Committee adopts tougher post‑employment restriction amendment for grant conflicts, advances bill

Senate File 46‑40, a bipartisan proposal authored by Senator Kupak to limit conflicts of interest involving government grants, advanced after committee debate and amendment on March 27.

The bill would bar a former legislator from taking employment with an employer for one year after leaving office if the legislator voted to pass a law that specifically named that employer to receive a grant; similarly, a public employee who was involved in selecting or administering a grant would be restricted from accepting employment with a named recipient for a specified period. Senator Kupak said the measure responds to findings by the Office of the Legislative Auditor about apparent conflicts involving behavioral health administration grants and is intended to protect taxpayer dollars.

During consideration, Senator Drazkowski offered an amendment to lengthen several moratoria from 12 months to five years for former legislators and employees and to extend employer penalties from 12 months to 10 years; the committee adopted the amendment after discussion. Sponsors and supporters characterized the change as a reasonable tool to deter fraud; other members raised questions about unintended effects on lower‑level employees, which the author said could be refined in later committee stops.

Outcome: The committee adopted the Drazkowski amendment and recommended the amended bill to pass and be referred to the Labor Committee.