HF 2747

1st Engrossment - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/17/2022 04:45pm

A bill for an act
relating to ethics in government; limiting certain types of contributions that grant
registered lobbyists or other individuals special access to a meeting room,
hospitality area, or other event space where public officials are likely to gather
and the primary purpose of granting that special access is to facilitate informal
meetings or socialization with public officials; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020,
section 10A.273, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 10A.273, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Contributions during legislative session.

(a) A candidate for the
legislature or for constitutional office, the candidate's principal campaign committee, or a
political committee or party unit established by all or a part of the party organization within
a house of the legislature, must not solicit or accept a contribution from a registered lobbyist,
political committee, political fund, or an association not registered with the board during a
regular session of the legislature.

(b) A registered lobbyist, political committee, political fund, or an association not
registered with the board must not make a contribution to a candidate for the legislature or
for constitutional office, the candidate's principal campaign committee, or a political
committee or party unit established by all or a part of the party organization within a house
of the legislature during a regular session of the legislature.

new text begin (c) A candidate for the legislature or for constitutional office, the candidate's principal
campaign committee, or a political committee or party unit established by all or a part of
the party organization within a house of the legislature must not solicit or accept, at any
time of year, a contribution from a registered lobbyist, political committee, political fund,
or an association not registered with the board, if in exchange for the contribution:
new text end

new text begin (1) a registered lobbyist or any other individual is granted special access to a meeting
room, hospitality area, or other event space where candidates for the legislature or for
constitutional office are likely to gather; and
new text end

new text begin (2) the purpose of granting the special access is to facilitate informal meetings or
socialization with a candidate for the legislature or for constitutional office during a regular
or special session of the legislature.
new text end

new text begin As used in this paragraph, "special access" means privileges to enter and use a space that
is not freely available to members of the public, or that is subject to the discretionary approval
of the responsible candidate, principal campaign committee, or a political committee or
party unit established by all or part of the party organization within a house of the legislature.
A registered lobbyist, political committee, political fund, or an association not registered
with the board is prohibited from offering or making a contribution that may not be solicited
or accepted under this paragraph.
new text end