A bill expanding revolving door restrictions passed the House and now goes to the Senate for consideration. House Bill 82 prohibits former statewide elected officials, public regulation commissioners, legislators, and cabinet secretaries from accepting compensation as lobbyists for a period of two years after leaving public service.

The bill also prohibits employers of lobbyists from hiring the former public officials before the end of the two-year period.

Opponents of the bill believe it is unfair to impose the restrictions on legislators who receive no salary. Legislators receive only a $159 per diem when in session and at committee meetings.

A special election for the Massachusetts Fifth Suffolk Representative District has been called to fill the vacancy caused by the expulsion of Carlos Tony Henriquez.

The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin announced the special primary election will be held on April 1, 2014. The general election will follow on April 29, 2014.

Henriquez, sentenced to jail last month for assault and battery, was expelled on February 6, 2014, by the House of Representatives.

Following recent scandals involving the Legislature, the leader of the Senate has assembled a group of lawmakers to recommend changes in state ethics and campaign laws. Senate President Darrell Steinberg formed the Senate Ethics Working Group after controversies including allegations of bribery against Sen. Ronald Calderon and a proposed fine of $40,000 for campaign money laundering against Sen. Tom Berryhill.

In the Assembly, a recent six-figure fine against one of the state’s top lobbyists has motivated Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia to propose a ban on lobbyist in-home fundraisers.

Lobbyists currently may host private fundraisers in their home as long they cost less than $500, even though lobbyists cannot directly give more than $10 per month in gifts directly to elected officials.

Gov. Nikki Haley has nominated eight individuals to the State Ethics Commission. If confirmed by the Senate, the appointments will bring stability to the commission, where four of the nine seats are vacant and the terms of the five serving commissioners have expired.

The Senate is also debating a bill to overhaul the commission and empower it to confidentially investigate complaints filed against House and Senate members.

House Bill 3945 would also expand the definition of lobbying and modify reporting requirements.

A statewide petition to amend the Michigan Constitution was approved by the Michigan Board of State Canvassers last week. The proposed amendment would institute a part-time state Legislature and limit legislative sessions to 60 days, lawmaker salaries to $35,000, and total legislative staffers to 250.

The committee seeking the amendment must collect at least 322,609 signatures in order to get the amendment on the ballot in November.

Deputy Secretary of State Suzanne Staiert issued an advisory opinion on February 6 addressing the formation of independent expenditure committees by political parties. Although an advisory opinion is not binding, its purpose is to provide clarification regarding the agency’s interpretation of current campaign finance law.

Political parties may operate an independent expenditure committee and may raise funds in any amount from any permissible source. If a political party chooses to form an independent expenditure committee, it must avoid the appearance of corruption through the implementation of sufficient safeguards. Any expenditures coordinated with or controlled by a candidate are considered a contribution to the candidate committee and are, therefore, subject to contribution limits.

On February 7, the Senate Committee on Education reviewed testimony from the Hawaii State Ethics Commission regarding its concerns about SB 2423. Introduced in January, the bill authorizes the Department of Education to accept gifts or donations based on criteria established by the Board of Education. The commission maintains all state agencies and departments should be held to the same standards and codes of conduct; furthermore, it would be unnecessary and imprudent to allow the department to accept gifts contrary to the state ethics code.

SB 2423 also permits schools to participate in charitable fundraising activities in conjunction with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations. Though perhaps well-intended, the bill is extremely broad and raises numerous concerns in terms of application and oversight.

During its testimony, the commission urged the committee to defer the bill until after the Commission has an opportunity to thoroughly consider the issues involved.

A drafting error in the state’s new campaign finance law left Vermont temporarily without contribution limits. The new limits are set to take effect on January 1, 2015, but the bill repealed the entire existing law effective upon the governor’s signature.

Although the repealed statutory limits had been invalidated by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2006, the law reverted to the limits prior to the unconstitutional amendment. The prior contribution limits will remain in effect until the new limits begin in 2015, according to a statement on the Elections Division website.

Gov. Nathan Deal has signed into law a bill changing the assignment of the state’s ethics agency to the State Accounting Office from the Secretary of State for budgetary purposes.

In addition to moving the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, Senate Bill 297 modifies certain filing requirements for county and municipal candidates and candidate committees.

The bill became effective on January 31, 2014.

A state bill regarding revolving door restrictions passed the House Business and Industry Committee and is now in the House Judiciary Committee for hearings.

House Bill 82 prohibits former statewide elected officials, public regulation commissioners, legislators, and cabinet secretaries from accepting compensation as lobbyists for a period of two years after leaving public service.

The bill also prohibits employers of lobbyists from hiring the former public officials before the end of the two-year period.

The Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday, February 4, to pursue outsourcing the enforcement of political ethics to the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). Officials will ask the state Legislature to authorize the FPPC to enforce county ethics ordinances.

The unanimous vote was in response to a 2013 grand jury report titled, “A Call for Ethical Standards: Corruption in Orange County.”

Supporters of the approach cite San Bernardino County, which recently contracted with the FPPC to audit county campaigns and to prosecute ethics violations. The grand jury’s proposal would also give an independent authority the power to recommend ordinance changes concerning conflicts of interest, gifts, contract procurement, campaign finance, and lobbying.

Due to severe winter weather the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate will be closed on Wednesday, February 5. Both the House and Senate will resume normal business hours on Thursday, February 6, 2014.

New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan’s State of the State speech, originally scheduled for Wednesday, February 5, has been postponed until Thursday afternoon due to the area’s frigid snowstorm. The House of Representatives will also not meet today because of the winter weather. According to NHPR, Senate committee hearings scheduled for Wednesday morning will proceed. Hassan’s speech has been rescheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday, February 6.

The Rhode Island House of Representatives and Senate have cancelled scheduled floor sessions and committee hearings for Wednesday, February 5, due to the winter snowstorm. A scheduled 3 p.m. news conference concerning legislation dealing with the Department of Health certificate of need process has been postponed to 3 p.m. Thursday, February 6.