Ethics Commission plans to get tough on financial disclosures

Monday, March 13, 2000 | 11:36 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state Ethics Commission plans to get tough with public officials who fail to file their financial disclosure forms by the March 31 deadline.

"We will fine them this year if they are late," Commission Executive Director Kenneth Rohrs said. "It's mandatory in the law."

The law does not allow for a grace period for late filings, he said.

Every public official who is paid by the state must submit the form. Rohrs estimated that's about 5,000 people.

Last year scores of public officials were late or didn't submit their required forms, and more than $200,000 in fines were levied. But the Ethics Commission waived $188,425 of the fines because of mistakes in levying the penalties or finding that the forms were filed but lost.

For example, 28 candidates for political office were fined $76,475, but there was no evidence that they were ever given the forms or notified they had to file.

The commission waived the fines and told those people to file their 1998 statements by March 31. Rohrs said later inspections showed all of the candidates filed disclosures by the new deadline.

The commission also agreed to refund $7,950 to public officials who were mistakenly penalized.

But that leniency appears likely to change. A new law went into effect in October, and a new commission and staff are enforcing it.

The penalty is now $25 for each day for up to seven days late. If the statement is filed more than seven days late but not more than 15 days late, the penalty is $175 for the first seven days, plus $50 for each additional day the form is late.

If the statement is filed more than 15 days late, the fine is $575 for the first 15 days, plus $100 for each additional day the statement is late. The law allows the commission to waive the fine for good cause.

The financial disclosure forms are available from the commission by calling (775) 687-5469 or faxing a request to (775) 687-1279.