BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota Ethics Commission is asking the public to weigh in on new travel disclosure rules for public officials. The rules were prompted by House Bill 1469, passed earlier this year after former state senator Ray Holmberg was convicted for traveling overseas to engage in sex with minors.
The bill also expanded financial transparency by requiring officials to file annual statements of interest with the Secretary of State.
Now, the Ethics Commission is proposing stricter travel reporting. Public officials would have to disclose any official travel not paid for by themselves or their campaign. Those reports would be public and include the purpose of the trip, destination, total cost, and who paid for it.
The proposed rules also include penalties for failing to file or falsifying a report — up to a $500 fine after being reduced from the originally proposed $5,000.
The commission updated the draft rules on November 19 and is accepting public comments through December 14.
