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NCPE at NV Legislature- AB 80
AB 80, to require Limited Liability Corporations (LLC’s) to report contributions. As to the relationship to NCPE's 11 proposals, AB 80, is close to NCPE's proposal on p. 1 of our doc.
To: Chairwoman Ellen Koivisto and members,
Assembly Elections, Procedures, Ethics and Constitutional Amendments
Committee
Date: February 19, 2007
Subject: Support for AB 80, to require Limited Liability Corporations (LLC’s) to report contributions
The problem of LLC secret campaign contributions has plagued Nevadans for some time. AB 80 directly addresses this issue, and provides for reporting by LLC’s of campaign contributions to candidates or ballot measures. This was the first issue our Nevada Center for Public Ethics addressed in 2006 when we began to formulate ethics proposals for the 2007 session. We strongly support AB 80 and urge that it is a non-partisan measure of benefit to all Nevadans.
It needs to be said that most LLC’s do not make political contributions. They have limited, modest purposes and are not in any way affected by AB 80, because each section of the Bill, in its subsection 1, specifies what kind of political contribution requires reporting. Those who fear that AB 80 might throw a wet blanket over new ventures coming to Nevada as LLC’s will need to know that there is no provision to require ALL LLC’s to report that money was given or that money, in a certain period, was not given. Only those LLC’s which are making such contributions must report (both in those periods when they do, and those when they do not make specific contributions).
We do request one small amendment of language: on the Bill draft, at pg. 3, line 10, insert the words, “...post in a timely manner and...”, so that line 10 would now read: “The Secretary of State shall post in a timely manner and include, on the portion of his Internet website that is devoted to information concerning elections and campaigns, the information required pursuant to subsection 2".
We request the same amendment for pg. 19, line 1, to insert, “...in a timely manner...” after ‘...make available”, so that line 1 would read, “...prepare and make available in a timely manner for public inspection a compilation of: ....“
Some Nevada legislators have told us that they have sent in campaign disclosure report forms to the Sec. Of State’s office, and not been able to see them posted on the SOS website even three weeks after having sent in the report. But the whole point of AB 80, and all money contribution reporting, is so that Nevadans can know who is giving what to whom. If this is not done in a timely manner, then it loses its meaning. We do not see a fixed time limit as advisable, because the Sec. Of State could have ups and downs in office work load and post some things in a few days, others in a few more days. But more than 3 weeks is NOT timely. So we ask that your Committee consider this amendment, or something like it.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak in support of AB 80.
From: Craig Walton, President, and members,
Nevada Center for Public Ethics
fax 1-702-395-2876
Go to other 2007 testimonies
AB 79, to close a huge, unintended loophole in NRS 281.411-581, our “Ethics in Government” law.
AB 80, to require Limited Liability Corporations (LLC’s) to report contributions. As to the relationship to NCPE's 11 proposals, AB 80, is close to NCPE's proposal on p. 1 of our doc.
AB 109, - allows leftover campaign monies to go to a public-purpose Trust Fund.
AB 143, - changes the NV. Commission on Ethics deadline for completing an inquiry from 45 days to 1 year, and also allows the complainee to be told what is happening to his or her complaint.
SJR 1 - removes the requirement that affidavits be provided with ballot initiative petitions.
SB 79 - brings our statutes into line with a court ruling that the affidavit requirement for ballot petitions is a violation of the First Amendment.
SB 144, to require Limited Liability Corporations (LLC's) to report contributions.
AB 142, to require ethics instruction and lobbyists to the Executive Dept. to register and report expenditures.
AB 335 - dealing with campaign disclosure
SB 425 - to new detail on political contributions, and to include legal defense funds in that category.
AB 312, dealing with campaign disclosure
AB 605 requires ethics training for new public officers and also for lobbyists, forbids the use of one’s office staff or equipment for campaign purposes, and doubles the three levels of penalties for violating ethics laws.
SB 495 provides a one-year cooling off period for persons leaving the Public Utilities Commission, the Gaming Control Board, or “former public officers or employees”.
Original Testimony
Revised Comments
SB 494 - dealing with primary, general, and municipal elections, SB 494 changes the filing deadline for campaign contribution reports.
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