At their recent meeting the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission discussed proposals for the Kansas legislature to consider in 2010 , which was discussed in this Kansas Watchdog posting. 

This blog posting gives a number of other details from that same meeting, including:

• 2009 Annual Report
• Notice of Public Hearing
• Civil Penalty Assessment Orders
• Advisory Opinion
• Live Tweets from Commission Meeting

2009 Annual Report

Listen to Ethics Executive Director Carol Williams explain their 2009 Annual Report, which is shown below.

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0:12 Budget (p.5). $62,000 carry over of fee fund from FY2009 to FY2010
0:33 Advisory Opinions (p. 7). Twelve advisory opinions this year. Since 1975 total is 1191.
0:50 Campaign finance (p. 8). Reports about last minute contributions and expenditures were new: $466,225 in expenditures.
1:34 Audits (p. 10). Only 5 audits, which is typical in an election year.
1:43 Conflict of Interests (p. 11). 9,892 individuals were required to file in FY 2009.
1:50 Representation Case Disclosure (p. 12). Five statements filed. Unclear if others should have filed.
2:13 Lobbying (p. 12). 581 lobbyists registered.
2:25 Investigations (p. 13). 58 inquiries, 9 investigations.
2:39 Complaints (p. 13). 28 complaints, 4 public hearings.
2:50 Civil Penalties & Fines (p.13) $8,360 civil penalties, $3,200 civil fines assessed.
3:16 20 year comparison for Kansas House races (last 6 pages). PACs have always been top contributors. Individuals have always been second.
3:50 20 year comparison for Kansas Senate races (last 7-12 pages). Out of state special interest groups are “gaining traction” far more in Kansas Senate races than Kansas House races. Individuals are losing ground in support for Senate candidates.

Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission 2009 Annual Report –

Notice of Public Hearing

The Nov 5, 2009 Kansas Register announced a public hearing to be held on Jan 20, 2010 in the Ethics Commission’s conference room.   See the proposed new regulation below.  It will be posted on the Ethics Commission’s web site 30 days before the Jan. meeting.

Proposed new Kansas Ethics Regulation KAR 19-6-1 –

Civil Penalty Assessment Orders

The Ethics Commission announced 15 individuals are receiving civil penalty assessments ranging from $20 to $300 for failure to file various reports. See this PDF of Civil Penalty Assessment orders including names and amounts.

Advisory Opinion

The Ethics Commission considered and approved this advisory opinion as a response to Melvin Minor, who is a member of the State Banking Board.

Live Tweets from Commission Meeting

 11/18/2009 12:58 PM @KansasWatchdog: KS Gov’t Ethics meeting to discuss FY09 Annual Report; civil penalty assessments; action on advisory opinion #ksethics
11/18/2009 01:14 PM @KansasWatchdog: #ksethics Carol Williams says issue advocacy is still an ethics issue with no limitations. Current law allows coordination with groups.
11/18/2009 01:17 PM @KansasWatchdog: #ksethics Current proposals for issue advocacy would have no limits but would require reporting, esp. before elections.
11/18/2009 01:20 PM @KansasWatchdog: #ksethics Issue advocacy changes would affect mailings/other media 60 days before an election. Coordination with candidate still allowed?
11/18/2009 01:24 PM @KansasWatchdog: #ksethics Commission voted approval of two recommendations for proposed changes next year: issue advocacy & SSI reporting by college profs
11/18/2009 01:28 PM @KansasWatchdog: #ksethics 15 to receive civil penalty assessment for late filings or reports. Will publish list with names later today.
11/18/2009 01:31 PM @KansasWatchdog: #ksethics Discussing opinion request from Melvin Minor about potential conflict of interest. Opinion passes. Will publish later today.

11/18/2009 01:37 PM @KansasWatchdog: #ksethics to have potentially long closed executive session. Plan to start with 25 minute closed session. May extend if necessary.
11/18/2009 02:05 PM @KansasWatchdog: #ksethics Closed executive session extended 20 more minutes. Exec Dir, investigator, 3 KS Gov’t Ethics staff members also in closed session.
11/18/2009 02:23 PM @KansasWatchdog: #ksethics Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission extends closed executive session for another 15 minutes.
11/18/2009 02:39 PM @KansasWatchdog: #ksethics 4th and likely final closed executive session for another 10 minutes. Two staffers allowed to exit.
11/18/2009 02:52 PM @KansasWatchdog: #ksethics After 4 closed executive sessions, no motion. A mystery.

11/18/2009 02:53 PM @KansasWatchdog: #ksethics Next meeting Dec 16

Related

• Kansas Ethics Commission to ask legislature for law changes, Kansas Watchdog, Nov 23, 2009.
• Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission:  2008 Annual Report