Date: 03/12/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB14-119

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion p
Refer Senate Bill 14-119, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
PASS



10:40 AM -- SB14-119

Representatives Hullinghorst and DelGrosso, co-sponsors, presented Senate Bill 14-119. The bill decriminalizes certain prohibited practices for lobbyists. Currently, these prohibited practices are misdemeanor offenses, subject to a fine of up to $5,000 or up to 12 months imprisonment in a county jail. The decriminalized practices include those that involve financial matters; dishonesty; threats or intimidation; or conflicts of interest and professional standards.

Even with the decriminalization under the bill, committing a prohibited practice may still result in a lobbyist being subject to disciplinary action under the rules of the General Assembly or the registration program operated by the Secretary of State. Misdemeanor criminal offenses for lobbyists are retained for several other practices, including noncompliance with lobbyist registration requirements; making false statements or material omissions in required filings; and quid pro quo exchanges for passage or defeat of legislation, rule, or other measure.

Representative Hullinghorst distributed and discussed amendment L.001 (Attachment A). Representative DelGrosso clarified which offenses will still be subject to criminal penalties. The sponsors responded to questions from the committee about why the prohibited practices were originally criminalized.

14HseState0312AttachA.pdf14HseState0312AttachA.pdf

10:47 AM -- Margit Johansson, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Johansson expressed her concern that the bill will allow lobbyists to act dishonestly without a penalty.


10:53 AM

The sponsors clarified that there will still be recourse for dishonest lobbying practices, but the consequences should not be criminal penalties in most cases.
BILL:SB14-119
TIME: 10:54:06 AM
MOVED:Moreno
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Conti
VOTE
Conti
Dore
Foote
Humphrey
Labuda
Melton
Moreno
Nordberg
Williams
Excused
Salazar
Ryden
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:SB14-119
TIME: 10:55:43 AM
MOVED:Salazar
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 14-119, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 10-0, with 1 excused.
SECONDED:Dore
VOTE
Conti
Yes
Dore
Yes
Foote
Yes
Humphrey
Yes
Labuda
Yes
Melton
Yes
Moreno
Yes
Nordberg
Yes
Williams
Excused
Salazar
Yes
Ryden
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS