SB 294

This bill makes the following changes to the structure and operation of the

Government Accountability Board (GAB):

Board Governance

Currently, the GAB is under the direction and supervision of a board of six

members. All six members are former judges appointed by the governor from

nominations submitted by a committee comprised of one court of appeals judge from

each court of appeals district. Currently, board members are appointed with the

advice and consent of two-thirds of the members of the senate and serve six-year

terms. One term expires each May 1.

This bill eliminates the GAB and replaces it with an Elections Commission,

which administers and supervises elections, and an Ethics Commission, which

administers and supervises ethics, campaign financing, and lobbying regulation.

Under the bill, the Elections Commission consists of at least six persons, who

serve five-year terms:

1) One individual appointed by the majority leader in the senate;

2) One individual appointed by the minority leader in the senate;

3) One individual appointed by the speaker of the assembly.

4) One individual appointed by the minority leader of the assembly; and

5) Two former municipal or county clerks, selected by the leadership in both

houses and nominated by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate

confirmed.

In addition, the bill requires the appointment to the Elections Commission of

one member for each political party, other than the two major political parties,

qualifying for a separate ballot whose candidate for governor received at least 10

percent of the vote in the most recent gubernatorial election. The individual must

be nominated by the governor from a list of three individuals selected by the chief

officer of that political party.

The Ethics Commission consists of at least six persons who serve five-year

terms:

1) One individual appointed by the majority leader in the senate;

2) One individual appointed by the minority leader in the senate;

3) One individual appointed by the speaker of the assembly;

4) One individual appointed by the minority leader of the assembly; and

5) Two individuals selected by the leadership in both houses and nominated by

the governor with the advice and consent of the senate confirmed.

In addition, the bill requires the appointment to the Ethics Commission of one

member for each political party, other than the two major political parties, qualifying

for a separate ballot whose candidate for governor received at least 10 percent of the

vote in the most recent gubernatorial election. The individual must be nominated

by the governor from a list of three individuals selected by the chief officer of that