SB 588 – Imposes a gift ban for the members of the General Assembly and their candidate committees

• Sponsor: Sifton
• LR Number: 4441S.03I
• Committee: Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics
• Last Action: 1/8/2018 - Second Read and Referred S Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee
• Journal Page: S105
• Effective Date: Varies

Current Bill Summary

SB 588 - This act creates several new provisions relating to ethics.

LOBBYIST EXPENDITURE BAN (Sections 105.456 and 105.473)

This act bars all public officials, in addition to their family, employees, and staff, from receiving any expenditure from lobbyists. The act further bars lobbyists from delivering expenditures to such individuals. Additionally, expenditure reporting requirements are repealed.

This provision is substantially similar to SB 59 (2017), SB 202 (2017), SB 632 (2016), and SB 48 (2015), and similar to HB 1303 (2018), HB 60 (2017), SB 536 (2014), SB 38 (2013) and HB 1080 (2012).

LOBBYIST CONTRIBUTION BAN (Section 105.473)

The act prohibits lobbyists from making contributions in the form of food, entertainment, lodging, or travel to the candidate committee of any member of the General Assembly or a candidate for statewide office or for the General Assembly. Such committees are further prohibited from receiving such items.

This provision is substantially similar to SB 59 (2017), SB 202 (2017), SB 632 (2016), and SB 48 (2015), and similar to HB 60 (2017), SB 536 (2014), SB 38 (2013) and HB 1080 (2012).

CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLOSURE (Sections 130.011 and 130.062)

This act requires all non-profit organizations exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)4 of the Internal Revenue Code to make certain disclosures regarding expenditures for the purpose of electioneering activities by means of covered communications made in the previous calendar year. The act further imposes a 48-hour reporting requirement once expenditures or certain contributions exceed $5,000. The Ethics Commission is required to assess fees on the board of directors of any covered organization in the same manner as are assessed against certain public officials who fail to file financial interest statements.

This provision is identical to SB 669 (2018) and substantially similar to HB 1766 (2018), SB 339 (2017), and provisions in SB 570 (2016), SB 807 (2016), and SB 543 (2015).

This provision has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2019.

SCOTT SVAGERA