HSB 131

This bill relates to conflicts of interest of certain state officials and employees resulting from service on boards of directors of certain organizations. The bill prohibits certain elected officials and state employees, during the time in which the person serves as or is employed by the state in such a role, from serving as a member of the board of directors of any entity, whether for profit or nonprofit, that provides goods or services to the state entity which the person serves or which employs the person. The persons subject to the prohibition are a person who serves as a statewide elected official; the executive or administrative head of an agency of state government; the deputy executive or administrative head of an agency of state government; a member of the general assembly; the head of a major subunit of a department or independent state agency whose position involves substantial exercise of administrative discretion or the expenditure of public funds; a full-time employee of an office of a statewide elected official whose position involves substantial exercise of administrative discretion or the expenditure of public funds; and a state or legislative employee whose position involves a substantial exercise of administrative discretion or the expenditure of public funds. A person who knowingly and intentionally violates the provisions of the bill is guilty of a serious misdemeanor and may be reprimanded, suspended, or dismissed from the person’s position or otherwise sanctioned. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560.