, or change in the lobbyist's employment or representation. The filing fee shall be deposited to the general revenue fund of the state. The lobbyist principal or a lobbyist employing another person for lobbying purposes may notify the commission that a judicial, executive or legislative lobbyist is no longer authorized to lobby for the principal or the lobbyist and should be removed from the commission's files.
2. Each person shall, before giving testimony before any committee of the general assembly, give to the secretary of such committee such person's name and address and the identity of any lobbyist or organization, if any, on whose behalf such person appears. A person who is not a lobbyist as defined in section 105.470 shall not be required to give such person's address if the committee determines that the giving of such address would endanger the person's physical health.
3. (1) During any period of time in which a lobbyist continues to act as an executive lobbyist, judicial lobbyist [or a] , legislative lobbyist, or elected local government official lobbyist, the lobbyist shall file with the commission on standardized forms prescribed by the commission monthly reports which shall be due at the close of business on the tenth day of the following month;
(2) Each report filed pursuant to this subsection shall include a statement, verified by a written declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury, setting forth the following:
(a) The total of all expenditures by the lobbyist or his or her lobbyist principals made on behalf of all public officials, their staffs and employees, and their spouses and dependent children, which expenditures shall be separated into at least the following categories by the executive branch, judicial branch and legislative branch of government: printing and publication expenses; media and other advertising expenses; travel; the time, venue, and nature of any entertainment; honoraria; meals, food and beverages; and gifts;
(b) The total of all expenditures by the lobbyist or his or her lobbyist principals made on behalf of all elected local government officials, their staffs and employees, and their spouses and children. Such expenditures shall be separated into at least the following categories: printing and publication expenses; media and other advertising expenses; travel; the time, venue, and nature of any entertainment; honoraria; meals; food and beverages; and gifts;
(c) An itemized listing of the name of the recipient and the nature and amount of each expenditure by the lobbyist or his or her lobbyist principal, including a service or anything of value, for all expenditures made during any reporting period, paid or provided to or for a public official or elected local government official, such official's staff, employees, spouse or dependent children;
[(c)] (d) The total of all expenditures made by a lobbyist or lobbyist principal for occasions and the identity of the group invited, the date and description of the occasion and the amount of the expenditure for each occasion when any of the following are invited in writing:
a. All members of the senate;
b. All members of the house of representatives;
c. All members of a joint committee of the general assembly or a standing committee of either the house of representatives or senate; or
d. All members of a caucus of the [general assembly if the caucus consists of at least ten members, a list of the members of the caucus has been previously filed with the ethics committee of the house or the senate, and such list has been approved by either of such ethics committees] majority party of the house of representatives, minority party of the house of representatives, majority party of the senate, or minority party of the senate;
[(d)] (e) Any expenditure made on behalf of a public official, an elected local government official or [the public] such official's staff, employees, spouse or dependent children, if such expenditure is solicited by such [public] official, the [public] official's staff, employees, or spouse or dependent children, from the lobbyist or his or her lobbyist principals and the name of such person or persons, except any expenditures made to any not-for-profit corporation, charitable, fraternal or civic organization or other association formed to provide for good in the order of benevolence;
[(e)] (f) A statement detailing any direct business relationship or association or partnership the lobbyist has with any public official or elected local government official.
The reports required by this subdivision shall cover the time periods since the filing of the last report or since the lobbyist's employment or representation began, whichever is most recent.
4. No expenditure reported pursuant to this section shall include any amount expended by a lobbyist or lobbyist principal on himself or herself. All expenditures disclosed pursuant to this section shall be valued on the report at the actual amount of the payment made, or the charge, expense, cost, or obligation, debt or bill incurred by the lobbyist or the person the lobbyist represents. Whenever a lobbyist principal employs more than one lobbyist, expenditures of the lobbyist principal shall not be reported by each lobbyist, but shall be reported by one of such lobbyists. No expenditure shall be made on behalf of a state senator or state representative, or such public official's staff, employees, spouse, or dependent children for travel or lodging outside the state of Missouri unless such travel or lodging was approved prior to the date of the expenditure by the administration and accounts committee of the house or the administration committee of the senate.
5. Any lobbyist principal shall provide in a timely fashion whatever information is reasonably requested by the lobbyist principal's lobbyist for use in filing the reports required by this section.
6. All information required to be filed pursuant to the provisions of this section with the commission shall be kept available by the executive director of the commission at all times open to the public for inspection and copying for a reasonable fee for a period of five years from the date when such information was filed.
7. No person shall knowingly employ any person who is required to register as a registered lobbyist but is not registered pursuant to this section. Any person who knowingly violates this subsection shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount of not more than ten thousand dollars for each violation. Such civil penalties shall be collected by action filed by the commission.
8. No lobbyist shall knowingly omit, conceal, or falsify in any manner information required pursuant to this section.
9. The prosecuting attorney of Cole County shall be reimbursed only out of funds specifically appropriated by the general assembly for investigations and prosecutions for violations of this section.
10. Any public official or other person whose name appears in any lobbyist report filed pursuant to this section who contests the accuracy of the portion of the report applicable to such person may petition the commission for an audit of such report and shall state in writing in such petition the specific disagreement with the contents of such report. The commission shall investigate such allegations in the manner described in section 105.959. If the commission determines that the contents of such report are incorrect, incomplete or erroneous, it shall enter an order requiring filing of an amended or corrected report.
11. The commission shall provide a report listing the total spent by a lobbyist for the month and year to any member or member-elect of the general assembly, judge or judicial officer, or any other person holding an elective office of state government or any elected local government official on or before the twentieth day of each month. For the purpose of providing accurate information to the public, the commission shall not publish information in either written or electronic form for ten working days after providing the report pursuant to this subsection. The commission shall not release any portion of the lobbyist report if the accuracy of the report has been questioned pursuant to subsection 10 of this section unless it is conspicuously marked "Under Review".
12. Each lobbyist or lobbyist principal by whom the lobbyist was employed, or in whose behalf the lobbyist acted, shall provide a general description of the proposed legislation or action by the executive branch or judicial branch which the lobbyist or lobbyist principal supported or opposed. This information shall be supplied to the commission on March fifteenth and May thirtieth of each year.
13. The provisions of this section shall supersede any contradicting ordinances or charter provisions.
105.485. 1. Each financial interest statement required by sections 105.483 to 105.492 shall be on a form prescribed by the commission and shall be signed and verified by a written declaration that it is made under penalties of perjury; provided, however, the form shall not seek information which is not specifically required by sections 105.483 to 105.492.
