HB 648 -- Political Activities

Sponsor:  Yates

This bill changes the laws regarding political activities and
campaign finance.  In its main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Prohibits all fund-raising activities and events supporting
or opposing any candidate, ballot measure, or political party or
committee on state-owned or -leased property;

(2)  Requires any member of the General Assembly who is found
guilty of or pleads guilty to a felony to immediately forfeit his
or her office and prohibits the member from holding any future
elective office in the state or any of its political
subdivisions;

(3)  Prohibits any person who is found guilty of or pleads guilty
to a felony from being employed in the Capitol Building by the
House of Representatives or Senate or any of their committees;

(4)  Prohibits statewide elected officials and members of the
General Assembly from accepting any compensation from any
committee regulated by the Missouri Ethics Commission or from any
independent organization that receives funding from these
committees;

(5)  Prohibits members of the General Assembly from receiving
anything of value from a lobbyist;

(6)  Prohibits elected and appointed state or local officials
from contracting to provide goods or services to the state or its
political subdivisions or from acting as a lobbyist within one
year of leaving office or state employment;

(7)  Requires elected or appointed state officials or employees
of the executive or legislative branch placed on administrative
leave pending the outcome of a criminal investigation or
prosecution to reimburse the state for all salary, benefits, and
other compensation if they are ultimately terminated as a result
of the investigation or prosecution;

(8)  Prohibits employees of the state or any political
subdivision from engaging in any political campaign activity
while on duty;

(9)  Allows the commission to impose a fine of up to $500 for
each violation of Sections 105.450 - 105.496, RSMo, and Chapter
130;

(10)  Prohibits any person with unpaid fines imposed by the
commission from qualifying as a candidate for elective public
office; and

(11)  Prohibits any person or entity who contracts with the state
from contributing more than $1,000 to any candidate for state
office.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:25 am