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S.B. 246 Enrolled
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6 Cosponsors:
7 Gregory S. Bell
8 Curtis S. Bramble
9 D. Chris Buttars
10 Allen M. Christensen
11 Dan R. Eastman
12 Fred J. Fife
13 Jon J. GreinerLyle W. Hillyard
Patricia W. Jones
Peter C. Knudson
Mark B. Madsen
Ed Mayne
Scott D. McCoy
Wayne L. NiederhauserRoss I. Romero
Howard A. Stephenson
Dennis E. Stowell
John L. Valentine
Kevin T. VanTassell
Michael G. Waddoups
Carlene M. Walker 14
15 LONG TITLE
16 General Description:
17 This bill modifies provisions in the Lobbyist Disclosure and Regulation Act, the Utah
18 Public Officers' and Employees' Ethics Act, and the campaign finance requirements of
19 the Election Code.
20 Highlighted Provisions:
21 This bill:
22 . requires that officeholders file annual campaign finance summary reports;
23 . provides and modifies definitions;
24 . removes reporting exemptions from certain travel, lodging, and meal expense
25 reimbursements;
26 . clarifies disclosure requirements for public officials, elected officials of local
27 governments, and certain state employees under the Lobbyist Disclosure and
28 Regulation Act;
29 . requires that financial expenditure reports be filed on a quarterly schedule;
30 . requires the report due on January 10 to list total expenditures for the previous year;
31 . permits financial reports to be filed electronically, consistent with current practice;
32 . requires that lobbyists file quarterly expense reports even when no expenses have
33 been made;
34 . requires that lobbyists and principals be subject to reporting requirements until they
35 cease lobbying;
36 . requires a lobbyist, principal, government officer, or member of a lobbyist group to
37 disclose a recipient's name, the amount of the benefit conferred on each recipient,
38 and other information for the following:
39 . reimbursement or payment for travel or lodging costs;
40 . the cost of admission to a professional or collegiate sporting event;
41 . the cost of tangible personal property, if the aggregate daily expenditures made
42 for the recipient are more than $10;
43 . the cost of food and beverage, if the aggregate daily expenditures made for the
44 recipient are valued at more than $50; and
45 . the cost of any other expenditure, if the aggregate daily expenditures made for
46 the recipient are more than $50;
47 . provides that other reportable expenditures are reported by public official type,
48 rather than by name;
49 . establishes conflict of interest standards for lobbyists;
50 . modifies a provision in the Public Officers' and Employees' Ethics Act; and
51 . makes technical changes.
52 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
53 None
54 Other Special Clauses:
55 This bill coordinates with H.B. 62, Lobbyist Disclosure Technical Amendments, by
56 providing superseding amendments.
57 Utah Code Sections Affected:
58 AMENDS:
59 20A-11-401, as last amended by Chapter 355, Laws of Utah 1997
60 36-11-102, as last amended by Chapter 13, Laws of Utah 1998
61 36-11-201, as last amended by Chapter 27, Laws of Utah 2003
62 36-11-304, as enacted by Chapter 192, Laws of Utah 1995
63 67-16-5, as last amended by Chapter 25, Laws of Utah 2005
64 ENACTS:
65 36-11-201.3, Utah Code Annotated 1953
66 36-11-306, Utah Code Annotated 1953
67
68 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
69 Section 1. Section 20A-11-401 is amended to read:
70 20A-11-401. Officeholder financial reporting requirements -- Year-end summary
71 report.
72 (1) (a) Each officeholder shall file a summary report by January 5 of [
73
74 (b) An officeholder that is required to file a summary report both as an officeholder and
75 as a candidate for office under the requirements of this chapter may file a single summary
76 report as a candidate and an officeholder, provided that the combined report meets the
77 requirements of:
78 (i) this section; and
79 (ii) the section that provides the requirements for the summary report that must be filed
80 by the officeholder in the officeholder's capacity of a candidate for office.
81 (2) (a) Each summary report shall include the following information as of December 31
82 of the last [
83 (i) the net balance of the last summary report, if any;
84 (ii) a single figure equal to the total amount of receipts received since the last summary
85 report, if any;
86 (iii) a single figure equal to the total amount of expenditures made since the last
87 summary report, if any;
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89 since the last summary report;
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93 and
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95 summary report plus all receipts minus all expenditures.