2. Each person required to file a financial interest statement pursuant to subdivisions (1) to (12) of section 105.483 shall file the following information for himself, his spouse and dependent children at any time during the period covered by the statement, whether singularly or collectively; provided, however, that said person, if he does not know and his spouse will not divulge any information required to be reported by this section concerning the financial interest of his spouse, shall state on his financial interest statement that he has disclosed that information known to him and that his spouse has refused or failed to provide other information upon his bona fide request, and such statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this section for such financial interest of his spouse; and provided further if the spouse of any person required to file a financial interest statement is also required by section 105.483 to file a financial interest statement, the financial interest statement filed by each need not disclose the financial interest of the other, provided that each financial interest statement shall state that the spouse of the person has filed a separate financial interest statement and the name under which the statement was filed:
(1) The name and address of each of the employers of such person from whom income of one thousand dollars or more was received during the year covered by the statement;
(2) The name and address of each sole proprietorship which he owned; the name, address and the general nature of the business conducted of each general partnership and joint venture in which he was a partner or participant; the name and address of each partner or coparticipant for each partnership or joint venture unless such names and addresses are filed by the partnership or joint venture with the secretary of state; the name, address and general nature of the business conducted of any closely held corporation or limited partnership in which the person owned ten percent or more of any class of the outstanding stock or limited partners' units; and the name of any publicly traded corporation or limited partnership which is listed on a regulated stock exchange or automated quotation system in which the person owned two percent or more of any class of outstanding stock, limited partnership units or other equity interests;
(3) The name and address of any other source not reported pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) and subdivisions (4) to (9) of this subsection from which such person received one thousand dollars or more of income during the year covered by the statement, including, but not limited to, any income otherwise required to be reported on any tax return such person is required by law to file; except that only the name of any publicly traded corporation or limited partnership which is listed on a regulated stock exchange or automated quotation system need be reported pursuant to this subdivision;
(4) The location by county, the subclassification for property tax assessment purposes, the approximate size and a description of the major improvements and use for each parcel of real property in the state, other than the individual's personal residence, having a fair market value of ten thousand dollars or more in which such person held a vested interest including a leasehold for a term of ten years or longer, and, if the property was transferred during the year covered by the statement, the name and address of the persons furnishing or receiving consideration for such transfer;
(5) The name and address of each entity in which such person owned stock, bonds or other equity interest with a value in excess of ten thousand dollars; except that, if the entity is a corporation listed on a regulated stock exchange, only the name of the corporation need be listed; and provided that any member of any board or commission of the state or any political subdivision who does not receive any compensation for his services to the state or political subdivision other than reimbursement for his actual expenses or a per diem allowance as prescribed by law for each day of such service, need not report interests in publicly traded corporations or limited partnerships which are listed on a regulated stock exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to this subdivision; and provided further that the provisions of this subdivision shall not require reporting of any interest in any qualified plan or annuity pursuant to the Employees' Retirement Income Security Act;
(6) The name and address of each corporation for which such person served in the capacity of a director, officer or receiver;
(7) The name and address of each not-for-profit corporation and each association, organization, or union, whether incorporated or not, except not-for-profit corporations formed to provide church services, fraternal organizations or service clubs from which the officer or employee draws no remuneration, in which such person was an officer, director, employee or trustee at any time during the year covered by the statement, and for each such organization, a general description of the nature and purpose of the organization;
(8) The name and address of each source from which such person received a gift or gifts, or honorarium or honoraria in excess of two hundred dollars in value per source during the year covered by the statement other than gifts from persons within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity of the person filing the financial interest statement. For the purposes of this section, a gift shall not be construed to mean political contributions otherwise required to be reported by law or hospitality such as food, beverages or admissions to social, art, or sporting events or the like, or informational material. For the purposes of this section, a gift shall include gifts to or by creditors of the individual for the purpose of canceling, reducing or otherwise forgiving the indebtedness of the individual to that creditor;
(9) The lodging and travel expenses provided by any third person for expenses incurred outside the state of Missouri whether by gift or in relation to the duties of office of such official, except that such statement shall not include travel or lodging expenses:
(a) Paid in the ordinary course of business for businesses described in subdivisions (1), (2), (5) and (6) of this subsection which are related to the duties of office of such official; or
(b) For which the official may be reimbursed as provided by law; or
(c) Paid by persons related by the third degree of consanguinity or affinity to the person filing the statement; or
(d) Expenses which are reported by the campaign committee or candidate committee of the person filing the statement pursuant to the provisions of chapter 130, RSMo; or
(e) Paid for purely personal purposes which are not related to the person's official duties by a third person who is not a lobbyist, a lobbyist principal or member, or officer or director of a member, of any association or entity which employs a lobbyist. The statement shall include the name and address of such person who paid the expenses, the date such expenses were incurred, the amount incurred, the location of the travel and lodging, and the nature of the services rendered or reason for the expenses;
(10) The assets in any revocable trust of which the individual is the settlor if such assets would otherwise be required to be reported under this section;
(11) The name, position and relationship of any relative within the first degree of consanguinity or affinity to any other person who:
(a) Is employed by the state of Missouri, by a political subdivision of the state or special district, as defined in section 115.013, RSMo, of the state of Missouri;
(b) Is a lobbyist; or
(c) Is a fee agent of the department of revenue;
(12) The name and address of each campaign committee, political committee, candidate committee, or continuing committee for which such person or any corporation listed on such person‛s financial interest statement received payment.
3. For the purposes of subdivisions (1), (2) and (3) of subsection 2 of this section, an individual shall be deemed to have received a salary from his employer or income from any source at the time when he shall receive a negotiable instrument whether or not payable at a later date and at the time when under the practice of his employer or the terms of an agreement, he has earned or is entitled to anything of actual value whether or not delivery of the value is deferred or right to it has vested. The term "income" as used in this section shall have the same meaning as provided in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and amendments thereto, as the same may be or becomes effective, at any time or from time to time for the taxable year, provided that income shall not be considered received or earned for purposes of this section from a partnership or sole proprietorship until such income is converted from business to personal use.
4. Each official, officer or employee or candidate of any political subdivision described in subdivision (11) of section 105.483 shall be required to file a financial interest statement as required by subsection 2 of this section, unless the political subdivision biennially adopts an ordinance, order or resolution at an open meeting by September fifteenth of the preceding year, which establishes and makes public its own method of disclosing potential conflicts of interest and substantial interests and therefore excludes the political subdivision or district and its officers and employees from the requirements of subsection 2 of this section. A certified copy of the ordinance, order or resolution shall be sent to the commission within ten days of its adoption. The commission shall assist any political subdivision in developing forms to complete the requirements of this subsection. The ordinance, order or resolution shall contain, at a minimum, the following requirements with respect to disclosure of substantial interests:
(1) Disclosure in writing of the following described transactions, if any such transactions were engaged in during the calendar year:
(a) For such person, and all persons within the first degree of consanguinity or affinity of such person, the date and the identities of the parties to each transaction with a total value in excess of five hundred dollars, if any, that such person had with the political subdivision, other than compensation received as an employee or payment of any tax, fee or penalty due to the political subdivision, and other than transfers for no consideration to the political subdivision;
(b) The date and the identities of the parties to each transaction known to the person with a total value in excess of five hundred dollars, if any, that any business entity in which such person had a substantial interest, had with the political subdivision, other than payment of any tax, fee or penalty due to the political subdivision or transactions involving payment for providing utility service to the political subdivision, and other than transfers for no consideration to the political subdivision;
(2) The chief administrative officer and chief purchasing officer of such political subdivision shall disclose in writing the information described in subdivisions (1), (2) and (6) of subsection 2 of this section;
(3) Disclosure of such other financial interests applicable to officials, officers and employees of the political subdivision, as may be required by the ordinance or resolution;
(4) Duplicate disclosure reports made pursuant to this subsection shall be filed with the commission and the governing body of the political subdivision. The clerk of such governing body shall maintain such disclosure reports available for public inspection and copying during normal business hours.
105.957. 1. The commission shall receive any complaints alleging violation of the provisions of:
(1) The requirements imposed on lobbyists by sections 105.470 to 105.478;
(2) The financial interest disclosure requirements contained in sections 105.483 to 105.492;
(3) The campaign finance disclosure requirements contained in chapter 130, RSMo;
(4) Any code of conduct promulgated by any department, division or agency of state government, or by state institutions of higher education, or by executive order;
(5) The conflict of interest laws contained in sections 105.450 to 105.468 and section 171.181, RSMo; and
(6) The provisions of the constitution or state statute or order, ordinance or resolution of any political subdivision relating to the official conduct of officials or employees of the state and political subdivisions.
2. Complaints filed with the commission shall be in writing and filed only by a natural person. The complaint shall contain all facts known by the complainant that have given rise to the complaint and the complaint shall be sworn to, under penalty of perjury, by the complainant. No complaint shall be investigated unless the complaint alleges facts which, if true, fall within the jurisdiction of the commission. Within five days after receipt of a complaint by the commission, a copy of the complaint, including the name of the complainant, shall be delivered to the alleged violator.
