PIERRE (AP) – The state Senate has approved creating a government watchdog board that would be able to investigate statewide officeholders and executive branch employees.
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Senate lawmakers approve state gov’t watchdog board
PIERRE (AP) – The state Senate has approved creating a government watchdog board that would be able to investigate statewide officeholders and executive branch employees.
Members voted 29-6 Tuesday to advance the bill. The House will have to debate whether to accept changes made in the Senate.
The State Government Accountability Board would review and investigate allegations including bribery and theft of public funds.
Republican Sen. Brock Greenfield, the proposal's main Senate sponsor, says it's a "good government" bill.
Under the measure, if the board believes a crime has been committed, the matter would be referred to the Division of Criminal Investigation. In other cases, the panel would have options including issuing reprimands or making recommendations to the governor.
Lawmakers recently repealed a voter-imposed government ethics overhaul that included an ethics commission.
Senate OKs limit on gifts from lobbyists
PIERRE (AP) – The state Senate has approved imposing an annual limit on gifts that public officials can accept from lobbyists.
Members voted 25-10 Tuesday to pass the bill. The House will have to debate whether to accept changes made in the Senate.
The proposal would put in place a $100 annual limit for gifts that legislators and other public officials could accept from lobbyists. Starting in 2019, that value would be adjusted for inflation.
A gift would be defined as anything of value given without compensation, but it doesn't include food, beverage or entertainment for immediate consumption, among other things.
The bill comes after lawmakers recently repealed a voter-imposed government ethics overhaul that included even stricter regulations on lobbyist gifts to lawmakers.
