Ethics panel to review cases of election-filing violations

Friday, Jan. 11, 2002 | 9:15 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state Ethics Commission Thursday selected a two-member panel to review public officials' requests to either reduce or wipe out their civil fines for filing financial disclosure reports past the deadline.

Commission Executive Director Polly Hamilton said 100 people were either late or didn't file their reports before the April 2 deadline. She said she has received about 40 requests to either eliminate or lower the fines, which range from $25 to $14,555.

The commission, in a telephone conference call meeting, chose members Liz Hatcher of Las Vegas and Rick Hsu of Reno to perform the reviews and report back to the commission during its Feb. 7 meeting.

She said the delinquent candidates still have until Jan. 15 to request waivers.

All public officials or judicial officers, appointed or elected, must file a statement each year.

For late filings, the fine is $25 per day up to seven days; from seven to 15 days the penalty is $50 a day and after 15 days it's an additional $100 per day.

The disclosure form requires listing the source of income, but not the amounts, and the official must provide a list of real estate valued at more than $2,500, other than a personal residence. The name of the creditor on the real estate must be revealed if the debt is more than $5,000.

Officials must also disclose gifts in excess of an aggregate value of $200 during the preceding taxable year, except if the gift came from a family member or was for such things as a birthday or wedding.