SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1040        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1461

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act Relative to Ethics Reform..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 1. “Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary there is hereby established a special commission to investigate and make recommendations on the formation of a single entity for the enforcement of integrity and oversight of campaign finance and lobbying.  Said commission shall consist of thirteen members; four appointed by the governor, one of which shall be the Secretary of Administration and Finance who shall also serve as the chair, one of which shall be the Governor’s Legal Counsel, and  two of which shall be an persons with experience in ethics and public integrity; three members to be appointed by the President of the Senate, one of which shall be the chair of the Senate Committee of Ethics, and one of which shall be a member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; three members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of which shall be the House Chair of the Committee on Ethics, and one of which shall be a member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; the Secretary of State or his designee; the Attorney General or her designee; and the Inspector General. 

The Commission should issue recommendations, together with any proposed legislation, for transitioning to a single independent entity covering ethics, campaign finance and lobbying with said entity being formed under the auspices of the Office of the Attorney General.  Said recommendations shall be filed with the clerks of the Senate and the House of Representatives not later than four months after the passage of this act.