Post by admin on Dec 26, 2010 12:40:41 GMT -5
www.registerherald.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=124974&TM=68574.02
Accountability bill
State Sen. Keith Faber (R-Celina) last week won overwhelming support from the Ohio Senate for Senate Bill 3, legislation he sponsored to hold elected officials, lobbyists, political appointees and influential staff who break the public trust more accountable to the taxpayers of Ohio by preventing them from continuing to hold a position of public trust and, in some cases, forfeiting their public pensions.
Faber noted, the cornerstone of good government is trust, and when that trust is violated, there should be no opportunity for second chances and not even a hint that the individual received special treatment. He said SB 3 will help to restore public faith and ensure that public officials who violate the public trust are held accountable.
SB 3 prohibits individuals convicted of certain felonies from holding public office or holding other key policy-making positions, including elected officials, executive appointments and appointments to state boards or commissions, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, policy-making employees at the state and local level and lobbyists. Under SB 3, the felonies that would trigger this provision in the bill include:
•Theft in office
•Bribery
•Engaging in pattern of corrupt activity
•Having an unlawful interest in a public contract
•Intimidation
•Retaliation
•Obstructing official business when related to duties of public office
•Obstructing justice when related to duties of public office
•Perjury when related to duties of public office
•Tampering with evidence when related to duties of public office
•Tampering with records when related to duties of public office, and
•Intimidation of a witness when related to duties of public office
SB 3 would also ensure that when a public official is convicted of certain crimes while holding office, including theft in office that rises to a third-degree felony, bribery and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, they would lose their right to public retirement benefits.
To avoid constitutional concerns, the bill would allow public officials to receive the portion of benefits they contributed, once any fines or other monetary penalties have been settled.
Thirteen other states have already adopted similar laws taking away the right to a public pension when there is wrongdoing by a public official, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Kentucky, Illinois and Tennessee. In addition, by case law, two states have allowed the forfeiture of public pensions for wrongdoing by judges.
Finally, the U.S. Congress recently said members of Congress forfeit their pension when they are convicted of felonies. According to Faber, Ohio elected officials should be held to the same standard.
Having been approved by the Senate, SB 3 will now be sent to the Ohio House for further consideration.
The approved final version of this bill can be seen here...
www.lsc.state.oh.us/analyses127/s0003-ps-127.pdf
Accountability bill
State Sen. Keith Faber (R-Celina) last week won overwhelming support from the Ohio Senate for Senate Bill 3, legislation he sponsored to hold elected officials, lobbyists, political appointees and influential staff who break the public trust more accountable to the taxpayers of Ohio by preventing them from continuing to hold a position of public trust and, in some cases, forfeiting their public pensions.
Faber noted, the cornerstone of good government is trust, and when that trust is violated, there should be no opportunity for second chances and not even a hint that the individual received special treatment. He said SB 3 will help to restore public faith and ensure that public officials who violate the public trust are held accountable.
SB 3 prohibits individuals convicted of certain felonies from holding public office or holding other key policy-making positions, including elected officials, executive appointments and appointments to state boards or commissions, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, policy-making employees at the state and local level and lobbyists. Under SB 3, the felonies that would trigger this provision in the bill include:
•Theft in office
•Bribery
•Engaging in pattern of corrupt activity
•Having an unlawful interest in a public contract
•Intimidation
•Retaliation
•Obstructing official business when related to duties of public office
•Obstructing justice when related to duties of public office
•Perjury when related to duties of public office
•Tampering with evidence when related to duties of public office
•Tampering with records when related to duties of public office, and
•Intimidation of a witness when related to duties of public office
SB 3 would also ensure that when a public official is convicted of certain crimes while holding office, including theft in office that rises to a third-degree felony, bribery and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, they would lose their right to public retirement benefits.
To avoid constitutional concerns, the bill would allow public officials to receive the portion of benefits they contributed, once any fines or other monetary penalties have been settled.
Thirteen other states have already adopted similar laws taking away the right to a public pension when there is wrongdoing by a public official, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Kentucky, Illinois and Tennessee. In addition, by case law, two states have allowed the forfeiture of public pensions for wrongdoing by judges.
Finally, the U.S. Congress recently said members of Congress forfeit their pension when they are convicted of felonies. According to Faber, Ohio elected officials should be held to the same standard.
Having been approved by the Senate, SB 3 will now be sent to the Ohio House for further consideration.
The approved final version of this bill can be seen here...
www.lsc.state.oh.us/analyses127/s0003-ps-127.pdf
