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2015 SESSION

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SB 1424 Conflicts of Interests Act, State & Local Gov't & General Assembly, etc.; ethics reforms.

Introduced by: Thomas K. Norment, Jr. | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS ENACTED WITH GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION: (all summaries)

State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act, General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act, and Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council; certain gifts prohibited; approvals required for certain travel. Removes the distinction between tangible and intangible gifts and prohibits any state or local officer or employee, member of the General Assembly, and certain candidates from soliciting, accepting, or receiving within any calendar year a single gift with a value exceeding $100 or a combination of gifts with a value exceeding $100 from certain persons; however, such prohibition does not apply to gifts from personal friends. The bill also prohibits the immediate family of such officers, employees, members, or candidates from soliciting, accepting, or receiving such gifts. The bill provides an exception for gifts received at widely attended events, which are those events at which at least 25 persons have been invited to attend or there is a reasonable expectation that at least 25 persons will attend the event. The bill requires disclosure of any single gift or entertainment, or any combination of gifts or entertainment, with a value exceeding $50. The bill also requires persons subject to the Conflict of Interest Acts to request approval from the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council (the Council) and receive the approval of the Council prior to accepting or receiving any travel-related transportation, lodging, meal, hospitality, or other thing of value provided by certain third parties that has a value exceeding $100. The bill modifies the current composition of the Council, reducing the number of members from 15 to 9 and requires that there be bipartisan balance of the General Assembly members appointed to the Council. The bill requires electronic filing of disclosure forms with the Council and provides that local officers and employees will file disclosure forms locally instead of with the Council. The bill provides that the making of a knowing and intentional false statement on a disclosure form is punishable as a Class 5 felony. The bill also prohibits the Governor, his campaign committee, and any political action committee established on his behalf from knowingly soliciting or accepting a contribution, gift, or other item with a value greater than $100 from persons and entities seeking loans or grants from the Commonwealth's Development Opportunity Fund, restricts such gifts and contributions from persons and entities seeking loans or grants from the Fund, and provides that any violation shall result in a civil penalty of $500 or up to two times the amount of the contribution or gift, whichever is greater. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2016, except the provisions of the bill related to the Council and its duties become effective July 1, 2015. This bill incorporates SB 735, SB 752, SB 812, SB 1267, SB 1278, and SB 1289 and is identical to HB 2070.


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