SEN. ADLEY LEADS EFFORT TO ADD TEETH TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLOSURE LAWS

  Louisiana's campaign finance disclosure laws are designed to let citizens know where a candidate for elected office and special interest groups get their money and how they spend it, but District 36 State Senator Robert Adley (R-Benton) is concerned that it doesn't always work that way. So, Sen. Adley is pushing a change in state law to require the Board of Ethics to audit at least one-fourth of the campaign finance disclosure reports each year in an effort to improve compliance with state ethics laws and to develop some consistency and fairness in the way the laws are applied.

  "I believe that most folks want to do what they can to comply with the law, but with spotty review of campaign finance disclosure information and the many interpretations of the campaign finance disclosure laws by the ethics board it is difficult to ensure that is happening," Sen. Adley said. "By auditing the campaign finance disclosure information provided by candidates and others we can catch the problems, fix them and give citizens greater confidence that they are getting the information from the campaign finance disclosure laws that they expect."

  Senate Bill 46 by Sen. Adley requires the Board of Ethics to notify candidates of any problems with their disclosure information and give them an opportunity to address the problems. If a second audit finds the problem still exists, the candidate will face fines for a first and second ethics violation.

  The measure also requires legislators who directly or indirectly receive compensation in connection with another lawmaker's campaign to report that activity. Legislators who knowingly and willfully violate the reporting requirement face a $10,000 fine or a fine equal to 200% of the unreported compensation.

Citizens may review Senate Bill 46 on the Louisiana State Legislature Website at legis.la.gov . Broadcasts of all Senate proceedings are also available on the site.

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