3. No complaint shall be investigated which concerns alleged criminal conduct which allegedly occurred previous to the period of time allowed by law for criminal prosecution for such conduct. The commission may refuse to investigate any conduct which is the subject of civil or criminal litigation. The commission, its executive director or an investigator shall not investigate any complaint concerning conduct which is not criminal in nature which occurred more than two years prior to the date of the complaint. A complaint alleging misconduct on the part of a candidate for public office, other than those alleging failure to file the appropriate financial interest statements or campaign finance disclosure reports, shall not be accepted by the commission within sixty days prior to the primary election at which such candidate is running for office, and until after the general election.
4. If the commission finds that any complaint is frivolous in nature or finds no probable cause to believe that there has been a violation, the commission shall dismiss the case. For purposes of this subsection, "frivolous" shall mean a complaint clearly lacking any basis in fact or law. Any person who submits a frivolous complaint shall be liable for actual and compensatory damages to the alleged violator for holding the alleged violator before the public in a false light. If the commission finds that a complaint is frivolous or that there is not probable cause to believe there has been a violation, the commission shall issue a public report to the complainant and the alleged violator stating with particularity its reasons for dismissal of the complaint. Upon such issuance, the complaint and all materials relating to the complaint shall be a public record as defined in chapter 610, RSMo.
5. Complaints which allege violations as described in this section which are filed with the commission shall be handled as provided by section 105.961.
105.959. 1. The executive director of the commission, under the supervision of the commission, shall review reports and statements filed with the commission or other appropriate officers pursuant to sections 105.470, 105.483 to 105.492, and chapter 130, RSMo, for completeness, accuracy and timeliness of filing of the reports or statements, and upon review, if there are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation has occurred, shall conduct an audit of such reports and statements. All investigations by the executive director of an alleged violation shall be strictly confidential with the exception of notification of the commission and the complainant or the person under investigation. All investigations by the executive director shall be limited to the information contained in the reports or statements. The commission shall notify the complainant or the person under investigation, by registered mail, within five days of the decision to conduct such investigation. Revealing any such confidential investigation information shall be cause for removal or dismissal of the executive director or a commission member or employee.
2. Upon findings of the appropriate filing officer which are reported to the commission in accordance with the provisions of section 130.056, RSMo, the executive director shall audit disclosure reports, statements and records pertaining to such findings within a reasonable time after receipt of the reports from the appropriate filing officer.
3. Upon a sworn written complaint of any natural person filed with the commission pursuant to section 105.957, the commission shall audit and investigate alleged violations. Within sixty days after receipt of a sworn written complaint alleging a violation, the executive director shall notify the complainant in writing of the action, if any, the executive director has taken and plans to take on the complaint. If an investigation conducted pursuant to this subsection fails to establish reasonable grounds to believe that a violation has occurred, the investigation shall be terminated and the complainant and the person who had been under investigation shall be notified of the reasons for the disposition of the complaint.
4. The commission may make such investigations and inspections within or outside of this state as are necessary to determine compliance.
5. If, during an audit or investigation, the commission determines that a formal investigation is necessary, the commission shall assign the investigation to a special investigator in the manner provided by subsection 1 of section 105.961.
6. After completion of an audit or investigation, the executive director shall provide a detailed report of such audit or investigation to the commission. Upon determination that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person has violated the requirements of sections 105.470, 105.483 to 105.492, or chapter 130, RSMo, by a vote of four members of the commission, the commission may refer the report with the recommendations of the commission to the appropriate prosecuting authority together with a copy of the audit and the details of the investigation by the commission as is provided in subsection 2 of section 105.961.
105.963. 1. The executive director shall assess every [candidate for state or local office] committee, as defined in section 130.011, RSMo, failing to file with a filing officer other than a local election authority as provided by section 130.026, RSMo, a campaign disclosure report as required by chapter 130, RSMo, other than the report required pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of section 130.046, RSMo, a late filing fee of ten dollars for each day after such report is due to the commission. The executive director shall mail a notice, by registered mail, to any candidate and [candidate committee treasurer and deputy treasurer] the treasurer of any committee who fails to file such report informing such person of such failure and the fees provided by this section. If the candidate or treasurer of any committee persists in such failure for a period in excess of thirty days beyond receipt of such notice, the amount of the late filing fee shall increase to one hundred dollars for each day that the report is not filed, provided that the total amount of such fees assessed pursuant to this subsection per report shall not exceed three thousand dollars.
2. (1) Any candidate for state or local office who fails to file a campaign disclosure report required pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of section 130.046, RSMo, other than a report required to be filed with a local election authority as provided by section 130.026, RSMo, shall be assessed by the executive director a late filing fee of one hundred dollars for each day that the report is not filed, until the first day after the date of the election. After such election date, the amount of such late filing fee shall accrue at the rate of ten dollars per day that such report remains unfiled, except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection.
(2) The executive director shall mail a notice, by certified mail or other means to give actual notice, to any candidate [and candidate committee treasurer and deputy treasurer] who fails to file the report described in subdivision (1) of this subsection informing such person of such failure and the fees provided by this section. If the candidate persists in such failure for a period in excess of thirty days beyond receipt of such notice, the amount of the late filing fee shall increase to one hundred dollars for each day that the report is not filed, provided that the total amount of such fees assessed pursuant to this subsection per report shall not exceed six thousand dollars.
3. The executive director shall assess every person required to file a financial interest statement pursuant to sections 105.483 to 105.492 failing to file such a financial interest statement with the commission a late filing fee of ten dollars for each day after such statement is due to the commission. The executive director shall mail a notice, by certified mail, to any person who fails to file such statement informing the individual required to file of such failure and the fees provided by this section. If the person persists in such failure for a period in excess of thirty days beyond receipt of such notice, the amount of the late filing fee shall increase to one hundred dollars for each day thereafter that the statement is late, provided that the total amount of such fees assessed pursuant to this subsection per statement shall not exceed six thousand dollars.
4. Any person assessed a late filing fee may seek review of such assessment or the amount of late filing fees assessed, at the person's option, by filing a petition within fourteen days after receiving actual notice of assessment with the administrative hearing commission, or without exhausting the person's administrative remedies may seek review of such issues with the circuit court of Cole County.
5. The executive director of the Missouri ethics commission shall collect such late filing fees as are provided for in this section. Unpaid late filing fees shall be collected by action filed by the commission. The commission shall contract with the appropriate entity to collect such late filing fees after a thirty-day delinquency. If not collected within one hundred twenty days, the Missouri ethics commission shall file a petition in Cole County circuit court to seek a judgment on said fees. All late filing fees collected pursuant to this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer and deposited to the general revenue fund.
6. The late filing fees provided by this section shall be in addition to any penalty provided by law for violations of sections 105.483 to 105.492 or chapter 130, RSMo.
7. If any candidate fails to file a campaign disclosure report in a timely manner and that candidate is assessed a late filing fee, the candidate, candidate committee treasurer or assistant treasurer may file an appeal of the assessment of the late filing fee with the commission. The commission may forgive the assessment of the late filing fee upon a showing of good cause. Such appeal shall be filed within ten days of the receipt of notice of the assessment of the late filing fee.
115.342. 1. Any person who files as a candidate for election to a public office shall be disqualified from participation in the election for which the candidate has filed if such person is delinquent in the payment of any state income taxes, personal property taxes, real property taxes on the place of residence, as stated on the declaration of candidacy, or if the person is a past or present corporate officer of any fee office that owes any taxes to the state.
2. Each potential candidate for election to a public office shall file an affidavit with the department of revenue and include a copy of the affidavit with the declaration of candidacy required under section 115.349, RSMo. Such affidavit shall be in substantially the following form:
"AFFIRMATION OF TAX PAYMENTS:
I hereby declare under penalties of perjury that I am not currently aware of any delinquency in the filing or payment of any state income taxes, personal property taxes, real property taxes on the place of residence, as stated on the declaration of candidacy, or that I am a past or present corporate officer of any fee office that owes any taxes to the state, other than those taxes which may be in dispute.
