State of Wisconsin
Government Accountability Board
Standards
of Conduct
for state officials, lobbyists and lobbying
organizations
|
Overview of
Statutes |
| The
Government Accountability Board, Ethics and Accountability Division, administers and enforces
three
statutes: (1) Wisconsin's Code of Ethics for Public Officials and Employees, Chapter 19, subch. III, Wisconsin Statutes; (2) Wisconsin's lobbying law, Chapter 13, subch. III, Wisconsin Statutes,
and (3) Wisconsin's campaign finance law, Chapter 11, Wisconsin Statutes.
The first two statutes create standards of conduct
for certain state officials and employees. In addition, the lobbying law creates
standards of conduct for lobbyists and the organizations and businesses that employ
lobbyists. The Ethics Code applies to state public officials as specified in
s.19.42, Wisconsin Statutes. The lobbying law applies to elected state
officials, candidates for elective state office, legislative employees, and state
employees who participate in agency rulemaking. Following is an overview of the
statutory standards. |
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State
Public Officials
SHOULD NOT: |
MORE
INFORMATION |
Lobbyists
SHOULD NOT: |
. |
- Act officially in a matter in
which privately interested (see
guideline)
- Use public position for
private benefit
- Accept transportation,
lodging, food, or beverage except as specifically authorized.
- Solicit or accept rewards or
items or services likely to influence (see
guideline)
- Use confidential information
for private benefit
- Use public position to obtain
unlawful benefits
- Enter into public contracts
without notice
- Charge a fee to represent a
person before a state agency (see
guideline)
|
- Furnish anything of pecuniary
value to a state official
- Instigate legislation to
obtain employment
- Make compensation contingent
on outcome of legislative action
- Make certain campaign
contributions except during prescribed period (see
guideline)
|
Organizations
Employing a Lobbyist
SHOULD NOT: |
- Furnish anything of pecuniary
value to a state official except expenses for presenting a talk
|
| Elective
State Officials, Agency Officials, Legislative Employees, or Candidates
for Elective State Office |
Former
State Public Officials (other than a legislator or legislative employee) |
| SHOULD NOT: |
MORE
INFORMATION |
SHOULD NOT: |
MORE
INFORMATION |
- Accept anything of pecuniary
value from a lobbyist or from a lobbyist's employee
|
- Communicate with former
agency as a paid representative for 12 months after leaving public
office
- Communicate with any agency as
a paid representative for 12 months on matters for which formerly responsible
- Represent any person other
than the state in connection with any proceeding, application,
contract, claim, or charge in which the individual was personally and
substantially involved as a state public official
|
|
