CT SB00985

Expands the definition of conflicts of interest under state ethics law to include an official's or employee's employer other than the state and the employer of their spouse, effective October 1, 2017.

Allows elected state officials with conflicts involving their outside employer to participate in matters if they prepare a written statement under penalty of perjury explaining the conflict and why they can still act fairly and in the public interest, then submit it to the Office of State Ethics and their agency's journal or minutes.

Extends the same conflict of interest provisions to non-elected public officials and state employees, requiring them to either recuse themselves or file a written statement if they are members of a state regulatory agency.

Requires non-regulatory agency employees with conflicts to submit written statements to their immediate supervisor, who must reassign the matter to another employee, or follow procedures prescribed by the Office of State Ethics if no supervisor exists.

Updates language throughout the statute to use gender-neutral terms replacing masculine pronouns with "such official or employee" and clarifies that conflict rules apply to spouses' employers as well.