Creates new provisions relating to ethics

SB 1175 - This act provides that any person shall be deemed of bad moral character, untrustworthy, and unfit for elected public office or employment with any state or local government if the elected official, while holding elected public office, and by clothing him or herself with the influence, prestige, or authority of his or her public office or through any public or private title, office, or position arising out of or associated with his or her public office, is or has been convicted of: • Stealing campaign funds by deceit or otherwise; • Stealing caucus or associations funds or funds intended for a caucus or association by deceit or otherwise; • Expending campaign funds in violation of current law; or • Converting campaign funds to his or her personal use in violation of current law. Any person deemed unfit for elected public office or employment with the state or any local government shall be barred from elected public office or employment and, if so employed, shall forfeit his or her office and be removed from said employment. Additionally, any elected or appointed official who knowingly, willingly, or purposefully appoints or retains an elected official who is unfit for employment pursuant to this act shall forfeit his or her office. Provisions are included requiring the prosecuting attorney or Attorney General to commence a quo warranto action to remove such an individual from office. This act also provides that any participant of a retirement plan established by the state or local government who is unfit for employment pursuant to this act shall not be eligible to receive any retirement benefits from the plan. The employer of the participant who is declared unfit shall notify the appropriate retirement system and provide information in connection with such conviction or violation. This act is identical to SB 425 (2025), SB 1344 (2024), SB 220 (2023) and SB 926 (2022) and similar to HB 2405 (2024), HB 866 (2023), and SB 576 (2021). SCOTT SVAGERA