HB 6020 Summary

• Establishes comprehensive ethics standards for executive branch officials and employees, including prohibition on using public position to obtain personal benefit, accepting gifts related to official responsibilities, and engaging in conflicts of interest.

• Creates a 9-member State Board of Ethics appointed by the governor with oversight authority to investigate alleged violations, issue advisory opinions, and recommend disciplinary action to appropriate authorities.

• Requires executives and employees to file transactional disclosure statements within 10 days when abstaining from matters due to conflicts of interest; permits limited participation in non-contract decisions and small-benefit contracts ($250 or less, or less than 5% of contract value) with proper disclosure.

• Establishes penalties including civil fines up to $1,000 per violation, potential contract voidability, and provides whistleblower protections against retaliation for reporting ethics violations, with civil action remedies available within 90 days of violation.

• Repeals prior ethics laws (1968 PA 318 and 1973 PA 196) and makes the new Board of Ethics an autonomous entity within the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget.