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Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that state or municipal officials convicted of corruption would lose their pensions under a strict state ethics law that takes effect October 1.
“This legislation represents the capstone of my four-year effort to complete the process of bringing openness and transparency to government,” Governor Rell said. “During the past four years, we have worked to change the ethical landscape of state government. This law represents the final major step of that process.”
Among the violations that could lead to revocation or reduction of pensions include bribery, theft or embezzlement of public funds or using public office to gain profit or advantage.
“These are common-sense ethical standards and requirements that the residents of our state expect from their elected officials,” the Governor said. “Connecticut can now proudly and rightfully lay claim to the toughest ethics laws in the country.”
The new law:
· Permits state courts to revoke or reduce any retirement or other benefit due to state or municipal officials or employees who commit certain crimes related to their employment;
· Makes it a class A misdemeanor for public servants to fail to report a bribe;
· Expands illegal campaign finance practices to cover certain solicitations by chiefs of staff;
· Makes several changes to state codes of ethics such as limiting gift exceptions, prohibiting state contractors from hiring certain former public officials and state employees, restricting the Office of State Ethics' (OSE) authority to issue subpoenas, prohibiting ex parte communications during OSE hearings on ethics complaints, limiting Citizens' Advisory Board members who can act on ethics complaints, and subjecting the governor's spouse to the code;
· Requires OSE to provide mandatory training to legislators on the Code of Ethics for Public Officials, and;
· Requires public agencies to post, on available web sites, meeting dates, times, and minutes required by law to be publicly disclosed.
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