.............................. Candidate's Signature
.............................. Printed Name of Candidate."
3. Upon receipt of a complaint alleging a delinquency of the candidate in the filing or payment of any state income taxes, personal property taxes, real property taxes on the place of residence, as stated on the declaration of candidacy, or if the person is a past or present corporate officer of any fee office that owes any taxes to the state, the department of revenue shall investigate such potential candidate to verify the claim contained in the complaint. If the department of revenue finds a positive affirmation to be false, the department shall contact the secretary of state, or the election official who accepted such candidate's declaration of candidacy, and the potential candidate. The department shall notify the candidate of the outstanding tax owed and give the candidate thirty days to remit any such outstanding taxes owed which are not the subject of dispute between the department and the candidate. If the candidate fails to remit such amounts in full within thirty days, the candidate shall be disqualified from participating in the current election and barred from refiling for an entire election cycle even if the individual pays all of the outstanding taxes that were the subject of the complaint.
115.350. No person shall qualify as a candidate for elective public office in the state of Missouri who has been convicted of or found guilty of or pled guilty to a felony under the laws of this state.
130.011. As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms mean:
(1) "Appropriate officer" or "appropriate officers", the person or persons designated in section 130.026 to receive certain required statements and reports;
(2) "Ballot measure" or "measure", any proposal submitted or intended to be submitted to qualified voters for their approval or rejection, including any proposal submitted by initiative petition, referendum petition, or by the general assembly or any local governmental body having authority to refer proposals to the voter;
(3) "Candidate", an individual who seeks nomination or election to public office. The term "candidate" includes an elected officeholder who is the subject of a recall election, an individual who seeks nomination by the individual's political party for election to public office, an individual standing for retention in an election to an office to which the individual was previously appointed, an individual who seeks nomination or election whether or not the specific elective public office to be sought has been finally determined by such individual at the time the individual meets the conditions described in paragraph (a) or (b) of this subdivision, and an individual who is a "write-in candidate" as defined in subdivision (28) of this section. A candidate shall be deemed to seek nomination or election when the person first:
(a) Receives contributions or makes expenditures or reserves space or facilities with intent to promote the person's candidacy for office; or
(b) Knows or has reason to know that contributions are being received or expenditures are being made or space or facilities are being reserved with the intent to promote the person's candidacy for office; except that, such individual shall not be deemed a candidate if the person files a statement with the appropriate officer within five days after learning of the receipt of contributions, the making of expenditures, or the reservation of space or facilities disavowing the candidacy and stating that the person will not accept nomination or take office if elected; provided that, if the election at which such individual is supported as a candidate is to take place within five days after the person's learning of the above-specified activities, the individual shall file the statement disavowing the candidacy within one day; or
(c) Announces or files a declaration of candidacy for office;
(4) "Cash", currency, coin, United States postage stamps, or any negotiable instrument which can be transferred from one person to another person without the signature or endorsement of the transferor;
(5) "Check", a check drawn on a state or federal bank, or a draft on a negotiable order of withdrawal account in a savings and loan association or a share draft account in a credit union;
(6) "Closing date", the date through which a statement or report is required to be complete;
(7) "Committee", a person or any combination of persons, who accepts contributions or makes expenditures for the primary or incidental purpose of influencing or attempting to influence the action of voters for or against the nomination or election to public office of one or more candidates or the qualification, passage or defeat of any ballot measure or for the purpose of paying a previously incurred campaign debt or obligation of a candidate or the debts or obligations of a committee or for the purpose of contributing funds to another committee:
(a) "Committee", does not include:
a. A person or combination of persons, if neither the aggregate of expenditures made nor the aggregate of contributions received during a calendar year exceeds five hundred dollars and if no single contributor has contributed more than two hundred fifty dollars of such aggregate contributions;
b. An individual, other than a candidate, who accepts no contributions and who deals only with the individual's own funds or property;
c. A corporation, cooperative association, partnership, proprietorship, or joint venture organized or operated for a primary or principal purpose other than that of influencing or attempting to influence the action of voters for or against the nomination or election to public office of one or more candidates or the qualification, passage or defeat of any ballot measure, and it accepts no contributions, and all expenditures it makes are from its own funds or property obtained in the usual course of business or in any commercial or other transaction and which are not contributions as defined by subdivision (12) of this section;
d. A labor organization organized or operated for a primary or principal purpose other than that of influencing or attempting to influence the action of voters for or against the nomination or election to public office of one or more candidates, or the qualification, passage, or defeat of any ballot measure, and it accepts no contributions, and expenditures made by the organization are from its own funds or property received from membership dues or membership fees which were given or solicited for the purpose of supporting the normal and usual activities and functions of the organization and which are not contributions as defined by subdivision (12) of this section;
e. A person who acts as an authorized agent for a committee in soliciting or receiving contributions or in making expenditures or incurring indebtedness on behalf of the committee if such person renders to the committee treasurer or deputy treasurer or candidate, if applicable, an accurate account of each receipt or other transaction in the detail required by the treasurer to comply with all record keeping and reporting requirements of this chapter;
f. Any department, agency, board, institution or other entity of the state or any of its subdivisions or any officer or employee thereof, acting in the person's official capacity;
(b) The term "committee" includes, but is not limited to, each of the following committees: campaign committee, candidate committee, continuing committee and political party committee;
(8) "Campaign committee", a committee, other than a candidate committee, which shall be formed by an individual or group of individuals to receive contributions or make expenditures and whose sole purpose is to support or oppose the qualification and passage of one or more particular ballot measures in an election or the retention of judges under the nonpartisan court plan, such committee shall be formed no later than thirty days prior to the election for which the committee receives contributions or makes expenditures, and which shall terminate the later of either thirty days after the general election or upon the satisfaction of all committee debt after the general election, except that no committee retiring debt shall engage in any other activities in support of a measure for which the committee was formed;
(9) "Candidate committee", a committee which shall be formed by a candidate to receive contributions or make expenditures in behalf of the person's candidacy and which shall continue in existence for use by an elected candidate or which shall terminate the later of either thirty days after the general election for a candidate who was not elected or upon the satisfaction of all committee debt after the election, except that no committee retiring debt shall engage in any other activities in support of the candidate for which the committee was formed. Any candidate for elective office shall have only one candidate committee for the elective office sought, which is controlled directly by the candidate for the purpose of making expenditures. A candidate committee is presumed to be under the control and direction of the candidate unless the candidate files an affidavit with the appropriate officer stating that the committee is acting without control or direction on the candidate's part;
(10) "Continuing committee", a committee of continuing existence which is not formed, controlled or directed by a candidate, and is a committee other than a candidate committee or campaign committee, whose primary or incidental purpose is to receive contributions or make expenditures to influence or attempt to influence the action of voters whether or not a particular candidate or candidates or a particular ballot measure or measures to be supported or opposed has been determined at the time the committee is required to file any statement or report pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. "Continuing committee" includes, but is not limited to, any committee organized or sponsored by a business entity, a labor organization, a professional association, a trade or business association, a club or other organization and whose primary purpose is to solicit, accept and use contributions from the members, employees or stockholders of such entity and any individual or group of individuals who accept and use contributions to influence or attempt to influence the action of voters. Such committee shall be formed no later than [thirty] sixty days prior to the election for which the committee receives contributions or makes expenditures;
(11) "Connected organization", any organization such as a corporation, a labor organization, a membership organization, a cooperative, or trade or professional association which expends funds or provides services or facilities to establish, administer or maintain a committee or to solicit contributions to a committee from its members, officers, directors, employees or security holders. An organization shall be deemed to be the connected organization if more than fifty percent of the persons making contributions to the committee during the current calendar year are members, officers, directors, employees or security holders of such organization or their spouses;
