S702 Summary: Consolidate Elections, Ethics, Lobbying

• Establishes the State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement as a new consolidated agency effective January 1, 2014, combining functions of the State Board of Elections, State Ethics Commission, and the Secretary of State's lobbying registration authority.

• Creates a nine-member State Board with three members appointed by the Governor and six by the General Assembly (three each recommended by House Speaker and Senate President Pro Tempore), each serving three-year terms with staggered initial appointments.

• Consolidates all ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance regulations under Chapter 163A of the General Statutes, including provisions for conflict of interest disclosures, gift restrictions, lobbying registration and reporting requirements.

• Transfers all personnel, property, records, and unexpended funds from the State Ethics Commission, State Board of Elections campaign finance functions, and Secretary of State lobbying functions to the new unified board.

• Requires the State Board to adopt new rules by December 31, 2014, and report to the Joint Legislative Elections Oversight Committee and Legislative Ethics Committee by April 1, 2014, with recommendations for additional statutory changes to implement the consolidation.