House Bill No. 6828, with an effective date of October 1, 2023, aims to address conflicts of interest for public officials and state employees as defined in the State Code of Ethics. The bill amends Section 1-85 of the general statutes to clarify the definition of "business with which the public official or state employee is associated," making it consistent with section 1-79. It specifies that a substantial conflict of interest occurs when a public official or state employee, or their immediate family or outside employer, could gain or lose financially from the official's or employee's actions. In such cases, the individual must either recuse themselves or provide a written statement justifying their ability to act fairly, which must be submitted to the Office of State Ethics and recorded by the relevant state agency.

Furthermore, the bill modifies subsection (a) of section 1-86 of the general statutes, broadening the scope of potential conflicts of interest to include financial interests of the official's or employee's family or outside employer. Those facing potential conflicts must either excuse themselves from the matter or submit a written statement detailing the conflict and asserting their impartiality, to be filed with the Office of State Ethics and documented by the agency. The bill emphasizes that it does not impose any fiscal impact on the state or municipalities and includes technical and conforming changes.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 1-85, 1-86
GAE Joint Favorable: 1-85
File No. 478: 1-85, 1-86