SCS/SBs 239 & 45 - This act requires both the House and Senate to establish rules regulating the receipt of food, beverages and other gifts from professional lobbyists or their principals and requires continuing committees to file expenditure reports during the same periods before and after an election as other committees if the continuing committee makes an expenditure of $500 or more that is intended to effect an election or ballot measure. It also prohibits any public official from accepting honoraria or tickets to out-of-state sporting events from a lobbyist.

ETHICS COMMISSION: The Ethics Commission shall have two additional duties: 1) instituting civil actions for injunctions and civil penalties; and 2) promulgating rules to establish a civil penalty for ethics violations.

The Commission shall refer violations to prosecutors unless it determines that a violation is unintentional. In such event, the Commission may enter into a conciliation agreement with the violator to pay a civil penalty. This provision is similar to SS/SB 709 from 1996.

CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE REPORTS: A continuing committee shall file a quarterly report (current law) and additional reports within the applicable periods before and after an election if such committee makes an expenditure of $500 or more that is intended to or may impact an election and is made on or after January 1 of the year in which the election occurs. If the expenditure is made within 12 days of the election, it must be reported within 48 hours thereafter.

HONORARIA: Lobbyists are banned from giving honoraria to public officials. Lobbyists are also prohibited from providing tickets to public officials for out-of-state sporting events.

"Honoraria" is defined as any payment made for giving a speech, making an appearance or writing an article. It does not include reimbursement for expenses incurred. This provision is similar to SB 682 from 1996.

JAMES KLAHR