HS HCS HB 495 -- LOBBYING, CAMPAIGN, AND ETHICS REFORM (Backer)

This substitute makes several changes to lobbying, campaign, and
ethics laws.

The substitute:

(1)  Defines a judicial lobbyist;

(2)  Designates the Missouri Ethics Commission as the
appropriate authority for filing complaints against lobbyists,
elected officials, appointed officials, and state or local
employees;

(3)  Requires a lobbyist to file a monthly disclosure report
with the Missouri Ethics Commission;

(4)  Requires each chamber of the General Assembly to set rule
guidelines regarding lobbyist expenditures for members and staff;

(5)  Prohibits a state employee who is registered as a lobbyist
for a state department, division, agency, commission, or the
judiciary from lobbying for another principal;

(6)  Gives priority to a request for a report from the Missouri
Ethics Commission identifying lobbyist or lobbyist principal
expenditures on a legislator;

(7)  Changes the job title of the administrative secretary for
the Missouri Ethics Commission to the executive director of the
Missouri Ethics Commission;

(8)  Allows the Missouri Ethics Commission to contract for legal
services and contract with a collection agency to recover late
filing fees;

(9)  Requires the Missouri Ethics Commission to issue advisory
opinions to clarify rules;

(10)  Requires the Missouri Ethics Commission to notify each
decision-making public servant by postcard at least 90 days in
advance of the deadline for filing a financial interest
statement;

(11)  Allows the Missouri Ethics Commission to refer complaints
to a special investigator or commission employee;

(12)  Adds a public letter of reprimand as a penalty option for
the Missouri Ethics Commission;

(13)  Creates an appeals process for decisions made by the
Missouri Ethics Commission;

(14)  Requires a campaign committee and continuing committee to
be formed no later than 30 days prior to an election;

(15)  Defines an exploratory committee;

(16)  Lowers the amount of solicitations or expenditures made by
a candidate for statewide elected office, General Assembly,
judicial office other than municipal judge, or municipal office
in a city with a population of more than 100,000 to be exempt
from filing a statement of organization or disclosure reports
from $1,000 to $500.  The exempted candidate must file a
statement of limited activity for each reporting period;

(17)  Limits individual cash contributions to $25 for a
candidate committee and exploratory committee and $100 for other
types of committees;

(18)  Prohibits a committee from offering chances to win prizes
or money to encourage people to participate in campaign
activities;

(19)  Places no limits on the use of the candidate's personal
funds;

(20)  Adds contribution limits to elections for judicial
positions;

(21)  Requires an exploratory committee to abide by the
contribution limit for the office sought;

(22)  Allows surcharges on nonallowable contributions to be paid
with campaign funds existing of the date notice was received to
return the contribution;

(23)  Allows a candidate committee, upon the death of the
candidate, former candidate, or elected official, to use
campaign contributions for the purpose of making an
unconditional gift to a fund established for the benefit of the
deceased's spouse and children;

(24)  Authorizes an exploratory committee to spend money on
polling, mailings, personal appearances, telephone expenses,
office expenses, and travel expenses;

(25)  Allows excess funds from an exploratory committee to be
transferred to the candidate committee, returned to
contributors, or donated to charities;

(26)  Requires a committee to file a quarterly disclosure report;

(27)  Requires an out-of-state committee to make contributions
or expenditures in this state no later than 30 days prior to an
election;

(28)  Extends the amount of time for the Missouri Ethics
Commission to make a determination on a complaint from 5 to 15
days;

(29)  Sets 2000 as the date for the Missouri Ethics Commission
to establish electronic reporting of required statements;

(30)  Eliminates the requirement that independent advertising
must be authorized by a candidate's committee;

(31)  Removes the prohibition on accepting contributions during
the regular session of the General Assembly;

(32)  Eliminates the requirement that unused campaign funds be
disposed of after an election;

(33)  Removes voluntary campaign expenditure limits;

(34)  Prohibits the expenditure of public funds by any officer,
employee, or agent of the state of Missouri or a political
subdivision to support or oppose a ballot measure or candidate;

(35)  Changes the filing dates and information required in
disclosure reports from lobbyists and all types of committees;
and

(36)  Requires the Missouri Ethics Commission to provide all
candidates and elected officials with a summary of this act.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue Fund of
$98,036 for FY 1998, $90,804 for FY 1999, $93,110 for FY 2000.

HCS HB 495 -- LOBBYING, CAMPAIGN, AND ETHICS REFORM

SPONSOR:  Days (Backer)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Elections
by a vote of 13 to 2.

This substitute makes several changes to lobbying, campaign, and
ethics laws.