96 (b) (i) For all individual contributions or public service assistance of $50 or less, a
97 single aggregate figure may be reported without separate detailed listings.
98 (ii) Two or more contributions from the same source that have an aggregate total of
99 more than $50 may not be reported in the aggregate, but shall be reported separately.
100 (c) In preparing the report, all receipts and expenditures shall be reported as of
101 December 31 of the last [
102 (3) The summary report shall contain a paragraph signed by the officeholder certifying
103 that, to the best of the officeholder's knowledge, all receipts and all expenditures have been
104 reported as of December 31 of the last [
105 are no bills or obligations outstanding and unpaid except as set forth in that report.
106 Section 2. Section 36-11-102 is amended to read:
107 36-11-102. Definitions.
108 As used in this chapter:
109 (1) "Aggregate daily expenditures" means:
110 (a) for a single lobbyist, principal, or government officer, the total of all expenditures
111 made within a [
112 for the benefit of an individual public official;
113 (b) when an expenditure is made by a member of a lobbyist group, the total of all
114 expenditures made within a calendar day by every member of the lobbyist group for the benefit
115 of an individual public official; or
116 (c) for a multiclient lobbyist, the total of all expenditures made by the multiclient
117 lobbyist within a calendar day for the benefit of an individual public official, regardless of
118 whether expenditures were attributed to different clients.
119 (2) "Executive action" means:
120 (a) nominations and appointments by the governor;
121 (b) the proposal, drafting, amendment, enactment, or defeat by a state agency of any
122 rule made in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act; and
123 (c) agency ratemaking proceedings.
124 (3) (a) "Expenditure" means any of the items listed in this Subsection (3)(a) when
125 given to or for the benefit of a public official [
126 (i) a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, gift, advance, deposit, subscription,
127 forbearance, services, or goods, unless consideration of equal or greater value is received; and
128 (ii) a contract, promise, or agreement, whether or not legally enforceable, to provide
129 any of the items listed in Subsection (3)(a)(i).
130 (b) "Expenditure" does not mean:
131 (i) a commercially reasonable loan made in the ordinary course of business;
132 (ii) a campaign contribution reported in accordance with Title 20A, Chapter 11,
133 [
134 (iii) printed informational material that is related to the performance of the recipient's
135 official duties;
136 (iv) a devise or inheritance;
137 (v) any item listed in Subsection (3)(a) if given by a relative;
138 (vi) a modest item of food or refreshment such as a beverage or pastry offered other
139 than as part of a meal, the value of which does not exceed $5;
140 (vii) a greeting card or other item of little intrinsic value that is intended solely for
141 presentation; or
142 (viii) plaques, commendations, or awards[
143 value not exceeding $50.
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149 (4) (a) "Government officer" means:
150 (i) an individual elected to a position in state or local government, when acting within
151 his official capacity; or
152 (ii) an individual appointed to or employed in a full-time position by state or local
153 government, when acting within the scope of his employment.
154 (b) "Government officer" does not mean a member of the legislative branch of state
155 government.
156 (5) "Immediate family" means:
157 (a) a spouse[
158 (b) a child residing in the household[
159 (c) an individual claimed as a dependent for tax purposes.
160 (6) "Interested person" means an individual defined in Subsections (9)(b)[
161 (viii).
162 (7) "Legislative action" means:
163 (a) bills, resolutions, amendments, nominations, and other matters pending or proposed
164 in either house of the Legislature or its committees or requested by a legislator; and
165 (b) the action of the governor in approving or vetoing legislation.
166 (8) "Lobbying" means communicating with a public official for the purpose of
167 influencing the passage, defeat, amendment, or postponement of legislative or executive action.
168 (9) (a) "Lobbyist" means:
169 (i) an individual who is employed by a principal; or
170 (ii) an individual who contracts for economic consideration, other than reimbursement
171 for reasonable travel expenses, with a principal to lobby a public official.
