HB 1007 -- Ethics Complaints

Sponsor:  Cunningham (86)

This bill requires individuals filing complaints with the
Missouri Ethics Commission alleging violations of lobbying
requirements, financial disclosure statements, governmental
agency regulations, laws, and various codes of conduct to provide
his or her name, address, and telephone number.

All information in the complaint except for the complainant's
name, address, and telephone number will be a closed record.
Disclosure of any closed information will result in a civil
penalty of up to $2,500 and a criminal penalty not to exceed one
year in jail, a $2,500 fine, or both.  There are separate filing
deadlines and disclosure rules for financial disclosure
statements under Section 130.054, RSMo, but the same penalties
for early disclosure apply.  Full disclosure will be allowed
after the commission has issued its ruling on the complaint.
Anyone wishing to copy the disclosure report after it is
available must provide photographic identification for the
purpose of signature verification.

If the commission decides that a complaint was motivated by
malice and is contrary to the law, the complainant may be
assessed attorney fees, the costs of the commission's
investigation, and a criminal penalty not to exceed one year in
jail, a $2,500 fine, or both.

Anyone charged with a violation by the commission after it acts
on a complaint may appeal directly to the circuit court of Cole
County.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:21 am