General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 6670
January Session, 2015		LCO No. 3051
		*03051_______GAE*
Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND ELECTIONS
Introduced by:
(GAE)

AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO THE CODES OF ETHICS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 1-80 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015):

(a) There shall be established, within the Office of Governmental Accountability established under section 1-300, an Office of State Ethics. Said office shall consist of an executive director, general counsel, ethics enforcement officer and such other staff as hired by the executive director. Within the Office of State Ethics, there shall be the Citizen's Ethics Advisory Board that shall consist of nine members, appointed as follows: One member shall be appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, one member by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one member by the majority leader of the Senate, one member by the minority leader of the Senate, one member by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, one member by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, and three members by the Governor. Members of the board first appointed for a term commencing October 1, 2005, shall have the following terms: The Governor shall appoint two members for a term of three years and one member for a term of four years; the majority leader of the House of Representatives, minority leader of the House of Representatives and the speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint one member for a term of two years; and the president pro tempore of the Senate, the majority leader of the Senate and the minority leader of the Senate shall each appoint one member for a term of four years. The term commencing October 1, 2009, for the member appointed by the Governor and the member appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate shall be five years. Upon the expiration of such members' five-year terms, such members may not be reappointed. Any member appointed for a term commencing on or after October 1, 2014, shall serve for a term of four years. No individual shall be appointed to more than one four-year [or five-year] term as a member of the board, provided, members may [not] continue in office [after their term has expired and members first appointed may not be reappointed] until a successor is appointed. If a member continues to serve for more than one hundred eighty days after his or her term has expired, his or her successor shall be eligible for appointment to a full four-year term. No more than five members shall be members of the same political party. The members appointed by the majority leader of the Senate and the majority leader of the House of Representatives shall be selected from a list of nominees proposed by a citizen group having an interest in ethical government. The majority leader of the Senate and the majority leader of the House of Representatives shall each determine the citizen group from which each will accept such nominations. One member appointed by the Governor shall be selected from a list of nominees proposed by a citizen group having an interest in ethical government. The Governor shall determine the citizen group from which the Governor will accept such nominations.

Sec. 2. Section 1-82 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015):

(a) (1) Upon the complaint of any person on a form prescribed by the board, signed under penalty of false statement, or upon its own complaint, the ethics enforcement officer of the Office of State Ethics shall investigate any alleged violation of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter. Not later than five days after the receipt or issuance of such complaint, the board shall provide notice of such receipt or issuance and a copy of the complaint by registered or certified mail to any respondent against whom such complaint is filed and shall provide notice of the receipt of such complaint to the complainant. When the ethics enforcement officer of the Office of State Ethics undertakes an evaluation of a possible violation of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter prior to the filing of a complaint, the subject of the evaluation shall be notified not later than five business days after an Office of State Ethics staff member's first contact with a third party concerning the matter.

