SCS/SBs 729 & 772 - This act pertains to the Missouri Ethics Commission.

SB 16 (1997), requires continuing committees to file electronically, beginning with the January 1, 1998 filing period. Currently, no software is available to continuing committees for such electronic filing. This act would make electronic filing optional for continuing committees, and which would make invalid any action taken by the Ethics Commission regarding the failure of a continuing committee to file electronically. If the Ethics Commission has taken action, the Commission must reimburse for any costs, including attorney fees. This portion of the act has an emergency clause.

This act also provides that the deadline for filing any report, statement or other document with the Ethics Commission (or "appropriate officer") is the next working day if the normal deadline would fall on a holiday or weekend. Lobbyists and persons filing campaign finance reports currently must file early to avoid a late filing when the deadline falls on a holiday or weekend. This deadline provision would not apply to filings required less than seven days before the election.

This act also would put a three-month deadline on the completion of complaint investigations by the Ethics Commission, except those complaint investigations assigned to a retired judge. The deadline may be extended only upon proving, in a closed hearing in Cole County Circuit Court, by a preponderance of the evidence that additional time is needed. Any investigation not completed and decided by the deadline shall be deemed not to be a violation. This act applies to all ongoing investigations beginning on the effective date of this act. This portion of the act has an emergency clause.
MARGARET J. TOALSON

SA 1 - ELECTRONIC FILING REQUIRED BY CERTAIN CONTINUING COMMITTEES. NO ELECTRONIC FILING UNTIL SOFTWARE IS AVAILABLE. SA 2 - MODIFIES DEFINITION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR JUDGES. SA 3 - PROVIDES NOTICE OF ACTION TAKEN ON COMPLAINTS.