| UNDERSTANDING HOW THE NEW ETHICS LAW AFFECTS YOUR CLIENTS, YOUR FIRM AND YOU
The Intersection of Law and Government
Co-sponsored with the City Solicitor's and Town Counsel Association and
The Moakley Institute
Please Note: This course has already
been held.
Date: Friday, October 30, 2009
Location: Suffolk University Law School, 120 Tremont St., Boston, MA
Time: 09:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Schedule/Agenda
Registration Information
Unable to attend but are interested in the course materials?
Purchase Here! |
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Governor Deval Patrick recently signed into law Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2009—the most sweeping changes to the state’s ethics, campaign finance and lobbying laws since 1994. Spurred to act by recent indictments and allegations of corruption, the Legislature approved this omnibus bill in the hopes of restoring the public’s confidence in its elected officials and preserving integrity in state government. Although the provisions of the new law are primarily directed at the conduct of public employees, the scope and breadth of Chapter 28 will have consequences for individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations that interact with state and local government.
Will new registration and reporting requirements pose a trap for the unwary client and require changes in how they deal with government officials? Will the expanded definition of “lobbying” require certain professionals to register as lobbyists?
The program will be invaluable to any lawyer that provides counsel to trade, professional associations and non-profit organizations that lobby the Legislature or the Executive Department, lawyers that represent political candidates and their campaign committees, city solicitors and town counsels, and law firms that engage in public policy advocacy. In addition, lawyers with a regulatory practice will need to know when their representation of a client seeking a permit or other form of relief from a governmental body crosses the line into lobbying.
Attend and Learn:
- Changes to the Lobbying Law-including new definitions of “executive and legislative agent” and executive and legislative lobbying”; new reporting requirements; enhanced civil enforcement authority of the Secretary of State (including the ability to subpoena documents and testimony, and conduct adjudicatory proceedings); and increased penalties for violation of the law
- Substantial revisions to the Campaign Finance Laws including increased frequency of reports; use of campaign funds; fundraising practices; electronic filing of reports; greater disclosure of expenses; new deadlines for filing reports; and new rules governing the disclosure of electioneering communication expenses
- Amendments to the Conflict of Interest Statutes-including increased civil and criminal penalties for violations; prohibition on the solicitation of anything of substantial value for or because of a public official’s position; and enhanced enforcement authority of the State Ethics Commission
- Enhanced authority of the Attorney General-including enforcing stricter criminal penalties for ethics and lobbying law violations, the ability to convene a grand jury in any county necessary to investigate violations and the responsibility to regulate and enforce the Open Meeting Law
| S C H E D U L E / A G E N D A |
| 9:00 |
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS |
| Benjamin Fierro, III, Esq., Chair, Lynch & Fierro LLP, Boston, MA
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| 9:20 |
CONTEXT AND OVERVIEW OF THE NEW LAW |
| Ben T. Clements, Esq., Chief Legal Counsel to the Governor and Chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Public Integrity
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| 9:30 |
LOBBYING |
- Who Has to Register
- New Disclosure Requirements
- Advisory Opinions
- Enhanced Investigatory Powers
Alan N. Cote, Esq., First Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth
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| 10:15 |
CONFLICT OF INTEREST |
- Authority of State Ethics Commission
- Changes to the Law’s Requirements
- Gifts to Public Employees
- Mandatory Training
Karen L. Nober, Esq., Executive Director, State Ethics Commission
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| 11:15 |
CAMPAIGN FINANCE |
- Enhanced Disclosure of Contributions & Expenditures
- Electioneering Communications
- Referrals to Attorney General
Michael J. Sullivan, Director, Office of Campaign and Political Finance
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| 12:00 |
EXPANDED REGULATORY POWERS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL |
- New Statewide Grand Jury
- Enhanced Criminal Sanctions
- Changes to Open Meeting Requirements
Ed Bedrosian, Jr., Esq., Department First Assistant Attorney General
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| Date: |
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Friday, October 30, 2009 |
| Tuition: |
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$149.00; $125.00 for Suffolk alumni, attorney admitted to the bar after 2006 and members of CSTC.
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| Walk-Ins: |
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Space is limited. Registrations at the door are welcome, but please register in advance to reserve a seat and your written course materials or call to confirm space availability.
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| Refunds: |
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If for some reason you are not able to attend, you may send a substitute or call no later than the business day before to receive a refund less a $15.00 cancellation fee. Otherwise, you will receive the course materials.
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| Location: |
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Suffolk University Law School, 120 Tremont St., Boston, MA
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| Credit: |
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Approved for CLE Credit in RI, NH, VT & ME
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Special
Needs: |
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If you have special needs addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act, please notify us as soon as possible.
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| Scholarships: |
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Are available to any attorney or professional employed in public service, or for whom attendance would otherwise present a financial hardship. For more information, call 617-573-8627.
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Directions to the Law School.
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Unable to attend but are interested in the course materials?
Purchase Here! |
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