2023 -- H 5190

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- CODE OF ETHICS

     Introduced By: Representatives Cardillo, Costantino, Casey, Solomon, Kazarian,
Chippendale, J. Brien, Azzinaro, Perez, and Craven

     Date Introduced: January 19, 2023

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 36-14-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-14 entitled "Code of

Ethics" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     36-14-17. Content of financial statement.

     (a) The financial statement required herein shall be on a form prescribed by the commission

and shall include the account of the financial activity of the person required to file the statement by

this chapter, the financial activity of his or her spouse (if not estranged), and any dependent children

for the preceding calendar year.

     (b) The account of financial activity referred to in subsection (a) of this section shall consist

of:

     (1) If he or she or any person enumerated in subsection (a) of this section or a business

entity in which he or she or any person enumerated as aforesaid held a ten percent (10%) or greater

equity interest or five thousand dollars ($5,000) or greater cash value interest at any time during

the calendar year for which the statement is required has done business with a state or municipal

agency or a business which is subject to direct regulation greater than of a de minimus nature by a

state or municipal agency, and if so, the date and nature of the business;

     (2) A list of all sources of occupational income identified by employer or, if self employed,

by the nature of occupation or profession, and if income was received from a state or municipal

agency, the name and address of the agency and the nature of the services rendered; however,

general officers, as defined in section 17-2-1, shall list all sources and amounts of income in excess

of two hundred dollars ($200) according to the following categories:

     (i) not more than $1000

     (ii) greater than $1000 but no more than $10,000

     (iii) greater than $10,000 but no more than $25,000

     (iv) greater than $25,000 but no more than $50,000

     (v) greater than $50,000 but no more than $100,000

     (vi) greater than $100,000 but no more than $200,000

     (vii) greater than $200,000 but no more than $500,000

     (viii) greater than $500,000 but no more than $1,000,000

     (ix) greater than $1,000,000

     (3) A listing of all real property in which a financial interest was held; however, this section

shall not apply to real property used exclusively as his or her principal residence;

     (4) Identification of any interested person from whom the person or his or her spouse (if

not estranged) or any dependent child received a gift or contribution of money or property in excess

of one hundred dollars ($100) in value or a series of gifts or contributions of money or property,

the total of which exceeds one hundred dollars ($100) in value received from the same source, and

a description of each gift or contributions, except those received from persons related to the person

at any time within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity and campaign contributions which

were reported as required by law, for purposes of this subsection, “interested person”, means a

person or a representative of a person or business that has a direct financial interest in a decision

that the person subject to the Code of Ethics is authorized to make, or to participate in the making

of, as part of his or her official duties;

     (5) Identification of the source of all income received as beneficiary of a trust and

identification of each asset, if known to the beneficiary, from which income was received by the

beneficiary in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000);

     (6) A list of all boards of directors of which the person is a member and executive positions

which he or she holds in any business entity, stating the name and address of each business entity;

     (7) The name and address of any business entity in which he or she or any person

enumerated in subsection (a) of this section held a ten percent (10%) or greater equity interest or

five thousand dollars ($5,000) or greater cash value interest in at any time during the calendar year

for which the statement is required; and

     (8)(i) Identification of any person, business entity, financial institution or other

organization to whom the person was indebted at any time during the calendar year for which the

statement is required in an amount in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000) other than:

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     (A) Any person related to the person at any time within the third degree of consanguinity

or affinity; or

     (B) Any transactions involving credit cards, with the exception to any and all unsatisfied

default judgments; or

     (C) Any indebtedness to a financial institution, licensed and regulated by any state or by

the United States, which is secured solely by a mortgage of record on real property used exclusively

as the principal residence of the person required to file the statement.

     (ii) This section does not require the reporting of the amount or amounts of the indebtedness

or the payment record of the loans.

     (c) The financial statement shall be sworn to under oath.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- CODE OF ETHICS

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     This act would require a public official or employee to disclose any and all unsatisfied

default judgments of credit card debt, in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000), on their financial

statement.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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