SB279 Summary

• Establishes procedure for State Ethics Commission director or attorney to issue written informal opinions providing immunity to public officials and employees who request them in good faith with complete information and act in accordance with the opinion's requirements.

• Limits the lobbying prohibition for elected state officials to only state government and state boards, agencies, commissions, and departments; removes the blanket ban on lobbying before any legislative body or branch of state or local government during their term of office.

• Conditions enforcement of the Code of Ethics by the Attorney General or district attorneys on a prior determination by the State Ethics Commission that a violation has occurred.

• Revises the definition of "thing of value" to clarify exceptions including compensation from non-government employers and removes language requiring particular courses of action as conditions for receiving gifts.

• Changes "widely attended event" definition from "more than 12" attendees to "more than the number of individuals in the smallest legislative caucus."