(2) In the conduct of its investigation of an alleged violation of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter, the Office of State Ethics shall have the power to hold hearings, administer oaths, examine witnesses and receive oral and documentary evidence. The Office of State Ethics may subpoena witnesses under procedural rules adopted by the Citizen's Ethics Advisory Board as regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to compel attendance before the Office of State Ethics and to require the production for examination by the ethics enforcement officer of the Office of State Ethics of any books and papers which the Office of State Ethics deems relevant in any matter under investigation or in question, provided any such subpoena is issued either pursuant to a majority vote of the Citizen's Ethics Advisory Board or pursuant to the signature of the chairperson of such board. The vice-chairperson of such board may sign any such subpoena if the chairperson of such board is unavailable. In the exercise of such powers, the Office of State Ethics may use the services of the state police, who shall provide the same upon the office's request. The Office of State Ethics shall make a record of all proceedings conducted pursuant to this subsection. The ethics enforcement officer of the Office of State Ethics may bring any alleged violation of this part or part IV of this chapter before a judge trial referee assigned by the Chief Court Administrator for such purpose for a probable cause hearing. Such judge trial referee shall be compensated in accordance with the provisions of section 52-434 from such funds as may be available to the Office of State Ethics. Any witness summoned before the Office of State Ethics or a judge trial referee pursuant to this subsection shall receive the witness fee paid to witnesses in the courts of this state. During any investigation conducted pursuant to this subsection or any probable cause hearing conducted pursuant to this subsection, the respondent shall have the right to appear and be heard and to offer any information which may tend to clear the respondent of probable cause to believe the respondent has violated any provision of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter. The respondent shall also have the right to be represented by legal counsel and to examine and cross-examine witnesses. Not later than ten days prior to the commencement of any hearing conducted pursuant to this subsection, the Office of State Ethics shall provide the respondent with a list of its intended witnesses. Any finding of probable cause to believe the respondent is in violation of any provisions of this part or part IV of this chapter shall be made by a judge trial referee not later than thirty days after the ethics enforcement officer brings such alleged violation before such judge trial referee, except that such thirty-day limitation period shall not apply if the judge trial referee determines that good cause exists for extending such limitation period.

(b) If a judge trial referee determines that probable cause exists for the violation of a provision of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter, the board shall initiate hearings to determine whether there has been a violation of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter. Any such hearing shall be initiated by the board not later than thirty days after the finding of probable cause by a judge trial referee and shall be concluded not later than ninety days after its initiation, except that such thirty or ninety-day limitation period shall not apply if the judge trial referee determines that good cause exists for extending such limitation period. A judge trial referee, who has not taken part in the probable cause determination on the matter shall be assigned by the Chief Court Administrator and shall be compensated in accordance with section 52-434 out of funds available to the Office of State Ethics and shall preside over such hearing and rule on all issues concerning the application of the rules of evidence, which shall be the same as in judicial proceedings. The trial referee shall have no vote in any decision of the board. All hearings of the board held pursuant to this subsection shall be open. At such hearing the board shall have the same powers as the Office of State Ethics under subsection (a) of this section and the respondent shall have the right to be represented by legal counsel, the right to compel attendance of witnesses and the production of books, documents, records and papers and to examine and cross-examine witnesses. Not later than ten days prior to the commencement of any hearing conducted pursuant to this subsection, the Office of State Ethics shall provide the respondent with a list of its intended witnesses. The judge trial referee shall, while engaged in the discharge of the duties as provided in this subsection, have the same authority as is provided in section 51-35 over witnesses who refuse to obey a subpoena or to testify with respect to any matter upon which such witness may be lawfully interrogated, and may commit any such witness for contempt for a period no longer than thirty days. The Office of State Ethics shall make a record of all proceedings pursuant to this subsection. During the course of any such hearing, no ex-parte communication shall occur between the board, or any of its members, and: (1) The judge trial referee, or (2) any staff member of the Enforcement Division of the Office of State Ethics, concerning the complaint or the respondent. The board shall find no person in violation of any provision of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter except upon the concurring vote of six of its members present and voting. No member of the board shall vote on the question of whether a violation of any provision of this part or part IV of this chapter has occurred unless such member was physically present for the duration of any hearing held pursuant to this subsection. Not later than fifteen days after the public hearing conducted in accordance with this subsection, the board shall publish its finding and a memorandum of the reasons therefor. Such finding and memorandum shall be deemed to be the final decision of the board on the matter for the purposes of chapter 54. The respondent, if aggrieved by the finding and memorandum, may appeal therefrom to the Superior Court in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183.

(c) If a judge trial referee finds, after a hearing pursuant to this section, that there is no probable cause to believe that a public official or state employee has violated a provision of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter, or if the board determines that a public official or state employee has not violated any such provision, or if a court of competent jurisdiction overturns a finding by the board of a violation by such a respondent, the state shall pay the reasonable legal expenses of the respondent as determined by the Attorney General or by the court if appropriate. If any complaint brought under the provisions of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter is made with the knowledge that it is made without foundation in fact, the respondent shall have a cause of action against the complainant for double the amount of damage caused thereby and if the respondent prevails in such action, he may be awarded by the court the costs of such action together with reasonable attorneys' fees.

