Researcher: TA Page 1 4/6/23
OLR Bill Analysis
SB 1151
AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO THE STATE CODES OF
ETHICS.
SUMMARY
This bill subjects statewide officers-elect to the State Code of Ethics
for Public Officials and State Employees by adding them to the code’s
definition of “public official” (§ 3). Among other things, the code
prohibits covered individuals from having any financial interest in a
business that is in substantial conflict with their official duties (CGS § 1-
84(a)). The bill also makes a parallel change to the definition of “public
official” under the State Code of Ethics for Lobbyists (§ 4).
The bill also requires client lobbyists (i.e., persons on behalf of whom
lobbying takes place) to include on their biennial registration forms with
the Office of State Ethics the name, job title, and contact information for
(1) the individual responsible for overseeing lobbying activities and (2)
any other individual designated as an authorized filer. The contact
information must include the individual’s phone and fax numbers,
business mailing address, and email address. The bill replaces
provisions in current law requiring client lobbyists to provide this
information for the “person” that oversees lobbying activities (§ 5).
(Under the Code of Ethics for Lobbyists, the definition of “person”
includes individuals, businesses, and other specified entities (CGS § 1-
91(14)).)
Lastly, the bill makes technical changes in the ethics codes’ definition
of “quasi-public agency” by referencing state law’s primary definition
of quasi-public agency (i.e., the definition in CGS § 1-120, which is part
of the quasi-public agency chapter of the General Statutes), rather than
separately listing each quasi-public agency in the ethics codes. It also
makes conforming changes (§§ 1-2 & 6-10). 2023SB-01151-R000466-BA.DOCX
Researcher: TA Page 2 4/6/23
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2023
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 19 Nay 0 (03/22/2023)