Support HB1968

Improve rules against conflicts of interest in voting and lobbying on state boards and commissions

The Problem

Conflicts of interest violations are treated differently under current law than other ethical violations by board and commission members.

• Most ethics violations by board and commission members are already subject to fines and misdemeanor charges, such as: receiving illegal gifts, failing to file financial disclosure forms, failure to report large transactions with state entities, and failure to register as a lobbyist, for example.

• However, board and commission members are NOT currently subject to fines for violating existing conflicts of interest laws.

State board or commission members are already prohibited from voting or lobbying on an issue in which they or their employers, clients, or spouses have a special pecuniary interest, but current law provides only public caution or reprimand for violations.

• The severe penalty of removal from posts has never been used.

There is no penalty at all under current law if state board or commission members vote or lobby other members on an issue in which their prospective employers, children, parents, brothers or sisters have a special pecuniary interest.

The Solution

HB 1968 levels the playing field for all ethics violations by board and commission members and closes loopholes on voting that benefits prospective employers. 

• State board and commission members will simply be subject to the same penalties for conflict of interest violations as they are for other violations of our ethics laws.

Oklahoma and Missouri have similar ethics laws and stiffer penalties than HB 1968.

What HB 1968 does NOT do

HB 1968 does NOT add to existing requirements for financial disclosure by state board or commission members, public officials, or candidates for public office.

HB 1968 does NOT require board or commission members who are members of an occupation or profession (ie: agriculture, banking, dentistry, etc.) to abstain on matters affecting their occupation or profession generally.

• They will be able to vote and provide their expertise unless they have a special stake in a specific matter. The burden of proof is on the Ethics Commission.

HB 1968 does NOT keep honest citizens from wanting to serve – Oklahoma and Missouri have stronger laws and healthy boards and commissions.

The Public should have absolute faith that our state boards and commissions serve the public interest beyond reproach.  It is more important than ever that we have clear, comprehensive rules in place to deter overreaching in the public arena for private gain.