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Ethics Commission requests recurring funding, new reporting system and expanded enforcement for local campaigns
Summary
At a legislative budget hearing, the director of the state Ethics Commission described a planned replacement of the agency—s reporting system, progress clearing a backlog of complaints and asked legislators for recurring funding to enforce campaign finance rules at the political-subdivision level.
The director of the state Ethics Commission told a legislative budget committee that the agency is asking the Legislature to complete implementation of a new reporting system and to provide recurring funding to enforce campaign finance rules for local political subdivisions.
The commission seeks funds to finish a new reporting system it began replacing last year, and is requesting $300,000 in recurring funding to support enforcement and education for political subdivisions. Director (Ethics Commission) said the agency received $150,000 in one-time funding last year and wants the additional recurring dollars so it can hire staff to run the new program.
The request follows an expansion of the commission—s staff and activity over the past year. Director (Ethics Commission) said the agency grew from five to 10 full-time employees, created a diversionary compliance program for low-level or first-time violations, and cleared a backlog of roughly 40 complaints that had accumulated through 2022. The director said the commission has also been working to reduce outside legal fees and to increase training and outreach for legislators, state employees and local officeholders.
The replacement reporting system is under an accelerated schedule because the current vendor has announced an end of life for its product on June 30, and the commission—s plan is to roll out the new software on July 1. Director (Ethics Commission) said the commission negotiated a contract last year that would allow the agency to operate the new system itself and to own its source code. The director also said conversion of data from the old vendor is a risk and the agency is working with project management support and stakeholders to mitigate that risk.
On enforcement for political subdivisions such as municipal or school board races, Director (Ethics Commission) said rules have existed since 2014 but funding was not available until last year, when the commission received one-time money. The director told senators the commission—s approach will prioritize training and staggered implementation to give local officials time to comply before fines are assessed, and that many local officials may be candidates for the diversion program.
Senators asked for details about fines and program timing. Senator Guthrie asked whether roughly $138,000 shown on the commission—s slide represented typical annual fines; the director said that number was an outstanding balance and that typical monthly late filers numbered about 35 individuals or entities, with fines ranging by case. The director also expects to reconvene legislative leadership and to organize meetings with the vendor and legislators to solicit input on the new system—s design.
The commission said it expects a report from LOFT and will update key performance metrics with LOFT—s assistance. The director asked for recurring political-subdivision funding so the agency may convert one-time momentum into sustained enforcement and education.
The commission presentation ended with the director inviting questions from committee members; follow-up items include further details on the new software cost and the planned schedule for phased implementation of local reporting into the new system.
