Bill > SB2004

This bill appropriates $1,368,016 from the General Fund to the Ethics Commission for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027, to cover operational expenses and includes funding for specific one-time purchases. * **Ethics Commission Operations:** $1,041,374 from the General Fund is appropriated for the general expenses of the Ethics Commission. * **New and Vacant FTE Pool:** $9,935 from the General Fund is allocated for a pool of full-time equivalent positions, with specific limitations on its use and a requirement for transfer requests to the Office of Management and Budget. * **One-Time Funding:** $52,348 from the General Fund is designated for one-time expenses, including $50,000 for a case management system and $2,348 for office furniture. This funding is not part of the base budget for the following biennium and requires reporting on its use. The bill also enacts new provisions and amends existing laws related to the Ethics Commission, including: * Granting immunity from criminal prosecution for legislative members who adhere to conflict of interest rules when voting on legislation. * Establishing affirmative defenses for legislative members who rely on informal advice from the Ethics Commission staff. * Modifying definitions and processes for handling ethics complaints, including the introduction of a "respondent" term and a petition to dismiss complaints. * Implementing complaint management time standards and requiring an annual report from the Ethics Commission. * Declaring certain sections related to immunity, appeals, and conflicts of interest as emergency measures.