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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.

Ethics Commission Continuing Education and Speaking Engagements

Throughout the year, the Ethics Commission provides opportunities for its regulated community to attend continuing education programs. These programs offer participants an opportunity to discuss the applicable Ethics Rules with our staff, work through examples of common situations, and ask questions about Rule application. Visit the “Agency Information & Continuing Education” tab on our website for information on upcoming programs.

In addition, the Ethics Commission also is available for speaking engagements by request. Recently, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission Executive Director and General Counsel spoke before the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Governor’s office, where they discussed the Ethics Rules as they apply to state officers and employees. In October, the Director of Compliance will attend the OMCTFOA Fall Conference, where she will discuss the campaign finance responsibilities of municipal clerks offices and the role of the Commission in municipal campaigns. To inquire about a speaking engagement, contact the Oklahoma Ethics Commission staff at (405) 521-3451 or ethics@ethics.ok.gov.

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.

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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	July 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017	Lobbyist or Liaison Expenditures Report - The Guardian System