Substitute Senate Bill No. 900 - Summary

• Establishes the Office of State Ethics within the Office of Governmental Accountability, replacing the previous commission structure with an executive director, general counsel, and ethics enforcement officer to oversee ethical compliance for state officials and employees

• Reorganizes the Citizen's Ethics Advisory Board to consist of nine members appointed by legislative leaders and the Governor, with new term limits and restrictions on political party affiliation and prior lobbying activities

• Revises definitions of key ethics terms including "gift," "lobbyist," "public official," and "state employee" to clarify compliance requirements, effective October 1, 2013

• Updates financial disclosure requirements and gift restrictions for state employees, public officials, and quasi-public agency directors, including provisions on meals, travel, and charitable event attendance

• Expands the Office of State Ethics' authority to investigate complaints, issue advisory opinions, provide ethics training, and coordinate with state agencies on ethics enforcement and compliance programs