Delegate Armstrong's Ethics Reform Legislation Passes General Assembly
- HB655 awaits Governor's signature

From the Office of Delegate Ward Armstrong

March 10, 2010

CONTACT: Claire Wilker
804-698-1210

RICHMOND-Delegate Ward Armstrong's Ethics Reform Bill (HB655) passed the General Assembly in amended form this afternoon by a 37 to 2 vote in the Senate. The amended bill previously passed the House by an 88-10 vote in February. The legislation now awaits the Governor's signature to become law.

Armstrong introduced the omnibus legislation in response to the ethical problems of former lawmaker, and ranking Republican member of the House Appropriations Committee, Phil Hamilton which were revealed last year. Senator Ralph Northam sponsored companion legislation (SB186) in the Senate, which was ultimately killed in the House Rules committee.

The ethics reform bill addresses Virginia's General Assembly Conflicts of Interest statute, which has not been significantly revised in over 20 years. Key provisions remaining in the amended legislation include:

" Requiring the panel to hold proceedings in public once an inquiry has moved beyond a preliminary investigation.

" Ensuring that panel investigations continue even if a legislator resigns office.

A key provision that Armstrong included in his original bill, but which was removed from the amended version in the House Rules committee would have defined a legislator as in violation of ethics rules if he or she knew or should have known that his or her actions were in violation of ethical standards. Current law, and thus the amended version of the bill, requires proof that the legislator knew that he or she was violating ethical standards.

"I'm pleased that we were able to pass ethics reform legislation that opens the process to the public and ensures that individuals cannot escape an ethics ruling through resignation," Delegate Armstrong said. "Although the bill that passed does not go as far as I had hoped in strengthening our ethics laws, I am pleased that we have taken this first step and I will continue to push for reform legislation which will restore the public trust. It is important our citizens have faith in an open and honest government. As legislators we are here to represent the people's interests, not our own interests."

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