This bill aims to enhance transparency in state governmental ethics by requiring all legislators and their spouses in leadership positions to disclose their salaries funded by public sources. Specifically, legislators must report the position for which the salary is paid, the public entity that pays it, and the annual salary amount. This information is to be submitted to legislative administrative services by January 15 each year and will be published on the legislative website alongside the legislator's name. Additionally, the bill mandates that this salary information be included in the statements of substantial interest as defined in K.S.A. 46-229.

The bill also introduces an annual audit of the disclosed salary information, focusing on accuracy, particularly for legislators in leadership roles and their spouses. The audit will be conducted by the legislative post auditor or a contracted firm, with findings submitted to the legislature at the beginning of each regular session starting in 2027. Furthermore, the bill amends K.S.A. 46-229 to clarify that legislators or their spouses in leadership positions who receive public salaries have a substantial interest in the paying public entity, necessitating the disclosure of the salary amount and payor. The existing section of K.S.A. 46-229 is repealed as part of this legislative update.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 46-229