HI HB140

Changes the state ethics commission's requirement to destroy financial disclosure statements after six years to a discretionary power, allowing the commission to maintain or destroy records beyond the six-year period.

Amends section 84-17.5 to replace "shall be destroyed" with "may be destroyed" for both legislator/employee/delegate financial disclosures and candidate financial disclosures filed six years after an election.

Amends section 97-4 to require the state ethics commission maintain all filed statements for "no less than six years" rather than a fixed six-year period, allowing retention beyond that timeframe.

Applies retroactively to all financial disclosure statements filed before the effective date that are in the state ethics commission's possession and control.

Takes effect upon approval by the governor.