(12) "Contribution", a payment, gift, loan, advance, deposit, or donation of money or anything of value for the purpose of supporting or opposing the nomination or election of any candidate for public office or the qualification, passage or defeat of any ballot measure, or for the support of any committee supporting or opposing candidates or ballot measures or for paying debts or obligations of any candidate or committee previously incurred for the above purposes. A contribution of anything of value shall be deemed to have a money value equivalent to the fair market value. "Contribution" includes, but is not limited to:
(a) A candidate's own money or property used in support of the person's candidacy other than expense of the candidate's food, lodging, travel, and payment of any fee necessary to the filing for public office;
(b) Payment by any person, other than a candidate or committee, to compensate another person for services rendered to that candidate or committee;
(c) Receipts from the sale of goods and services, including the sale of advertising space in a brochure, booklet, program or pamphlet of a candidate or committee and the sale of tickets or political merchandise;
(d) Receipts from fund-raising events including testimonial affairs;
(e) Any loan, guarantee of a loan, cancellation or forgiveness of a loan or debt or other obligation by a third party, or payment of a loan or debt or other obligation by a third party if the loan or debt or other obligation was contracted, used, or intended, in whole or in part, for use in an election campaign or used or intended for the payment of such debts or obligations of a candidate or committee previously incurred, or which was made or received by a committee;
(f) Funds received by a committee which are transferred to such committee from another committee or other source, except funds received by a candidate committee as a transfer of funds from another candidate committee controlled by the same candidate but such transfer shall be included in the disclosure reports;
(g) Facilities, office space or equipment supplied by any person to a candidate or committee without charge or at reduced charges, except gratuitous space for meeting purposes which is made available regularly to the public, including other candidates or committees, on an equal basis for similar purposes on the same conditions;
(h) The direct or indirect payment by any person, other than a connected organization, of the costs of establishing, administering, or maintaining a committee, including legal, accounting and computer services, fund raising and solicitation of contributions for a committee;
(i) "Contribution" does not include:
a. Ordinary home hospitality or services provided without compensation by individuals volunteering their time in support of or in opposition to a candidate, committee or ballot measure, nor the necessary and ordinary personal expenses of such volunteers incidental to the performance of voluntary activities, so long as no compensation is directly or indirectly asked or given;
b. An offer or tender of a contribution which is expressly and unconditionally rejected and returned to the donor within ten business days after receipt or transmitted to the state treasurer;
c. Interest earned on deposit of committee funds;
d. The costs incurred by any connected organization listed pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection 5 of section 130.021 for establishing, administering or maintaining a committee, or for the solicitation of contributions to a committee which solicitation is solely directed or related to the members, officers, directors, employees or security holders of the connected organization;
(13) "County", any one of the several counties of this state or the city of St. Louis;
(14) "Disclosure report", an itemized report of receipts, expenditures and incurred indebtedness which is prepared on forms approved by the Missouri ethics commission and filed at the times and places prescribed;
(15) "Election", any primary, general or special election held to nominate or elect an individual to public office, to retain or recall an elected officeholder or to submit a ballot measure to the voters, and any caucus or other meeting of a political party or a political party committee at which that party's candidate or candidates for public office are officially selected. A primary election and the succeeding general election shall be considered separate elections;
(16) "Expenditure", a payment, advance, conveyance, deposit, donation or contribution of money or anything of value for the purpose of supporting or opposing the nomination or election of any candidate for public office or the qualification or passage of any ballot measure or for the support of any committee which in turn supports or opposes any candidate or ballot measure or for the purpose of paying a previously incurred campaign debt or obligation of a candidate or the debts or obligations of a committee; a payment, or an agreement or promise to pay, money or anything of value, including a candidate's own money or property, for the purchase of goods, services, property, facilities or anything of value for the purpose of supporting or opposing the nomination or election of any candidate for public office or the qualification or passage of any ballot measure or for the support of any committee which in turn supports or opposes any candidate or ballot measure or for the purpose of paying a previously incurred campaign debt or obligation of a candidate or the debts or obligations of a committee. An expenditure of anything of value shall be deemed to have a money value equivalent to the fair market value. "Expenditure" includes, but is not limited to:
(a) Payment by anyone other than a committee for services of another person rendered to such committee;
(b) The purchase of tickets, goods, services or political merchandise in connection with any testimonial affair or fund-raising event of or for candidates or committees, or the purchase of advertising in a brochure, booklet, program or pamphlet of a candidate or committee;
(c) The transfer of funds by one committee to another committee;
(d) The direct or indirect payment by any person, other than a connected organization for a committee, of the costs of establishing, administering or maintaining a committee, including legal, accounting and computer services, fund raising and solicitation of contributions for a committee; but
(e) "Expenditure" does not include:
a. Any news story, commentary or editorial which is broadcast or published by any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine or other periodical without charge to the candidate or to any person supporting or opposing a candidate or ballot measure;
b. The internal dissemination by any membership organization, proprietorship, labor organization, corporation, association or other entity of information advocating the election or defeat of a candidate or candidates or the passage or defeat of a ballot measure or measures to its directors, officers, members, employees or security holders, provided that the cost incurred is reported pursuant to subsection 2 of section 130.051;
c. Repayment of a loan, but such repayment shall be indicated in required reports;
d. The rendering of voluntary personal services by an individual of the sort commonly performed by volunteer campaign workers and the payment by such individual of the individual's necessary and ordinary personal expenses incidental to such volunteer activity, provided no compensation is, directly or indirectly, asked or given;
e. The costs incurred by any connected organization listed pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection 5 of section 130.021 for establishing, administering or maintaining a committee, or for the solicitation of contributions to a committee which solicitation is solely directed or related to the members, officers, directors, employees or security holders of the connected organization;
f. The use of a candidate's own money or property for expense of the candidate's personal food, lodging, travel, and payment of any fee necessary to the filing for public office, if such expense is not reimbursed to the candidate from any source;
(17) "Exploratory committees", a committee which shall be formed by an individual to receive contributions and make expenditures on behalf of this individual in determining whether or not the individual seeks elective office.
Such committee shall terminate no later than December thirty-first of the year prior to the general election for the possible office;
(18) "Fund-raising event", an event such as a dinner, luncheon, reception, coffee, testimonial, rally, auction or similar affair through which contributions are solicited or received by such means as the purchase of tickets, payment of attendance fees, donations for prizes or through the purchase of goods, services or political merchandise;
(19) "In-kind contribution" or "in-kind expenditure", a contribution or expenditure in a form other than money;
(20) "Labor organization", any organization of any kind, or any agency or employee representation committee or plan, in which employees participate and which exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, or conditions of work;
(21) "Loan", a transfer of money, property or anything of ascertainable monetary value in exchange for an obligation, conditional or not, to repay in whole or in part and which was contracted, used, or intended for use in an election campaign, or which was made or received by a committee or which was contracted, used, or intended to pay previously incurred campaign debts or obligations of a candidate or the debts or obligations of a committee;
(22) "Person", an individual, group of individuals, corporation, partnership, committee, proprietorship, joint venture, any department, agency, board, institution or other entity of the state or any of its political subdivisions, union, labor organization, trade or professional or business association, association, political party or any executive committee thereof, or any other club or organization however constituted or any officer or employee of such entity acting in the person's official capacity;
(23) "Political merchandise", goods such as bumper stickers, pins, hats, ties, jewelry, literature, or other items sold or distributed at a fund-raising event or to the general public for publicity or for the purpose of raising funds to be used in supporting or opposing a candidate for nomination or election or in supporting or opposing the qualification, passage or defeat of a ballot measure;
(24) "Political party", a political party which has the right under law to have the names of its candidates listed on the ballot in a general election;
(25) "Political party committee", a state, district, county, city, or area committee of a political party, as defined in section 115.603, RSMo, which may be organized as a not-for-profit corporation under Missouri law, and which committee is of continuing existence, and has the primary or incidental purpose of receiving contributions and making expenditures to influence or attempt to influence the action of voters on behalf of the political party;
(26) "Public office" or "office", any state, judicial, county, municipal, school or other district, ward, township, or other political subdivision office or any political party office which is filled by a vote of registered voters;
(27) "Regular session", includes that period beginning on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January and ending following the first Friday after the second Monday in May;
(28) "Write-in candidate", an individual whose name is not printed on the ballot but who otherwise meets the definition of "candidate" in subdivision (3) of this section.
