Purpose of the Bill

The bill seeks to prevent conflicts of interest by prohibiting Minnesota legislators and executive branch appointees from receiving compensation from nonprofit organizations that receive state grant funding. This aims to ensure that government officials do not have financial ties to organizations that could influence decision-making or policy outcomes.

Main Provisions

• Prohibition on Receiving Compensation: Sitting members of the Minnesota Legislature and appointees to the executive branch are barred from accepting jobs or receiving payment from nonprofit organizations that are funded by state grants.
• Rule Enforcement: The Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate are required to create rules to enforce this prohibition effectively.
• Extension to Executive Branch Appointees: The existing regulations are expanded to include appointed members of multimember agencies, commissioners, and deputy commissioners, preventing them from receiving income from relevant nonprofits during their tenure.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Expansion of Employment Prohibitions: The proposed amendments expand the scope of current laws, adding nonprofit organizations that receive state grant funding to the list of entities that cannot compensate certain government officials. This is in addition to the existing prohibition against employment with businesses that primarily engage in lobbying or government relations.
• Post-Tenure Restrictions: Former commissioners and deputy commissioners cannot engage in proceedings with their former department or agency on behalf of private individuals within one year after leaving their position.

Relevant Terms

• Legislators
• Executive branch appointees
• Nonprofit organizations
• State grant funding
• Conflict of interest
• Government officials
• Lobbying