The substitute:

(1)  Requires registration and reporting of lobbying activities
by judicial lobbyists;

(2)  Eliminates the required reporting to the Secretary of the
Senate and the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of
food and beverages purchased by lobbyists for members of the
General Assembly;

(3)  Designates the Missouri Ethics Commission as the
appropriate authority for filing complaints against lobbyists,
elected officials, appointed officials, and state or local
employees;

(4)  Allows the Missouri Ethics Commission to contract for legal
services and contract with a collection agency to recover late
filing fees;

(5)  Changes the job title of the administrative secretary for
the Missouri Ethics Commission to the executive director of the
Missouri Ethics Commission;

(6)  Requires the Missouri Ethics Commission to issue advisory
opinions to clarify rules;

(7)  Allows the Missouri Ethics Commission to refer complaints
to a special investigator or commission employee;

(8)  Adds a public letter of reprimand as a penalty option for
the Missouri Ethics Commission;

(9)  Extends the amount of time for the Missouri Ethics
Commission to make a determination on a complaint from 5 to 15
days;

(10) Creates an appeals process for decisions made by the
Missouri Ethics Commission;

(11) Sets 2000 as the date for establishing electronic reporting
of campaign finance and financial interest disclosure statements;

(12) Changes the filing dates and information required in
disclosure reports from lobbyists and all types of committees;

(13) Lowers the amount of solicitations or expenditures made by
a committee to exempt itself from filing from $1,000 to $500.
The exemption remains at $1,000 for candidates for county office
or municipal office in cities with a population under 100,000;

(14) Requires campaign committees and continuing committees to
be formed no later than 30 days prior to an election.  Out-of--
state committees must make contributions or expenditures in this
state no later than 30 days prior to an election.;

(15) Allows exploratory committees for candidacy to spend money
on polling, mailings, personal appearances, telephone expenses,
office expenses, and travel expenses;

(16) Requires that exploratory committees abide by contribution
limits for the office sought;

(17) Allows excess funds from an exploratory committee to be
transferred to the candidate committee, returned to
contributors, or donated to charities;

(18) Limits individual cash contributions to $25 for a candidate

committee and $100 for other types of committees;

(19) Eliminates the requirement that independent advertising
must be authorized by a candidate's committee;

(20) Prohibits committees from offering chances to win prizes or
money to encourage people to participate in campaign activities;

(21) Places no limits on the use of the candidate's personal
funds;

(22) Adds contribution limits to elections for judicial
positions;

(23) Removes the prohibition on accepting contributions during
the regular session of the General Assembly;

(24) Allows surcharges on nonallowable contributions to be paid
with campaign funds existing on the date notice was received to
return the contribution;

(25) Allows a campaign committee, upon the death of the
candidate, former candidate, or elected official, to use
campaign contributions for the purpose of making an
unconditional gift to a fund established for the benefit of the
deceased's spouse and children;

(26) Eliminates the requirement that unused campaign funds be
disposed of after an election; and

(27) Removes voluntary campaign expenditure limits.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue Fund of
$98,036 in FY 1998, $90,804 in FY 1999, & $93,110 in FY 2000.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that this bill will standardize
reporting dates, streamline the reporting process, and identify
responsibilities of the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Backer and
Kauffman; and Missouri Ethics Commission.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Martin Romitti, Research Analyst

HB 495 -- Lobbying, Campaign, and Ethics Reform

Co-Sponsors:  Backer, Kauffman

This bill makes several changes to lobbying, campaign, and
ethics laws.

The bill:

(1) Requires registration and reporting of lobbying activities
by judicial lobbyists;

(2) Eliminates the required reporting to the Secretary of the
Senate and the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of
food and beverages purchased by lobbyists for members of the
General Assembly;

(3) Designates the Missouri Ethics Commission as the appropriate
authority for filing complaints against lobbyists, elected
officials, appointed officials, and state or local employees;

(4) Allows the Missouri Ethics Commission to contract for legal
services;

(5) Changes the job title of the administrative secretary for
the Missouri Ethics Commission to the executive director of the
Missouri Ethics Commission;

(6) Requires the Missouri Ethics Commission to issue advisory
opinions to clarify rules;

(7) Allows the Missouri Ethics Commission to refer complaints to
a special investigator or commission employee;

(8) Adds a public letter of reprimand as a penalty option for
the Missouri Ethics Commission;

(9) Extends the amount of time for the Missouri Ethics
Commission to make a determination on a complaint from 5 to 15
days;

(10) Creates an appeals process for decisions made by the
Missouri Ethics Commission;

(11) Sets 1998 as the date for electronic access to, and filing
of, Missouri Ethics Commission reports;

(12) Changes the filing dates and information required in
disclosure reports from lobbyists and all types of committees.

(13) Lowers the amount of solicitations or expenditures made by
a committee to exempt itself from filing from $1,000 to $500;

(14) Requires campaign committees and continuing committees to
be formed 90 days prior to an election;

(15) Allows exploratory committees for candidacy to spend money
on polling, mailings, travel, and other related activities;

(16) Limits individual cash contributions to $25 for a candidate
committee and $100 for other types of committees;

(17) Eliminates the requirement that independent advertising
must be authorized by a candidate's committee;

(18) Places no limits on the use of the candidate's personal
funds;

(19) Adds a $250 contribution limit to elections for judicial
positions;

(20) Removes the prohibition on accepting contributions during
the regular session of the General Assembly;

(21) Allows surcharges on nonallowable contributions to be paid
with campaign funds;

(22) Allows a campaign committee, upon the death of the
candidate, former candidate, or elected official, to use
campaign contributions for the purpose of making an
unconditional gift to a fund established for the benefit of the
deceased's spouse and children;

(23) Enables a committee to reject a contribution within 10 days
of its receipt instead of 5 days;

(24) Eliminates the requirement that unused campaign funds be
disposed of after an election; and

(25) Removes voluntary campaign expenditure limits.