Bill Text - SB521 (2020)

(New Title) establishing a committee to study and make recommendations for changes to RSA 14-B and RSA 14-C and the ethics guidelines governing conflicts of interest by members of the general court.


Revision: Dec. 23, 2019, 5:08 p.m.

SB 521  - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2020 SESSION

20-2964

10/08

 

SENATE BILL 521

 

AN ACT relative to prohibiting legislator participation or advocacy in matters directly related to their employment.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. French, Dist 7; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Giuda, Dist 2; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Starr, Dist 1; Sen. Morse, Dist 22; Sen. Carson, Dist 14

 

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill adds a conflict of interest requirement prohibiting legislators from introducing legislation, testifying, voting, participating in, or influencing any legislative matter directly related to the legislator's employment with an employing organization.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

20-2964

10/08

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty

 

AN ACT relative to prohibiting legislator participation or advocacy in matters directly related to their employment.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Chapter Title.  Amend the chapter title of RSA 14-C to read as follows:

CHAPTER 14-C

GIFTS, HONORARIUMS, AND EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS REQUIREMENTS FOR LEGISLATORS AND LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEES

AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST FOR LEGISLATORS

2  New Section; Prohibition on Conflicts of Interest.  Amend RSA 14-C by inserting after section 4 the following new section:

14-C:4-a  Prohibition on Conflicts of Interest.  Any legislator who is a compensated employee of an organization, shall be prohibited from introducing legislation, testifying before any legislative committee or state agency, voting in committee or in the house or representatives or senate in session, participating in, influencing, or attempting to influence any decision of the legislature, county delegation, or any state agency on matters directly related to the interests of said employing organization, or giving a decision, opinion, recommendation, nomination, vote, or participating in any other official activity directly related to the interests of said employing organization.

3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2021.