O F F I C E O F L E G I S L A T I V E R E S E A R C H
P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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PA 23-37—SB 1151
Government Administration and Elections Committee
AN ACT CONCERNING RE VISIONS TO THE STATE CODES OF
ETHICS
SUMMARY: This act 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 act also makes a parallel
change to the definition of “public official” under the State Code of Ethics for
Lobbyists (§ 4).
The act 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 act replaces
provisions in prior 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 act 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).
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2023