Loading chat...
AR HB1354
Bill
Status
10/15/2021
Primary Sponsor
Frances Cavenaugh
Click for details
AI Summary
-
Prohibits cabinet-level department secretaries and directors of state government entities from knowingly or willfully soliciting or accepting gifts from lobbyists, persons acting on behalf of lobbyists, or persons employing or contracting with lobbyists.
-
Establishes a Class B misdemeanor penalty for knowing violations of the gift prohibition.
-
Creates an affirmative defense allowing officials to avoid prosecution or disciplinary action if they return the gift within 30 days of discovery or pay the donor compensation equal to or greater than the gift's value for non-returnable gifts.
-
Grants the Arkansas Ethics Commission authority to promulgate rules, issue advisory opinions and guidelines, and investigate complaints of violations regarding gifts from lobbyists.
-
Amends the definition of "gift" in Arkansas Code § 21-8-402 to clarify that the prohibition applies to gifts from lobbyists under the new § 21-8-311.
Legislative Description
To Prohibit Gifts From Lobbyists To Cabinet-level Department Secretaries And Directors Of State Government Entities; To Amend The Law Concerning The Arkansas Ethics Commission; And To Amend The Law Resulting From Initiated Act 1 Of 1988.
Last Action
Died in House Committee at Sine Die Adjournment
10/15/2021