172 (b) "Lobbyist" does not include:
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175 (i) a government officer;
176 (ii) a member or employee of the legislative branch of government;
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178 conducted in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act or
179 Title 63, Chapter 46b, Administrative Procedures Act;
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181 force, commission, board, or committee, constituted by the Legislature or any agency or
182 department of state government, except legislative standing, appropriation, or interim
183 committees;
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186 protecting the right to practice the religious doctrines of the church unless the individual or
187 church makes an expenditure that confers a benefit on a public official;
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189 periodical of general circulation, or book publisher for the purpose of publishing news items,
190 editorials, other comments, or paid advertisements that directly or indirectly urge legislative or
191 executive action; or
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195 (viii) an individual who appears on his own behalf before a committee of the
196 Legislature or an executive branch agency solely for the purpose of testifying in support of or
197 in opposition to legislative or executive action.
198 (10) "Lobbyist group" means two or more lobbyists, principals, government officers,
199 and any combination of lobbyists, principals, and officers who each contribute a portion of an
200 expenditure made to benefit a public official or member of the public official's immediate
201 family.
202 (11) "Multiclient lobbyist" means a single lobbyist, principal, or government officer
203 who represents two or more clients and divides the aggregate daily expenditure made to benefit
204 a public official or member of the public official's immediate family between two or more of
205 those clients.
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207 associations, and companies.
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209 perform lobbying either as an employee or as an independent contractor.
210 [
211 (a) (i) a member of the Legislature;
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214 if that individual:
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216 decisions;
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220 (b) an immediate family member of a person described in Subsection (14)(a).
221 (15) "Public official type" means a notation to identify whether a public official is:
222 (a) (i) a member of the Legislature;
223 (ii) an individual elected to a position in the executive branch;
224 (iii) an individual appointed to or employed in a position in the legislative branch who
225 meets the definition of public official under Subsection (14)(a)(iii); or
226 (iv) an individual appointed to or employed in a position in the executive branch who
227 meets the definition of public official under Subsection (14)(a)(iii); or
228 (b) an immediate family member of a person described in Subsection (14)(b).
229 (16) "Quarterly reporting period" means the three-month period covered by each
230 financial report required under Subsection 36-11-201 (2)(a).
231 [
232 knowingly and intentionally assists a lobbyist, principal, or government officer in lobbying.
233 [
234 sister, parent-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, nephew, niece, aunt, uncle, first cousin, or
235 spouse of any of these individuals.
236 (19) (a) "Tangible personal property" means an item having a description that is
237 consistent with the meaning of tangible personal property found in the Utah Constitution,
238 Article XIII.
239 (b) "Tangible personal property" does not include the admission price or cost for
240 events, meals, recreation, outings, or functions.
241 Section 3. Section 36-11-201 is amended to read:
242 36-11-201. Lobbyist, principal, and government officer financial reporting
243 requirements -- Prohibition for related person to make expenditures.
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294 (1) (a) (i) Each lobbyist shall file quarterly financial reports with the lieutenant
295 governor on or before the due dates under Subsection (2)(a).
296 (ii) If the lobbyist has not made an expenditure during the quarterly reporting period,
297 the lobbyist shall file a quarterly financial report listing the amount of expenditures as "none."
298 (b) Each government officer or principal that makes an expenditure during any of the
299 quarterly reporting periods under Subsection (2)(a) shall file a quarterly financial report with
300 the lieutenant governor on or before the date that a report for that quarter is due.
301 (2) (a) Quarterly expense reports shall be due on the following dates:
302 (i) April 10, for the period of January 1 through March 31;
303 (ii) July 10, for the period of April 1 through June 30;
304 (iii) October 10, for the period of July 1 through September 30; and
305 (iv) January 10, for the period of October 1 through December 31 of the previous year.
306 (b) If the due date for a financial report falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday,
307 the report shall be considered to be due on the next succeeding business day.
308 (c) A financial report shall be considered timely filed if it is:
309 (i) postmarked on its due date; or
310 (ii) filed electronically on or before the due date.
