HCS SB 593 & SCS SB 594 -- CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND LOBBYISTS

SPONSOR:  Scott (May)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Elections
by a vote of 8 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding campaign finance and
lobbyists.  In its main provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Changes the deadlines for filing personal financial interest
statements.  Most candidates for elective office must file by
March 31 or within 10 days of filing for office.  Candidates for
April elections must file by January 31 or within 10 days of
filing for office;

(2)  Changes the postmark deadline for filing personal financial
interest statements to the actual deadline rather than the day
before the deadline;

(3)  Extends the disclosure report filing deadline for the period
ending on March 31 to April 21;

(4)  Allows committees to omit financial account numbers when
filing with any party other than the Missouri Ethics Commission;

(5)  Requires treasurers of committees other than political party
or candidate committees to file a committee's fictitious name
registration or incorporation registration with an appropriate
officer;

(6)  Requires candidates nominated by political party committees
to file financial interest statements within 10 days of the
nomination;

(7)  Repeals the provision which exempts committees from filing
disclosure reports if they have not received more than $300 from
any single contributor;

(8)  Requires out-of-state committees to file expenditure reports
according to the same deadlines as in-state committees and
specifies the requirements for out-of-state reports;

(9)  Repeals a provision requiring local government lobbyists to
file with the clerk of the City of Kansas City;

(10)  Requires ethics complaints to be signed and notarized and
to specify the facts that, if true, prove a violation;

(11)  Allows regular mail to be used for notice of ethics
violations;

(12)  Changes the appeal process for Missouri Ethics Commission
decisions so that an appeal is filed with the circuit court of
Cole County rather than the Administrative Hearing Commission;

(13)  Allows lobbyists and committee treasurers to appeal late
fees imposed by the Missouri Ethics Commission;

(14)  Requires a continuing committee to file an electronic
report with the commission if it makes more than $5,000 in
contributions during a single year; and

(15)  Eliminates the distinction between standing and special
committees for the purpose of lobbyist expenditure reporting
under Section 105.473, RSMo.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and
FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters of Senate Bill 593 say that the bill is
designed to make existing law conform to current practice.

Supporters of Senate Bill 594 say that the bill is designed to
make existing law conform to current practice.

Testifying for SB 593 was Senator Scott.  Testifying for SB 594
was Senator Scott.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:22 am