HB 14 Summary

• State agencies may pay private legal fees and costs for persons exonerated of Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act violations, with payments apportioned by alleged violation when multiple violations were alleged.

• Public officers and former public officers may accept state payments to offset private legal fees incurred while defending against ethics complaints, and officers may not participate in payment decisions involving themselves or immediate family.

• State resources may be used to transport spouses and children of the governor and lieutenant governor to events without partisan political purpose if the state is reimbursed for costs or if attendance benefits the state.

• "Partisan political purpose" is defined as intended to differentially benefit or harm a candidate, potential candidate, political party, or group, but excludes actions intended to benefit the public interest through normal performance of official duties.

• The new legal fee payment provision applies only to ethics complaints initiated or filed on or after the act's effective date.