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Commission Meeting November 17, 2017, 10 AM, State Capitol, Rm.432A
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ATTENTION: ETHICS COMMISSION PHONES UNAVAILABLE

Friday, October 20, 2017, after 4:00 p.m. the Ethics Commission telephones will be unavailable. The agency will reopen at the Capitol at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, October 23, 2017, in the original location 2300 N. Lincoln, Rm-B5.

Informal Public Hearings Set for Proposed "Cooling Off" Period Amendment

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission will hold informal hearings in Oklahoma City and Tulsa to receive comments from citizens on a proposed amendment to the Ethics Rules. Proposed Amendment 2018-02 will create a two year "cooling off" period restricting former state officers and employees from (1) registering as a lobbyist and/or (2) representing another entity before the agency he or she previously served. The proposal will also restrict consulting regarding lobbying and representation. In addition, any current or former state officer or employee could request a waiver of the restriction upon a finding that the intent of the Rules would not be frustrated by a waiver. Click here for the full text of the proposed Rule.

Acting Chair John Hawkins will host the hearings. Hawkins and at least one other Commissioner will attend each of the hearings.

HEARING INFORMATION:

Friday, October 27, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. - Oklahoma City

OSU-OKC

900 N. Portland

Oklahoma City, OK 73107

Student Center: Room 304 B

Click here for a map of the campus.

Thursday, November 2, 2017 (afternoon) - Tulsa

Location and Time will be announced shortly

For more information, contact Ashley Kemp, Executive Director, at (405) 521-3451 or ethics@ethics.ok.gov.

Ethics Commission Adds GovDelivery Cloud Communication System

The Ethics Commission strives for exceptional customer service and communication with our regulated community and the public at large. To further achieve this goal, the Commission recently added GovDelivery to allow the agency to seamlessly send announcements and communications to our target audience. Those interested may subscribe from our website Homepage under “Stay Connected!” or from the pop-up that appears once users access the Ethics website. Subscribers may choose from a list of topics of interest, including committee information, agency news, and continuing education program opportunities. Those required to file in the Guardian System reporting system will automatically be uploaded. The Ethics Commission will be using this system to send periodic announcements and newsletters. Subscribe today to keep in touch with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.

Question of the week:

Does the Blackout Period for lobbyist contributions to legislators and legislative candidates apply during special session?

The "Blackout Period" is a criminal statute that is not enforced by the Ethics Commission. However, the plain text of the statute establishes a prohibition during regular legislative session and makes no mention of special session. A summary of the statute is below.

Beginning the first Monday in February through five calendar days following sine die adjournment during any regular legislative session, the following actions are prohibited under Title 21 O.S. §187.1 (G):

1. A lobbyist or lobbyist principal shall not:
   a. make a campaign contribution to a member of the legislature or a candidate for state legislative office;
   b. promise to make a campaign contribution for a member of the legislature or candidate for state legislative office; or
   c. solicit or promise to solicit a campaign contribution for a member of the legislature or candidate for state legislative office.

2. A member of the Legislature or a candidate for state legislative office shall not:
a. intentionally solicit a campaign contribution from a lobbyist or lobbyist principal; or
b. intentionally accept a campaign contribution from a lobbyist or lobbyist principal.

This statutory blackout period does not prevent a limited Political Action Committee (PAC) from making one or more contribution(s) to a candidate committee up to the limits allowed under the Ethics Rules provided the PAC is not represented by a lobbyist. See Attorney General Opinion, 2009-11. This does not mean a candidate committee is required to accept a PAC contribution during session. Whether or not to accept a permissible contribution during session is left to the discretion of the candidate committee.

This statute is a criminal law statute that is enforced by the various district attorneys of Oklahoma or the Attorney General.

Click here for more Questions of the week

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2017 Elections: Candidate Committee Contribution and Expenditure Report Due

Click here to see election calendars for 2017 Special Elections.

2017 Non-Candidate Committee PAC or State Party Committee

FILING DATES:	PERIOD COVERED:	TYPE OF REPORTS DUE:
October 1, 2017 to October 31, 2017	July 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017	3rd Quarter Contributions and Expenditures Report - The Guardian System

Non-2017 Election Campaign Committee Contribution and Expenditure Report Due

FILING DATES:	PERIOD COVERED:	TYPE OF REPORTS DUE:
October 1, 2017 to October 31, 2017	July 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017	3rd Quarter Contributions and Expenditures Report - The Guardian System

Next Legislative Lobbyist or Legislative Liaison Report Due

FILING DATES:	PERIOD COVERED:	TYPE OF REPORTS DUE:
January 1, 2018 to January 15, 2018	July 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017	Lobbyist or Liaison Expenditures Report - The Guardian System

Next Executive Lobbyist Report Due

FILING DATES:	PERIOD COVERED:	TYPE OF REPORTS DUE:
January 1, 2018 to January 15, 2018	October 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017	Lobbyist or Liaison Expenditures Report - The Guardian System