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NCPE at NV Legislature
SB 425 - to new detail on political contributions, and to include legal defense funds in that category.
To: Chairwoman Senator Barbara Cegavske and members, Senate Legislative Operations and Election Committee
Date: February 28, 2007
Subject: Support for SB 425, to new detail on political contributions, and to include legal defense funds in that category.
Sec. 1, part (1) forbids any contribution to an elected public officer 30 days either side of any action the donor seeks from that elected officer. Currently city and county officers can be given a contribution in the morning and vote or rule on the donor’s desired action in the afternoon of the same day. Only legislators are covered by the ’30 days before session [etc.] “ rule. We support Sec. 1 because it would stop all efforts intended or apparently intended to influence elected officials’ judgment by giving money. Of course influence by presenting one’s reasons for approval or disapproval could continue freely. We think this provision is long overdue.
Sec. 1, part 4, at (b), and also Sec. 2, part 3, include legal defense funds among the political purposes covered by Sec. 1, part (1). One question: Since there could be a legal defense fund for a criminal or civil charge having nothing to do with an elected official’s actions under her or his political responsibilities, it might be useful to qualify the phrase and say, ‘legal defense funds not organized concerning civil or criminal charges’ are deemed to organized for political purposes – but that qualification may be too minor.
Can an elected official’s PAC now legally be asked to do the work of a legal defense fund, without being so-described? If so, that loophole would need to be closed, to achieve the Bill’s intended purpose.
Broadly, SB 425 seems to cover 2 problems which need resolution – the lack of any rule about when city or county elected officials may be given monies related to their votes, and the lack of any statutory consideration of legal defense funds. Here, both problems are addressed in effective ways. We support SB 425.
Thank you for your consideration.
Craig Walton, President, on behalf of the members, Nevada Center for Public Ethics
From: Craig Walton, President, and members,
Nevada Center for Public Ethics
fax 1-702-395-2876
Go to other 2007 testimonies
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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