Another ethics reform bill proposed by House Democrats was approved by the House this afternoon.
House Bill 823, sponsored by Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, was approved unanimously and now moves to the Senate for consideration. Though several ethics reform bills have been approved by the House, Cervantes’ is the first to have such widespread support.
The bill would make several amendments to the Governmental Conduct Act, which attempts to set ethical standards for public officials. It would require that public officials disclose, in cases of contracts and other business with the state, not only their own business but also that of spouses, children, parents and siblings. It also makes the act apply to judges, who are currently exempt.
“This bill helps assure the public that government officials are motivated by service and not self interests,” Cervantes said. “Government service should not become the opportunity to profit.”
Here are some of the other provisions in the bill:
• It would require that public employees, public officers, legislators and judges, in addition to their family members, would have to be invited to bid for state contracts.
• Those people would not be allowed to sell products or services to the agency for which they work or to any person over whom they exert control.
• It requires those included in the legislation to disclose outside employment to their supervisors.
• It prohibits supervisors from forcing employees to perform political activities on the job or to suffer job repercussions because of their votes or support for political candidates.