Adopt the Legislative Code of Ethics
| Number |
S. C. R. No. 4
|
| Type |
Senate Concurrent Resolution
|
| General Assembly |
136
|
|
Government Link
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Legislative Analysis Report Adopt the Legislative Code of Ethics
1. Primary Purpose of the Bill
This concurrent resolution adopts the Legislative Code of Ethics for the members and employees of the Ohio Senate and House of Representatives, employees of legislative agencies, and candidates running for the next General Assembly. It establishes rules regarding conduct, financial disclosure, conflicts of interest, gifts, and the process for investigating ethics complaints.
Government EthicsState Legislature
2. Changes to Existing Law
Legislative Code of Ethics Section 13(A)(1) Changes the rules for who can file complaints. Anyone can file a complaint alleging statutory ethics violations. However, only members and employees of the General Assembly or legislative agencies can file complaints regarding breaches of privilege, general misconduct, or violations of the Code of Ethics itself.
3. Key Information for Citizens
🗳️ What You Need to Know
- Establishes the ethical standards and rules of conduct for all state legislators, legislative staff, and legislative candidates.
- Limits gifts from lobbyists to a cumulative value of $25 per year, and gifts from non-lobbyists to $75 per year, with certain family exceptions.
- Limits lobbyist-provided meals and beverages to $75 per year, unless provided at specific approved events.
- Prohibits legislators from voting on bills if they have a conflict of interest, such as being employed by an entity actively lobbying for or against the bill.
- Requires legislators and certain legislative employees to file annual financial disclosure statements detailing professional clients, travel expenses, and sources of gifts.
4. Entities Affected
- Members of the Ohio House of Representatives and Senate
- Legislative staff and employees of legislative agencies
- Candidates running for the 137th General Assembly
- Registered legislative agents (lobbyists)
5. Regulatory Impact & Enforcement
Agency Authority: The Joint Legislative Ethics Committee (JLEC) and the Office of the Legislative Inspector General are authorized to investigate complaints, issue subpoenas, conduct hearings, and recommend disciplinary actions.
Penalties & Mandates: Legislators can face a fine of up to $1,000 for voting on legislation where they have a known conflict of interest. Violations of the Code of Ethics can result in recommended sanctions such as reprimand, censure, or expulsion from office.
Implementation Timeline: The Code of Ethics takes effect immediately upon adoption and remains active until the 137th General Assembly adopts its own code. All affected members and employees must receive a copy of the code within 10 days of its adoption.
6. Estimated Fiscal Impact
State Revenue Impact
Not applicable
Local Government Impact
Not applicable
Implementation Costs
Not applicable
Net Annual Fiscal Effect
Not applicable
Policy doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Meet the representatives and senators who introduced this bill and are pushing it through the chamber. Click on any sponsor to see their district, party affiliation, and what other legislation they’ve championed this session.
Primary Sponsors
Bill Reineke
District
26
Chamber
Senate
Party
Republican
Co-Sponsors
Related Topics
To make your research more efficient, this bill has been assigned to one or more Topics. These custom labels group related legislation together, ensuring you can find all of the bills related to a specific topic, regardless of which committee they are in.
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Elections & Voting
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Taxation & Finance
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Criminal Justice
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Transportation
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Business & Commerce
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Labor & Employment
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Civil Rights & Liberties
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Local Government
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Tourism & Hospitality
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Documents
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