HB911 - Va. Conflict of Interest & Ethics Advisory Council; annual audit of certain disclosure forms.

1 Co-Sponsor

Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council; staffing; annual audit of certain disclosure forms; lobbyist registration and reporting; civil penalties. Provides for an annual audit of the Statement of Economic Interests disclosure forms filed by members of the General Assembly to ensure the completeness and material accuracy of the information disclosed. The bill directs the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council to appoint and employ an executive director; currently, the Division of Legislative Services employs the executive director and provides additional staff assistance. Additional staff required pursuant to the bill includes at least one experienced lawyer and at least one experienced auditor or investigator. The bill also increases the civil penalty for certain violations related to filing such disclosure forms and prohibits any such penalty from being paid using funds contributed to or received by a candidate or his campaign committee or by any political committee. Lastly, the bill brings the reporting period and deadline for lobbyists' disclosures into alignment with the schedule for filing disclosures required pursuant to the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act and the General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act.