This bill amends RSA 14-B:2 to increase the membership of the legislative ethics committee. Currently, the committee consists of one house member appointed by the speaker of the house, one house member appointed by the house minority leader, one public member appointed by the speaker of the house, one senator appointed by the senate president, one senator appointed by the senate minority leader, one public member appointed by the senate president, and one public member appointed jointly by the speaker of the house, the house minority leader, the senate president, and the senate minority leader. The bill changes the membership to two house members appointed by the house majority leader, two house members appointed by the house minority leader, one public member appointed by the speaker of the house, one senator appointed by the senate president, one senator appointed by the senate minority leader, and one public member appointed by the senate president. The bill also adds new prohibitions on who can serve as a member of the legislative ethics committee. No person currently registered as a lobbyist or who has registered as a lobbyist in the past shall serve on the committee. Additionally, no person who has held elected office in the state of New Hampshire or who has been appointed as a commissioner, executive director, assistant commissioner, or deputy commissioner of a department or commission shall serve on the committee. Finally, no current employee of the state of New Hampshire shall serve on the committee. The bill also amends RSA 14-B:6 to require that meeting agendas and minutes approved by the committee be sent to all members of the general court within 24 hours of being made available on the committee's website.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 14-B:2, 14-B:6