SB 987 - Revising State Codes of Ethics

• Redefines "business with which the person is associated" to include second businesses held by the primary business and expands the definition of "officer" to include anyone with exclusive control over a business.

• Adds new definition of "confidential information" covering information required to be kept confidential under state or federal law, regulations, contracts, or court orders, or information permissibly nondisclosable under the Freedom of Information Act.

• Increases gift acceptance threshold from $100 to $250 per calendar year for gifts between supervisors and subordinates, and modifies gift provisions to prohibit soliciting gifts (in addition to accepting them) from registrants and persons doing business with state agencies.

• Requires reporting of gifts valued over $10 (rather than those subject to reporting requirements) within 10 days from persons doing business with or regulated by state agencies, and requires reporting of lodging or out-of-state travel gifts within 30 days to the Office of State Ethics.

• Gives ethics enforcement officers authority to represent the Office of State Ethics in Superior Court appeals and expands reporting obligations for state personnel (including human resources) to report suspected ethics violations; all changes effective October 1, 2017.