130.016. 1. No candidate for statewide elected office, general assembly, or municipal office in a city with a population of more than one hundred thousand shall be required to comply with the requirements to file a statement of organization or disclosure reports of contributions and expenditures for any election in which neither the aggregate of contributions received nor the aggregate of expenditures made on behalf of such candidate exceeds five hundred dollars and no single contributor, other than the candidate, has contributed more than the amount of the limitation on contributions to elect an individual to the office of state representative as calculated in subsection 2 of section 130.032, provided that:
(1) The candidate files a sworn exemption statement with the appropriate officer that the candidate does not intend to either receive contributions or make expenditures in the aggregate of more than five hundred dollars or receive contributions from any single contributor, other than the candidate, that aggregate more than the amount of the limitation on contributions to elect an individual to the office of state representative as calculated in subsection 2 of section 130.032, and that the total of all contributions received or expenditures made by the candidate and all committees or any other person with the candidate's knowledge and consent in support of the candidacy will not exceed five hundred dollars and that the aggregate of contributions received from any single contributor will not exceed the amount of the limitation on contributions to elect an individual to the office of state representative as calculated in subsection 2 of section 130.032. Such exemption statement shall be filed no later than the date set forth in section 130.046 on which a disclosure report would otherwise be required if the candidate does not file the exemption statement. The exemption statement shall be filed on a form furnished to each appropriate officer by the executive director of the Missouri ethics commission. Each appropriate officer shall make the exemption statement available to candidates and shall direct each candidate's attention to the exemption statement and explain its purpose to the candidate; and
(2) The sworn exemption statement includes a statement that the candidate understands that records of contributions and expenditures must be maintained from the time the candidate first receives contributions or makes expenditures and that an exemption from filing a statement of organization or disclosure reports does not exempt the candidate from other provisions of this chapter. Each candidate described in this subsection who files a statement of exemption shall file a statement of limited activity for each reporting period described in section 130.046.
2. Any candidate who has filed an exemption statement as provided in subsection 1 of this section shall not accept any contribution or make any expenditure in support of the person's candidacy, either directly or indirectly or by or through any committee or any other person acting with the candidate's knowledge and consent, which would cause such contributions or expenditures to exceed the limits specified in subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of this section unless the candidate later rejects the exemption pursuant to subsection 3 of this section. Any contribution received in excess of such limits shall be returned to the donor or transmitted to the state treasurer to escheat to the state.
3. If, after filing the exemption statement provided for in this section, the candidate subsequently determines the candidate wishes to exceed any of the limits in subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of this section, the candidate shall file a notice of rejection of the exemption with the appropriate officer; however, such rejection shall not be filed later than thirty days before election. A notice of rejection of exemption shall be accompanied by a statement of organization as required by section 130.021 and any other statements and reports which would have been required if the candidate had not filed an exemption statement.
4. A primary election and the immediately succeeding general election are separate elections, and restrictions on contributions and expenditures set forth in subsection 2 of this section shall apply to each election; however, if a successful primary candidate has correctly filed an exemption statement prior to the primary election and has not filed a notice of rejection prior to the date on which the first disclosure report applicable to the succeeding general election is required to be filed, the candidate shall not be required to file an exemption statement for that general election if the limitations set forth in subsection 1 of this section apply to the succeeding general election.
5. A candidate who has an existing candidate committee formed for a prior election for which all statements and reports required by this chapter have been properly filed shall be eligible to file the exemption statement as provided in subsection 1 of this section and shall not be required to file the disclosure reports pertaining to the election for which the candidate is eligible to file the exemption statement if the candidate and the treasurer or deputy treasurer of such existing candidate committee continue to comply with the requirements, limitations and restrictions set forth in subsections 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this section. The exemption permitted by this subsection does not exempt a candidate or the treasurer of the candidate's existing candidate committee from complying with the requirements of subsections 6 and 7 of section 130.046 applicable to a prior election.
6. No candidate for supreme court, circuit court, or associate circuit court, or candidate for political party office, or for county office or municipal office in a city of one hundred thousand or less, or for any special purpose district office shall be required to file an exemption statement pursuant to this section in order to be exempted from forming a committee and filing disclosure reports required of committees pursuant to this chapter if the aggregate of contributions received or expenditures made by the candidate and any other person with the candidate's knowledge and consent in support of the person's candidacy does not exceed one thousand dollars and the aggregate of contributions from any single contributor does not exceed the amount of the limitation on contributions to elect an individual to the office of state representative as calculated in subsection 2 of section 130.032. No candidate for any office listed in this subsection shall be excused from complying with the provisions of any section of this chapter, other than the filing of an exemption statement under the conditions specified in this subsection.
7. If any candidate for an office listed in subsection 6 of this section exceeds the limits specified in subsection 6 of this section, the candidate shall form a committee no later than thirty days prior to the election for which the contributions were received or expended which shall comply with all provisions of this chapter for committees.
8. No member of or candidate for the general assembly shall form a candidate committee for the office of speaker of the house of representatives or president pro tem of the senate.
130.032. 1. [In addition to the limitations imposed pursuant to section 130.031, the amount of contributions made by or accepted from any person other than the candidate in any one election shall not exceed the following:
(1) To elect an individual to the office of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor or attorney general, one thousand dollars;
(2) To elect an individual to the office of state senator, five hundred dollars;
(3) To elect an individual to the office of state representative, two hundred fifty dollars;
(4) To elect an individual to any other office, including judicial office, if the population of the electoral district, ward, or other unit according to the latest decennial census is under one hundred thousand, two hundred fifty dollars;
(5) To elect an individual to any other office, including judicial office, if the population of the electoral district, ward, or other unit according to the latest decennial census is at least one hundred thousand but less than two hundred fifty thousand, five hundred dollars; and
(6) To elect an individual to any other office, including judicial office, if the population of the electoral district, ward, or other unit according to the latest decennial census is at least two hundred fifty thousand, one thousand dollars.
2. For purposes of this subsection "base year amount" shall be the contribution limits prescribed in this section on January 1, 1995. Such limits shall be increased on the first day of January in each even-numbered year by multiplying the base year amount by the cumulative consumer price index, as defined in section 104.010, RSMo, and rounded to the nearest twenty-five-dollar amount, for all years since January 1, 1995.
3. Candidate committees, exploratory committees, campaign committees and continuing committees, other than those continuing committees which are political party committees, shall be subject to the limits prescribed in subsection 1 of this section. The provisions of this subsection shall not limit the amount of contributions which may be accumulated by a candidate committee and used for expenditures to further the nomination or election of the candidate who controls such candidate committee, except as provided in section 130.052.
4. Except as limited by this subsection, the amount of cash contributions, and a separate amount for the amount of in-kind contributions, made by or accepted from a political party committee in any one election shall not exceed the following:
(1) To elect an individual to the office of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor or attorney general, ten thousand dollars;
(2) To elect an individual to the office of state senator, five thousand dollars;
(3) To elect an individual to the office of state representative, two thousand five hundred dollars; and
(4) To elect an individual to any other office of an electoral district, ward or unit, ten times the allowable contribution limit for the office sought.
The amount of contributions which may be made by or accepted from a political party committee in the primary election to elect any candidate who is unopposed in such primary shall be fifty percent of the amount of the allowable contributions as determined in this subsection.
5. Contributions from persons under fourteen years of age shall be considered made by the parents or guardians of such person and shall be attributed toward any contribution limits prescribed in this chapter. Where the contributor under fourteen years of age has two custodial parents or guardians, fifty percent of the contribution shall be attributed to each parent or guardian, and where such contributor has one custodial parent or guardian, all such contributions shall be attributed to the custodial parent or guardian.
