Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits nepotism and conflicts of interest in local government.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a local government from employing or promoting an individual to a position in which they are in a direct line of supervision over a relative (Sec. 7).

• Defines “direct line of supervision” as the authority to make decisions about the condition of the workers under him or her, which includes, but is not limited, to the following topics (Sec. 7):
• Work assignments;
• Compensation;
• Grievances; or
• Performance evaluations.

• Defines “relative” as including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 7):
• A spouse;
• A parent or child;
• A sibling;
• An aunt or uncle; or
• A son or daughter-in-law.

• Exempts the following from the prohibition on employing relatives (Sec. 7):
• Individuals who were employed before July 1, 2012;
• Individuals that were employed prior to a relative serving a term of elected office;
• Township trustees who work from home and hire one relative to work in their home office;
• Volunteer firefighters;
• Precinct election officers;
• Coroners who hire their predecessors; and
• Sheriffs who hire their spouses as prison matrons for the county.

• Specifies that local governments may continue authorizing contracts with relatives of elected officials or businesses in which relatives of elected officials have an ownership interest (Sec. 8).

• Prohibits volunteer firefighters and employees of local governments from simultaneously working for and serving as an elected official of the same local government unit (Sec. 1).

• Exempts employees and volunteer firefighters who both worked for and served as an elected official of the same local government before January 1, 2013 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text