(d) No complaint may be made under this section later than five years after the violation alleged in the complaint has been committed.

(e) No person shall take or threaten to take official action against an individual for such individual's disclosure of information to the board or the general counsel, ethics enforcement officer or staff of the Office of State Ethics under the provisions of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter. After receipt of information from an individual under the provisions of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter, the Office of State Ethics shall not disclose the identity of such individual without such individual's consent unless the Office of State Ethics determines that such disclosure is unavoidable during the course of an investigation. No person shall be subject to civil liability for any good faith disclosure that such person makes to the Office of State Ethics.

Sec. 3. Subsection (a) of section 1-82a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015):

(a) Unless a judge trial referee makes a finding of probable cause, a complaint alleging a violation of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter shall be confidential except upon the request of the respondent. An evaluation of a possible violation of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter by the Office of State Ethics prior to the filing of a complaint shall be confidential except upon the request of the subject of the evaluation. If the evaluation is confidential, any information supplied to or received from the Office of State Ethics shall not be disclosed to any third party by a subject of the evaluation, a person contacted for the purpose of obtaining information or by the ethics enforcement officer or staff of the Office of State Ethics. No provision of this subsection shall prevent the Office of State Ethics from reporting the possible commission of a crime to the Chief State's Attorney or other prosecutorial authority.

Sec. 4. Subsection (i) of section 1-84 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015):

(i) (1) No public official or state employee or member of the official or employee's immediate family or a business with which he is associated shall enter into any contract with the state or a quasi-public agency, valued at one hundred dollars or more, other than a contract (A) of employment as a state employee, (B) with the technical high school system for students enrolled in a school in the system to perform services in conjunction with vocational, technical or technological education and training any such student is receiving at a school in the system, subject to the review process under subdivision (2) of this subsection, (C) with a public institution of higher education to support a collaboration with such institution to develop and commercialize any invention or discovery, or (D) pursuant to a court appointment, unless the contract has been awarded through an open and public process, including prior public offer and subsequent public disclosure of all proposals considered and the contract awarded. In no event shall an executive head of an agency, as defined in section 4-166, including a commissioner of a department, or an executive head of a quasi-public agency, as defined in section 1-79, or the executive head's immediate family or a business with which he is associated enter into any contract with that agency or quasi-public agency. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as applying to any public official who is appointed as a member of the executive branch or as a member or director of a quasi-public agency and who receives no compensation other than per diem payments or reimbursement for actual or necessary expenses, or both, incurred in the performance of the public official's duties unless such public official has authority or control over the subject matter of the contract. Any contract made in violation of this subsection shall be voidable by a court of competent jurisdiction if the suit is commenced not later than one hundred eighty days after the making of the contract.

(2) The superintendent of the technical high school system shall establish an open and transparent process to review any contract entered into under subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection.

Sec. 5. Subsection (k) of section 1-84 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015):