6. Contributions received and expenditures made prior to January 1, 1995, shall be reported as a separate account and pursuant to the laws in effect at the time such contributions are received or expenditures made. Contributions received and expenditures made after January 1, 1995, shall be reported as a separate account from the aforementioned account and pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. The account reported pursuant to the prior law shall be retained as a separate account and any remaining funds in such account may be used pursuant to this chapter and section 130.034.
7. Any committee which accepts or gives contributions other than those allowed shall be subject to a surcharge of one thousand dollars plus an amount equal to the contribution per nonallowable contribution, to be paid to the ethics commission and which shall be transferred to the director of revenue, upon notification of such nonallowable contribution by the ethics commission, and after the candidate has had ten business days after receipt of notice to return the contribution to the contributor. The candidate and the candidate committee treasurer or deputy treasurer owing a surcharge shall be personally liable for the payment of the surcharge or may pay such surcharge only from campaign funds existing on the date of the receipt of notice. Such surcharge shall constitute a debt to the state enforceable under, but not limited to, the provisions of chapter 143, RSMo.] Monetary contributions shall not be made from any political party committee as defined in subdivision (25) of section 130.011 to any candidate committee, continuing committee, or political party committee. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit any candidate committee from making contributions to any other committee.
2. Any candidate for the office of state representative, the office of state senator, or a statewide elected office shall not accept any contributions from the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January through the first Friday after the second Monday of May of each year at 6:00 p.m. Only candidates for special election to the house of representatives, senate, or statewide elected office may, during such time, accept contributions from the date of the candidate's nomination by his or her respective political party until thirty days after the date of the election.
130.042. The Missouri ethics commission shall post on its website in an easily accessible and conspicuous manner, a listing organized by candidate showing all expenditures required to be disclosed by sections 130.041 and 130.050, made in support of and against each candidate, together with the date and amount of each expenditure. The commission shall post each expenditure within seven days of notification of the expenditure. The list underlying each candidate shall be further organized into the following two categories:
(1) Expenditures in support of the candidate; and
(2) Expenditures in opposition to the candidate.
130.046. 1. The disclosure reports required by section 130.041 for all committees shall be filed at the following times and for the following periods:
(1) Not later than the eighth day before an election for the period closing on the twelfth day before the election if the committee has made any contribution or expenditure either in support or opposition to any candidate or ballot measure;
(2) Not later than the thirtieth day after an election for a period closing on the twenty-fifth day after the election, if the committee has made any contribution or expenditure either in support of or opposition to any candidate or ballot measure; except that, a successful candidate who takes office prior to the twenty-fifth day after the election shall have complied with the report requirement of this subdivision if a disclosure report is filed by such candidate and any candidate committee under the candidate's control before such candidate takes office, and such report shall be for the period closing on the day before taking office; and
(3) Not later than the fifteenth day following the close of each calendar quarter.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, if any committee accepts contributions or makes expenditures in support of or in opposition to a ballot measure or a candidate, and the report required by this subsection for the most recent calendar quarter is filed prior to the fortieth day before the election on the measure or candidate, the committee shall file an additional disclosure report not later than the fortieth day before the election for the period closing on the forty-fifth day before the election.
2. In the case of a ballot measure to be qualified to be on the ballot by initiative petition or referendum petition, or a recall petition seeking to remove an incumbent from office, disclosure reports relating to the time for filing such petitions shall be made as follows:
(1) In addition to the disclosure reports required to be filed pursuant to subsection 1 of this section the treasurer of a committee, other than a continuing committee, supporting or opposing a petition effort to qualify a measure to appear on the ballot or to remove an incumbent from office shall file an initial disclosure report fifteen days after the committee begins the process of raising or spending money. After such initial report, the committee shall file quarterly disclosure reports as required by subdivision (3) of subsection 1 of this section until such time as the reports required by subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection 1 of this section are to be filed. In addition the committee shall file a second disclosure report no later than the fifteenth day after the deadline date for submitting such petition. The period covered in the initial report shall begin on the day the committee first accepted contributions or made expenditures to support or oppose the petition effort for qualification of the measure and shall close on the fifth day prior to the date of the report;
(2) If the measure has qualified to be on the ballot in an election and if a committee subject to the requirements of subdivision (1) of this subsection is also required to file a preelection disclosure report for such election any time within thirty days after the date on which disclosure reports are required to be filed in accordance with subdivision (1) of this subsection, the treasurer of such committee shall not be required to file the report required by subdivision (1) of this subsection, but shall include in the committee's preelection report all information which would otherwise have been required by subdivision (1) of this subsection.
3. The candidate, if applicable, treasurer or deputy treasurer of a committee shall file disclosure reports pursuant to this section, except for any calendar quarter in which the contributions received by the committee or the expenditures or contributions made by the committee do not exceed five hundred dollars. The reporting dates and periods covered for such quarterly reports shall not be later than the fifteenth day of January, April, July and October for periods closing on the thirty-first day of December, the thirty-first day of March, the thirtieth day of June and the thirtieth day of September. No candidate, treasurer or deputy treasurer shall be required to file the quarterly disclosure report required not later than the fifteenth day of any January immediately following a November election, provided that such candidate, treasurer or deputy treasurer shall file the information required on such quarterly report on the quarterly report to be filed not later than the fifteenth day of April immediately following such November election. Each report by such committee shall be cumulative from the date of the last report. In the case of the continuing committee's first report, the report shall be cumulative from the date of the continuing committee's organization. Every candidate, treasurer or deputy treasurer shall file, at a minimum, the campaign disclosure reports covering the quarter immediately preceding the date of the election and those required by subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection 1 of this section. A continuing committee shall submit additional reports if it makes aggregate expenditures, other than contributions to a committee, of five hundred dollars or more, within the reporting period at the following times for the following periods:
(1) Not later than the eighth day before an election for the period closing on the twelfth day before the election;
(2) Not later than [forty-eight] twenty-four hours after aggregate expenditures of [five] two hundred fifty dollars or more are made after the twelfth day before the election; and
(3) Not later than the thirtieth day after an election for a period closing on the twenty-fifth day after the election.
4. The reports required to be filed no later than the thirtieth day after an election and any subsequently required report shall be cumulative so as to reflect the total receipts and disbursements of the reporting committee for the entire election campaign in question. The period covered by each disclosure report shall begin on the day after the closing date of the most recent disclosure report filed and end on the closing date for the period covered. If the committee has not previously filed a disclosure report, the period covered begins on the date the committee was formed; except that in the case of a candidate committee, the period covered begins on the date the candidate became a candidate according to the definition of the term candidate in section 130.011.
5. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter to the contrary:
(1) Certain disclosure reports pertaining to any candidate who receives nomination in a primary election and thereby seeks election in the immediately succeeding general election shall not be required in the following cases:
(a) If there are less than fifty days between a primary election and the immediately succeeding general election, the disclosure report required to be filed quarterly; provided that, any other report required to be filed prior to the primary election and all other reports required to be filed not later than the eighth day before the general election are filed no later than the final dates for filing such reports;
(b) If there are less than eighty-five days between a primary election and the immediately succeeding general election, the disclosure report required to be filed not later than the thirtieth day after the primary election need not be filed; provided that any report required to be filed prior to the primary election and any other report required to be filed prior to the general election are filed no later than the final dates for filing such reports; and
(2) No disclosure report needs to be filed for any reporting period if during that reporting period the committee has neither received contributions aggregating more than five hundred dollars nor made expenditure aggregating more than five hundred dollars and has not received contributions aggregating more than three hundred dollars from any single contributor and if the committee's treasurer files a statement with the appropriate officer that the committee has not exceeded the identified thresholds in the reporting period. Any contributions received or expenditures made which are not reported because this statement is filed in lieu of a disclosure report shall be included in the next disclosure report filed by the committee. This statement shall not be filed in lieu of the report for two or more consecutive disclosure periods if either the contributions received or expenditures made in the aggregate during those reporting periods exceed five hundred dollars. This statement shall not be filed, in lieu of the report, later than the thirtieth day after an election if that report would show a deficit of more than one thousand dollars.
