HB 678 -- ETHICS (Seigfreid)

This bill makes several changes to the laws governing lobbyists,
the Missouri Ethics Commission, and campaign finance
disclosure.  In its main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Deletes the following from the categories into which
lobbyist expenditures must be divided on lobbyists' required
monthly reports:  printing and publication expenses, media and
other advertising expenses, and honoraria;

(2)  Moves from Section 105.475 to Section 105.473, RSMo, the
provision that makes lobbyist expenditures to public officials,
their staff, or their family not subject to reporting
requirements if the expenditure was compensation for or a
benefit of employment when that employment is in addition to the
public employment;

(3)  Changes the appropriate officer, for purposes of filing
campaign disclosure reports of candidates for offices of
officers of the General Assembly, to the Missouri Ethics
Commission;

(4)  Gives the Missouri Ethics Commission, under certain
circumstances, the discretion (on the vote of at least 4
members) to settle a complaint case by imposing a fee of not
more than $1,000.  Under current law, the commission is required
to hold a hearing;

(5)  Changes the deadline for filing a statement of committee
organization from the date for filing the first report required
by Section 130.046 to 30 days prior to the election;

(6)  Changes the deadline for a continuing committee to file
additional required reports from no later than the seventh to no
later than the eighth day before an election;

(7)  Requires a committee's treasurer to file a statement, when
no disclosure reports are required, that the committee has not
exceeded the thresholds for the reporting period;

(8)  Moves the requirements of what must be contained in an
out-of-state committee contribution or expenditure report from
Section 130.050 to Section 130.049;

(9)  Moves the provisions regarding nominee compliance and late
contributions from Section 130.050 to Sections 130.062 and
130.063 respectively;

(10)  Requires the fees collected for late filing of campaign
disclosure reports to be deposited to the credit of the county
school fund pursuant to Section 166.131;

(11)  Changes the culpability standard for the class A
misdemeanor of "purposely" violating the campaign finance
disclosure laws to "knowingly" violating the laws;

(12)  Requires any regularly elected Governor to report to the
Ethics Commission by February 15 of the year of his or her
inauguration all contributions received for and all expenses
associated with the inauguration.  It is a violation of the
Campaign Finance Disclosure Law to expend any collected moneys
or interest derived from the moneys on anything other than
inaugural activities.  On or after March 1 of the year of the
inauguration, the Attorney General is to file an action in
circuit court to collect any unexpended moneys and any interest;

(13)  Requires the Missouri Ethics Commission to design and
issue lobbyists' name tags, which must bear the lobbyist's name
and the names of the 3 primary persons appointing or
compensating the lobbyist.  After January 1, 2002, it will be a
class A misdemeanor for a lobbyist to fail to wear the name tag
in the Capitol;

(14)  Makes it a class A misdemeanor for a person to knowingly
disseminate false information in a political campaign
advertisement and upon conviction requires the forfeiture of any
public office or employment held; and

(15)  Makes lobbyist expenditures to public officials, their
staff, or their family not subject to reporting requirements if
the expenditure was a non-cash gift on the occasion of nuptials
or condolences due to death.

The bill has penalty provisions.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:45 am