311 (3) A quarterly financial report shall contain:
312 (a) the total amount of expenditures made to benefit any public official during the
313 quarterly reporting period;
314 (b) the total amount of expenditures made, by public official type, during the quarterly
315 reporting period;
316 (c) for the report due on January 10:
317 (i) the total amount of expenditures made to benefit any public official during the last
318 calendar year; and
319 (ii) the total amount of expenditures made, by public official type, during the last
320 calendar year;
321 (d) a disclosure of each expenditure made during the quarterly reporting period to
322 reimburse or pay for the travel or lodging expenses of a public official, including for each trip:
323 (i) the purpose and each destination of the trip;
324 (ii) the name of each public official that participated in the trip;
325 (iii) the public official type of each public official named;
326 (iv) for each public official named, a listing of the amount and purpose of each
327 expenditure made for travel or lodging that benefitted the public official; and
328 (v) the total amount of expenditures made to benefit each public official named;
329 (e) a disclosure of each expenditure made during the quarterly reporting period that
330 was not disclosed under Subsection (3)(d), to be provided as follows:
331 (i) using Schedule A under Section 36-11-201.3 , a disclosure of each of the following
332 expenditures:
333 (A) an expenditure made for the cost or value of admission to a professional or
334 collegiate sporting event;
335 (B) an expenditure made for tangible personal property, if the aggregate daily
336 expenditures benefitting the public official are greater than $10;
337 (C) an expenditure made for food or beverage, if the aggregate daily expenditures
338 benefitting the public official are greater than $50; and
339 (D) any expenditure not otherwise reported in Subsection (3)(d), or this Subsection
340 (3)(e)(i), if the aggregate daily expenditures benefitting the public official are greater than $50;
341 and
342 (ii) using Schedule B under Section 36-11-201.3 , a disclosure of every expenditure not
343 reported in Subsection (3)(d) or (3)(e)(i);
344 [
345 or government officer or who performed work as an independent contractor for the lobbyist,
346 principal, or government officer during the last year [
347 (i) the name of the public official; and
348 (ii) the nature of the employment or contract with the public official;
349 [
350 lobbyist, principal, or government officer made an expenditure to a public official for which a
351 report is required by this section, if any;
352 [
353 principal, or government officer made an expenditure to a public official for which a report is
354 required by this section, if any; [
355 [
356 organizations that the lobbyist, principal, or government officer filing the report represents[
357 and
358 (j) for a lobbyist, a certification that the information provided in the report is true,
359 accurate, and complete to the lobbyist's best knowledge and belief.
360 [
361 are invited, each lobbyist, principal, and government officer:
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363 attend the event and report that cost as an expenditure made to those legislators;
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365 invited to the event and report that quotient as the amount expended for each legislator who
366 actually attended the event; and
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417 officer in lobbying, make an expenditure that benefits a public official [
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419 disclosure requirements of this chapter if the expenditure was made by the lobbyist, principal,
420 or government officer.
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441 (a) (i) develop preprinted [
442 required by this section; and
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444 (b) provide a reporting system that allows financial reports to be submitted via the
445 Internet.
446 [
447 financial reports required by this section [
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449 until the lobbyist or principal files a statement with the lieutenant governor that:
450 (i) states:
451 (A) for a lobbyist, that the lobbyist has ceased lobbying activities; or
452 (B) for a principal, that the principal no longer employs an individual as a lobbyist;
453 (ii) in the case of a lobbyist, states that the lobbyist is surrendering the lobbyist's
454 license;
455 (iii) contains a listing, as required by this section, of all previously unreported
456 expenditures that have been made through the date of the statement; and
457 (iv) states that the lobbyist or principal will not make any additional expenditure that is
458 not disclosed on the statement unless the lobbyist or principal complies with the disclosure and
459 licensing requirements of this chapter.
460 (b) A lobbyist that fails to renew[
461 licensed[
462 required by Subsection (7)(a).
463 Section 4. Section 36-11-201.3 is enacted to read:
464 36-11-201.3. Expenditure reporting schedules.
465 The schedules in this section shall be used to report expenditures made to benefit a
466 public official as required by Section 36-11-201 .
467 (1) Schedule A:
468 (a) the date and purpose of the expenditure;
469 (b) the location of the expenditure;
470 (c) the name of the public official benefitted by the expenditure;
471 (d) the public official type of the public official; and
472 (e) the total monetary worth of the benefit that the expenditure conferred on the public
473 official; and
474 (2) Schedule B:
475 (a) the date and purpose of the expenditure;
476 (b) the public official type of the public official benefitted by the expenditure; and
477 (c) the total monetary worth of the benefit that the expenditure conferred on the public
478 official.