6. (1) If the disclosure report required to be filed by a committee not later than the thirtieth day after an election shows a deficit of unpaid loans and other outstanding obligations in excess of five thousand dollars, semiannual supplemental disclosure reports shall be filed with the appropriate officer for each succeeding semiannual period until the deficit is reported in a disclosure report as being reduced to five thousand dollars or less; except that, a supplemental semiannual report shall not be required for any semiannual period which includes the closing date for the reporting period covered in any regular disclosure report which the committee is required to file in connection with an election. The reporting dates and periods covered for semiannual reports shall be not later than the fifteenth day of January and July for periods closing on the thirty-first day of December and the thirtieth day of June;
(2) Committees required to file reports pursuant to subsection 2 or 3 of this section which are not otherwise required to file disclosure reports for an election shall file semiannual reports as required by this subsection if their last required disclosure report shows a total of unpaid loans and other outstanding obligations in excess of five thousand dollars.
7. In the case of a committee which disbands and is required to file a termination statement pursuant to the provisions of section 130.021 with the appropriate officer not later than the tenth day after the committee was dissolved, the candidate, committee treasurer or deputy treasurer shall attach to the termination statement a complete disclosure report for the period closing on the date of dissolution. A committee shall not utilize the provisions of subsection 8 of section 130.021 or the provisions of this subsection to circumvent or otherwise avoid the reporting requirements of subsection 6 or 7 of this section.
8. Disclosure reports shall be filed with the appropriate officer not later than 5:00 p.m. prevailing local time of the day designated for the filing of the report and a report postmarked not later than midnight of the day previous to the day designated for filing the report shall be deemed to have been filed in a timely manner. The appropriate officer may establish a policy whereby disclosure reports may be filed by facsimile transmission.
9. Each candidate for the office of state representative, state senator, and for statewide elected office shall file all disclosure reports described in section 130.041 electronically with the Missouri ethics commission. The Missouri ethics commission shall promulgate rules establishing the standard for electronic filings with the commission and shall propose such rules for the importation of files to the reporting program.
10. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo. This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2006, shall be invalid and void.
130.050. 1. An out-of-state committee which, according to the provisions of subsection 10 of section 130.021, is not required to file a statement of organization and is not required to file the full disclosure reports required by section 130.041 shall file reports with the Missouri ethics commission according to the provisions of this subsection if the committee makes contributions or expenditures in support of or in opposition to candidates or ballot measures in this state in any election covered by this chapter or makes contributions to any committee domiciled in this state. An initial report shall be filed on or within fourteen days prior to the date such out-of-state committee first makes a contribution or expenditure in this state, and thereafter reports shall be filed at the times and for the reporting periods prescribed in subsection 1 of section 130.046. Each report shall contain:
(1) The full name, address and domicile of the committee making the report and the name, residential and business addresses, domicile and telephone numbers of the committee's treasurer;
(2) The name and address of any entity such as a labor union, trade or business or professional association, club or other organization or any business entity with which the committee is affiliated;
(3) A statement of the total dollar amount of all funds received by the committee in the current calendar year and a statement of the total contributions in the same period from persons domiciled in this state and a list by name, address, date and amount of each Missouri resident who contributed an aggregate of more than two hundred dollars in the current calendar year;
(4) A list by name, address, date and amount regarding any contributor to the out-of-state committee, regardless of state of residency, who made a contribution during the reporting period which was restricted or designated in whole or in part for use in supporting or opposing a candidate, ballot measure or committee in this state or was restricted for use in this state at the committee's discretion, or a statement that no such contributions were received;
(5) A statement as to whether the committee is required to file reports with the Federal Election Commission, and a listing of agencies in other states with which the committee files reports, if any;
(6) A separate listing showing contributions made in support of or opposition to each candidate or ballot measure in this state, together with the date and amount of each contribution;
(7) A separate listing showing contributions made to any committee domiciled in this state with the date and amount of each contribution.
2. In the case of a political party committee's selection of an individual to be the party's nominee for public office in an election covered by this chapter, any individual who seeks such nomination and who is a candidate according to the definition of the term candidate in section 130.011 shall be required to comply with all requirements of this chapter; except that, for the purposes of this subsection, the reporting dates and reporting periods in section 130.046 shall not apply, and the first reporting date shall be no later than the fifteenth day after the date on which a nomination covered by this subsection was made and for the period beginning on the date the individual became a candidate, as the term candidate is defined in section 130.011, and closing on the tenth day after the date the nomination was made, with subsequent reports being made as closely as practicable to the times required in section 130.046.
3. The receipt of any late contribution or loan of more than two hundred fifty dollars by a candidate committee supporting a candidate for statewide office or by any other committee shall be reported to the appropriate officer no later than [forty-eight] twenty-four hours after receipt. For purposes of this subsection the term "late contribution or loan" means a contribution or loan received after the closing date of the last disclosure report required to be filed before an election but received prior to the date of the election itself. The disclosure report of a late contribution may be made by any written means of communication, setting forth the name and address of the contributor or lender and the amount of the contribution or loan and need not contain the signatures and certification required for a full disclosure report described in section 130.041. A late contribution or loan shall be included in subsequent disclosure reports without regard to any special reports filed pursuant to this subsection.
130.054. 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 3 of section 105.957, RSMo, any natural person may file a complaint with the Missouri ethics commission alleging failure to timely or accurately file a personal financial disclosure statement, a campaign finance disclosure report or a violation of the provisions of this chapter by any candidate for elective office, within sixty days prior to the primary election at which such candidate is running for office, until after the general election. Any such complaint shall be in writing, shall state all facts known by the complainant which have given rise to the complaint, and shall be sworn to, under penalty of perjury, by the complainant.
2. Within the first business day after receipt of a complaint pursuant to this section, the executive director shall supply a copy of the complaint to the person or entity named in the complaint, deleting any material identifying the name of the complainant. The executive director shall notify the complainant and the person or entity named in the complaint of the date and time at which the commission shall audit and investigate the allegations contained in the complaint pursuant to subsection 3 of this section.
3. Within fifteen business days of receipt of a complaint pursuant to this section, the commission shall audit and investigate the allegations contained in the complaint and shall determine by a vote of at least four members of the commission that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation of law has occurred within the jurisdiction of the commission. The respondent may reply in writing or in person to the allegations contained in the complaint and may state justifications to dismiss the complaint. The complainant may also present evidence in support of the allegations contained in the complaint, but such evidence shall be limited in scope to the allegations contained in the original complaint, and such complaint may not be supplemented or otherwise enlarged in scope.
4. If, after audit and investigation of the complaint and upon a vote of at least four members of the commission, the commission determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation of law has occurred within the jurisdiction of the commission, the commission shall proceed with such complaint as provided by sections 105.957 to 105.963, RSMo. If the commission does not determine that there are reasonable grounds to believe that such a violation of law has occurred, the complaint shall be dismissed. If a complaint is dismissed, the fact that such complaint was dismissed, with a statement of the nature of the complaint, shall be made public within twenty-four hours of the commission's action.
5. Any complaint made pursuant to this section, and all proceedings and actions concerning such a complaint, shall be subject to the provisions of subsection 15 of section 105.961, RSMo.
6. No complaint shall be accepted by the commission within fifteen days prior to the primary or general election at which such candidate is running for office.
Section 1. The ethics commission shall study methods to improve the regulation of persons and organizations that conduct or utilize political telephone solicitations. The commission shall issue a report containing recommendations to the general assembly no later than January 1, 2007.
Section B. Section A of this act shall become effective January 1, 2007.
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