(k) No public official, spouse of the Governor or state employee shall accept a fee or honorarium for an article, appearance or speech, or for participation at an event, in the public official's, spouse's or state employee's official capacity, provided a public official, Governor's spouse or state employee may receive payment or reimbursement for necessary expenses for any such activity in his or her official capacity from a sponsor of the event. If a public official, Governor's spouse or state employee receives such a payment or reimbursement for lodging or out-of-state travel, or both, the public official, Governor's spouse or state employee shall, not later than thirty days thereafter, file a report of the payment or reimbursement with the Office of State Ethics, unless the payment or reimbursement is provided by the federal government or another state government. If a public official, Governor's spouse or state employee does not file such report within such period, either intentionally or due to gross negligence on the public official's, Governor's spouse's or state employee's part, the public official, Governor's spouse or state employee shall return the payment or reimbursement. If any failure to file such report is not intentional or due to gross negligence on the part of the public official, Governor's spouse or state employee, the public official, Governor's spouse or state employee shall not be subject to any penalty under this chapter. When a public official, Governor's spouse or state employee attends an event in this state in the public official's, Governor's spouse's or state employee's official capacity and as a principal speaker at such event and receives admission to or food or beverage at such event from [the] a sponsor of the event, such admission or food or beverage shall not be considered a gift and no report shall be required from such public official, spouse or state employee or from the sponsor of the event.

Sec. 6. Section 1-86e of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015):

(a) No person hired by the state or a quasi-public agency as a consultant or independent contractor shall:

(1) Use the authority provided to the person under the contract, or any confidential information acquired in the performance of the contract, to obtain financial gain for the person, an employee of the person or a member of the immediate family of any such person or employee;

(2) Accept another state or quasi-public agency contract which would impair the independent judgment of the person in the performance of the existing contract; or

(3) Accept anything of value based on an understanding that the actions of the person on behalf of the state or quasi-public agency would be influenced.

(b) No person shall give anything of value to a person hired by the state or a quasi-public agency as a consultant or independent contractor based on an understanding that the actions of the consultant or independent contractor on behalf of the state or quasi-public agency would be influenced.

Sec. 7. Section 1-88 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015):

(a) The board, upon a finding made pursuant to section 1-82 that there has been a violation of any provision of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter, shall have the authority to order the violator to do any or all of the following: (1) Cease and desist the violation of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter; (2) file any report, statement or other information as required by this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter; and (3) pay a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars for each violation of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the board may, after a hearing conducted in accordance with sections 4-176e to 4-184, inclusive, upon the concurring vote of six of its members, present and voting impose a civil penalty not to exceed ten dollars per day upon any individual who fails to file any report, statement or other information as required by this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter. Each distinct violation of this subsection shall be a separate offense and in case of a continued violation, each day thereof shall be deemed a separate offense. In no event shall the aggregate penalty imposed for such failure to file exceed ten thousand dollars.

(c) The board may also report its finding to the Chief State's Attorney for any action deemed necessary. The board, upon a finding made pursuant to section 1-82 that a member or member-elect of the General Assembly has violated any provision of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter, shall notify the appropriate house of the General Assembly, in writing, of such finding and the basis for such finding.

(d) Any person who knowingly acts in such person's financial interest in violation of section 1-84, 1-85, 1-86, 1-86d, 1-86e or 1-101nn or any person who knowingly receives a financial advantage resulting from a violation of any of said sections shall be liable for damages in the amount of such advantage. If the board determines that any person may be so liable, it shall immediately inform the Attorney General of that possibility.

(e) Any employee of the Office of State Ethics or member of the Citizen's Ethics Advisory Board who, in violation of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter, discloses information filed in accordance with subparagraph (F) of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 1-83, shall be dismissed, if an employee, or removed from the board, if a member.

Sec. 8. Section 1-89 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015):

(a) Any person who intentionally violates any provision of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter shall (1) for a first violation, be guilty of a class A misdemeanor, except that, if such person derives a financial benefit of one thousand dollars or more as a result of such violation, such person shall be guilty of a class D felony, and (2) for a second or subsequent violation, be guilty of a class D felony, provided no person may be found guilty of a violation of subsection (f) or (g) of section 1-84 and bribery or bribe receiving under section 53a-147 or 53a-148 upon the same incident, but such person may be charged and prosecuted for all or any of such offenses upon the same information.

(b) The penalties prescribed in this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter shall not limit the power of either house of the legislature to discipline its own members or impeach a public official, and shall not limit the power of agencies or commissions to discipline their officials or employees.