479 Section 5. Section 36-11-304 is amended to read:
480 36-11-304. Prohibition on certain gifts of real or tangible personal property.
481 (1) As used in this section:
482 (a) "Gift" means a transfer of real property or tangible personal property for less than
483 fair and adequate consideration.
484 (b) "Gift" does not include a plaque, commendation, or award that is presented in
485 public.
486 [
487 officer may not offer to or give any public official [
488 gift or loan if the public official has been, or is now, or in the near future may be involved in
489 any governmental action directly affecting the donor or lender.
490 [
491 (a) an occasional nonpecuniary gift, having a value of not in excess of $50 per
492 individual;
493 (b) an award publicly presented in recognition of public services;
494 (c) any bona fide loan made in the ordinary course of business; or
495 (d) gifts to a relative.
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502 Section 6. Section 36-11-306 is enacted to read:
503 36-11-306. Conflicts of interest.
504 (1) As used in this section, "conflict of interest" means a circumstance where:
505 (a) the representation of one principal or client will be directly adverse to another
506 principal or client; or
507 (b) there is a significant risk that the representation of one or more principals or clients
508 will be materially limited by the lobbyist's responsibilities to:
509 (i) another principal or client; or
510 (ii) a personal interest of the lobbyist.
511 (2) Except as provided in Subsection (3), a lobbyist may not represent a principal or
512 client if the representation involves a conflict of interest.
513 (3) Notwithstanding the existence of a conflict of interest, a lobbyist may represent a
514 principal or client if:
515 (a) the lobbyist reasonably believes that the lobbyist will be able to provide competent
516 and diligent representation to each principal or client;
517 (b) the representation is not otherwise prohibited by law;
518 (c) the representation does not require the lobbyist to assert a position on behalf of one
519 principal or client that is opposed to the position of another principal or client represented by
520 the lobbyist involving the same legislative issue; and
521 (d) each affected principal or client gives informed consent to the conflict of interest in
522 writing.
523 Section 7. Section 67-16-5 is amended to read:
524 67-16-5. Accepting gift, compensation, or loan -- When prohibited.
525 (1) As used in this section, "economic benefit tantamount to a gift" includes:
526 (a) a loan at an interest rate that is substantially lower than the commercial rate then
527 currently prevalent for similar loans; and
528 (b) compensation received for private services rendered at a rate substantially
529 exceeding the fair market value of the services.
530 (2) It is an offense for a public officer[
531 circumstances not amounting to a violation of Section 63-56-1001 or 76-8-105 , to knowingly
532 receive, accept, take, seek, or solicit, directly or indirectly for himself or another a gift of
533 substantial value or a substantial economic benefit tantamount to a gift:
534 (a) that would tend improperly to influence a reasonable person in the person's position
535 to depart from the faithful and impartial discharge of the person's public duties;
536 (b) that the person knows or that a reasonable person in that position should know
537 under the circumstances is primarily for the purpose of rewarding the person for official action
538 taken; or
539 (c) if he recently has been, is now, or in the near future may be involved in any
540 governmental action directly affecting the donor or lender, unless a disclosure of the gift,
541 compensation, or loan and other relevant information has been made in the manner provided in
542 Section 67-16-6 .
543 (3) Subsection (2) does not apply to:
544 (a) an occasional nonpecuniary gift, having a value of not in excess of $50;
545 (b) an award publicly presented in recognition of public services;
546 (c) any bona fide loan made in the ordinary course of business; or
547 (d) a political campaign contribution.
548 Section 8. Coordinating S.B. 246 with H.B. 62 -- Superseding amendments.
549 If this S.B. 246 and H.B. 62, Lobbyist Disclosure Technical Amendments, both pass, it
550 is the intent of the Legislature that the amendments to Section 36-11-201 in this bill supersede
551 the amendments to Section 36-11-201 in H.B. 62 when the Office of Legislative Research and
552 General Counsel prepares the Utah Code database for publication.
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