The General Assembly Raised Bill No. 323 seeks to implement recommendations from the Office of State Ethics to enhance the ethical standards for public officials and state employees in Connecticut. Key changes include the repeal of subsections (a) and (b) of section 1-83, which are replaced with new provisions that expand the categories of individuals required to file electronic statements of financial interests. This now includes not only state-wide elected officers and members of the General Assembly but also members of boards, commissions, committees, or councils within the Executive Department that have the authority to approve large state contracts. Furthermore, the bill mandates that each state agency develop and enforce an ethics statement relevant to its mission, which must be filed with the Office of State Ethics.

Additional revisions focus on clarifying conflicts of interest, requiring public officials to either excuse themselves from matters with substantial conflicts or submit a written statement detailing the conflict and justifying their participation. This statement must be recorded in the agency's journal or minutes. The bill also updates the information required in financial interest statements, allowing for the inclusion of certain tax-sheltered annuity retirement plans instead of naming specific securities. The amendments to sections 1-83, 1-85, and 1-86 will take effect on October 1, 2026, aiming to improve transparency and accountability among public officials and state employees.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 1-85, 1-86