(c) The Attorney General may bring a civil action against any person who knowingly acts in the person's financial interest in, or knowingly receives a financial advantage resulting from, a violation of section 1-84, 1-85, 1-86 or 1-101nn. In any such action, the Attorney General may, in the discretion of the court, recover any financial benefit that accrued to the person as a result of such violation and additional damages in an amount not exceeding twice the amount of the actual damages.

(d) Any fines, penalties or damages paid, collected or recovered under section 1-88 or this section for a violation of any provision of this part or [section 1-101nn] part IV of this chapter applying to the office of the Treasurer shall be deposited on a pro rata basis in any trust funds, as defined in section 3-13c, affected by such violation.

Sec. 9. Section 1-93 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015):

(a) (1) Upon the complaint of any person on a form prescribed by the Office of State Ethics, signed under penalty of false statement, or upon its own complaint, the ethics enforcement officer of the Office of State Ethics shall investigate any alleged violation of this part or part III of this chapter. Not later than five days after the receipt or issuance of such complaint, the Office of State Ethics shall provide notice of such receipt or issuance and a copy of the complaint by registered or certified mail to any respondent against whom such complaint is filed and shall provide notice of the receipt of such complaint to the complainant. When the Office of State Ethics undertakes an evaluation of a possible violation of this part or part III of this chapter prior to the filing of a complaint, the subject of the evaluation shall be notified not later than five business days after a staff member of the Office of State Ethics undertakes the first contact with a third party concerning the matter.

(2) In the conduct of its investigation of an alleged violation of this part or part III of this chapter, the Office of State Ethics shall have the power to hold hearings, administer oaths, examine witnesses and receive oral and documentary evidence. The Office of State Ethics may subpoena witnesses under procedural rules adopted by the Citizen's Ethics Advisory Board as regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to compel attendance before the Office of State Ethics and to require the production for examination by the ethics enforcement officer of the Office of State Ethics of any books and papers which the ethics enforcement officer of the Office of State Ethics deems relevant in any matter under investigation or in question, provided any such subpoena is issued either pursuant to a majority vote of the Citizen's Ethics Advisory Board or pursuant to the signature of the chairperson of such board. The vice-chairperson of such board may sign any such subpoena if the chairperson of such board is unavailable. In the exercise of such powers, the Office of State Ethics may use the services of the state police, who shall provide the same upon the office's request. The Office of State Ethics shall make a record of all proceedings conducted pursuant to this subsection. Any witness summoned before the Office of State Ethics or a judge trial referee pursuant to this subsection shall receive the witness fee paid to witnesses in the courts of this state. The ethics enforcement officer of the Office of State Ethics may bring any alleged violation of this part or part III of this chapter before a judge trial referee assigned by the Chief Court Administrator for such purpose for a probable cause hearing. Such judge trial referee shall be compensated in accordance with the provisions of section 52-434 from such funds as may be available to the Office of State Ethics. The respondent shall have the right to appear at any hearing held pursuant to this subsection and be heard and to offer any information which may tend to clear the respondent of probable cause to believe the respondent has violated any provision of this part or part III of this chapter. The respondent shall also have the right to be represented by legal counsel and to examine and cross-examine witnesses. Not later than ten days prior to the commencement of any hearing conducted pursuant to this subsection, the Office of State Ethics shall provide the respondent with a list of its intended witnesses. Any finding of probable cause to believe the respondent is in violation of any provision of this part or part III of this chapter shall be made by a judge trial referee not later than thirty days after the ethics enforcement officer brings such alleged violation before such judge trial referee, except that such thirty-day limitation period shall not apply if the judge trial referee determines that good cause exists for extending such limitation period.

