LRB-0373/1
JTK:skg:km
1995 - 1996 LEGISLATURE
June 23, 1995 - Introduced by
Law Revision Committee. Referred to Committee
on State Government Operations and Corrections.
SB259,1,3
1An Act to amend 13.625 (7) of the statutes;
relating to: application of
2prohibited practices under the lobbying regulation law to reimbursements or
3payments of certain expenses.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under the lobbying regulation law, it is a prohibited practice for any elective
state official, candidate for elective state office, legislative employe or official of a
state agency to solicit or accept anything of pecuniary value from a lobbyist or
principal, with certain exceptions. One of the exceptions permits the receipt of a
reimbursement or payment for actual and reasonable expenses authorized under the
statutory code of ethics for state public officials for the activities listed in the code.
The code generally prohibits a state public official from accepting or receiving any
transportation, lodging, meals, food or beverage, or reimbursement therefor, except
that an official may receive and retain a payment or reimbursement of actual and
reasonable expenses, and an elected official may retain compensation, for a
published work or the presentation of a talk or participation in a meeting relating
to state government affairs. The code also permits an official to retain anything of
value for activities unrelated to his or her position, activities that primarily benefit
the state, payments or reimbursements by a political committee or participation in
certain trips or events sponsored by the department of development.
This bill clarifies that the exception under the lobbying regulation law applies
only to receipt of a reimbursement or payment for a published work or for the
presentation of a talk or participation in a meeting relating to state governmental
affairs. Under the bill, therefore, the ethics code exceptions concerning unrelated
activities, activities that are primarily for the benefit of the state, political committee
activities and activities of the department of development are not exceptions to the
prohibited practice under the lobbying regulation law if a lobbyist or principal makes
a payment or reimbursement in connection with those activities.
For further information, see the Notes provided by the law revision committee
of the joint legislative council.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
Law revision committee prefatory note: This bill is introduced by the law revision
committee under s. 13.83 (1) (c), stats. After careful consideration of the opinion of the
attorney general concerning the statute treated in this bill [80 O.A.G. 205 (March 23,
1992)], the law revision committee has determined that codifying this opinion is desirable
as a matter of public policy.
SB259, s. 1
1Section
1. 13.625 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB259,2,42
13.625
(7) This section does not apply to the furnishing or receipt of a
3reimbursement or payment for actual and reasonable expenses authorized under s.
419.56
(3) (a) for the activities listed in that
section paragraph.
Note: This bill clarifies the exemption from the provision in state law prohibiting
lobbyists from providing certain state officials with items of pecuniary value, when the
item of value is reimbursement for certain expenses enumerated in s. 19.56 (3) (a), stats.
