AB 79, to close a huge, unintended loophole in NRS 281.411-581, our “Ethics in Government” law.
To: Chairwoman Senator Barbara Cegavske and Members,
Senate Legislative Operations and Election Committee
FAX 1-775-684-6500
From: Craig Walton, President, and members,
Nevada Center for Public Ethics
fax 1-702-395-2876
Date: May 2, 2007
Subject: Support for Amended AB 79
My name is Craig Walton, President of the Nevada Center for Public Ethics. We are a non-partisan citizens’ watchdog group, and today we speak in support of AB 79.
The purpose of AB 79, as amended, is to close a huge, unintended loophole in NRS 281.411-581, our “Ethics in Government” law. As you see, 281.481, starting on page 2, line 1, Section 1, lists actions forbidden to public officials. Unfortunately at page 3, subsection 7, the original language forbad using one’s office for personal reasons or financial interests, but was read by some as seeming to allow some political campaign uses. AB 79 deletes the language which was misunderstood (or was taken as a loophole by some), and strictly forbids the use of one’s office, equipment, time or staff for any political campaign purpose – not even the preparation of a disclosure statement. Primary, general and special elections are all covered by this prohibition.
Given the situation we face, where some in office do not draw the line between their public official duties and their political campaign activities, AB 79 is needed. We support it.
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 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 offperiod 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.