(b) If a judge trial referee indicates that probable cause exists for the violation of a provision of this part or part III of this chapter, the board shall initiate hearings to determine whether there has been a violation of this part or part III of this chapter. Any such hearing shall be initiated by the board not later than thirty days after the finding of probable cause by a judge trial referee and shall be concluded not later than ninety days after its initiation, except that such thirty-day or ninety-day limitation period shall not apply if the judge trial referee determines that good cause exists for extending such limitation period. A judge trial referee, who has not taken part in the probable cause determination on the matter shall be assigned by the Chief Court Administrator and shall be compensated in accordance with section 52-434 out of funds available to the board and shall preside over such hearing and rule on all issues concerning the application of the rules of evidence, which shall be the same as in judicial proceedings. The trial referee shall have no vote in any decision of the board. All hearings of the board held pursuant to this subsection shall be open. At such hearing the board shall have the same powers as the Office of State Ethics under subsection (a) of this section and the respondent shall have the right to be represented by legal counsel, the right to compel attendance of witnesses and the production of books, documents, records and papers and to examine and cross-examine witnesses. Not later than ten days prior to the commencement of any hearing conducted pursuant to this subsection, the Office of State Ethics shall provide the respondent with a list of its intended witnesses. The judge trial referee shall, while engaged in the discharge of the duties as provided in this subsection, have the same authority as is provided in section 51-35 over witnesses who refuse to obey a subpoena or to testify with respect to any matter upon which such witness may be lawfully interrogated, and may commit any such witness for contempt for a period no longer than thirty days. The Office of State Ethics shall make a record of all proceedings pursuant to this subsection. During the course of any such hearing, no ex-parte communication shall occur between the board, or any of its members, and: (1) The judge trial referee, or (2) any staff member of the Enforcement Division of the Office of State Ethics, concerning the complaint or the respondent. The board shall find no person in violation of any provision of this part or part III of this chapter except upon the concurring vote of six of its members present and voting. No member of the board shall vote on the question of whether a violation of any provision of this part or part III of this chapter has occurred unless such member was physically present for the duration of any hearing held pursuant to this subsection. Not later than fifteen days after the public hearing conducted in accordance with this subsection, the board shall publish its finding and a memorandum of the reasons therefor. Such finding and memorandum shall be deemed to be the final decision of the board on the matter for the purposes of chapter 54. The respondent, if aggrieved by the finding and memorandum, may appeal therefrom to the Superior Court in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183.

(c) If any complaint brought under the provisions of this part or part III of this chapter is made with the knowledge that it is made without foundation in fact, the respondent shall have a cause of action against the complainant for double the amount of damage caused thereby and if the respondent prevails in such action, the respondent may be awarded by the court the costs of such action together with reasonable attorneys' fees.

(d) No complaint may be made under this section except within five years next after the violation alleged in the complaint has been committed.

(e) No person shall take or threaten to take official action against an individual for such individual's disclosure of information to the board or the general counsel, ethics enforcement officer or staff of the Office of State Ethics under the provisions of this part or part III of this chapter. After receipt of information from an individual under the provisions of this part or part III of this chapter, the Office of State Ethics shall not disclose the identity of such individual without such person's consent unless the Office of State Ethics determines that such disclosure is unavoidable during the course of an investigation.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	October 1, 2015	1-80(a)
Sec. 2	October 1, 2015	1-82
Sec. 3	October 1, 2015	1-82a(a)
Sec. 4	October 1, 2015	1-84(i)
Sec. 5	October 1, 2015	1-84(k)
Sec. 6	October 1, 2015	1-86e
Sec. 7	October 1, 2015	1-88
Sec. 8	October 1, 2015	1-89
Sec. 9	October 1, 2015	1-93

Statement of Purpose:

To make various revisions to the state codes of ethics, including to permit members of the Citizen's Ethics Advisory Board to serve until a successor is appointed, to provide the Office of State Ethics with enforcement authority over parts III and IV of chapter 10 of the general statutes, to amend provisions in the code concerning contracting to add references to quasi-public agencies and to specify that payment of necessary expenses is restricted to sponsors of an event.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]