Brief Description: Raising funds for hosting the national conference of lieutenant governors.

Sponsors: By House Committee on State Government Operations & Accountability (originally sponsored by Representatives Haigh, Nixon, Clibborn and McDermott; by request of Lieutenant Governor).

House Committee on State Government Operations & Accountability

Background:

The State Ethics Act prohibits state officers and state employees from accepting gifts with an aggregate value of $50 or more during any calendar year from any single source. Gifts may not be accepted under circumstances where the gifts would be considered as part of a reward for action or inaction, or could be reasonably expected to influence the state officers and employees' actions or official judgment.

For the purposes of hosting a national legislative association conference in Washington, legislative officers and employees may solicit and accept gifts, grants, or donations without regard to the $50 limitation.

Summary:

The State Ethics Act is changed to allow the Lieutenant Governor and his or her staff to solicit and accept gifts, grants, or donations beyond the $50 limitation for purposes of hosting the 2006 official conference of the National Lieutenant Governors' Association.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   93   2
Senate   48   0

Effective: February 7, 2006