ORDINANCE NO. BL2012-110

An Ordinance amending Section 2.222.030 of the Metropolitan Code to permit the electronic filing of annual disclosure statements and benefits reporting statements.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That Section 2.222.030 of the Metropolitan Code is hereby amended by deleting subsection B.1 in its entirety and substituting with the following new subsection B.1.:

1. On or before January 31 of each year, each employee included in subsection A. of this section shall file with the metropolitan clerk an annual disclosure statement setting forth the information requested therein as of and for the year ended December 31 of the preceding year.
a. Said disclosure may be filed either electronically or in written paper form.
b. For disclosure statements filed in paper form, the statement must be personally signed by the employee and attested as being true to the best of that employee's information and belief. Further, the statement shall include the signature of one (1) witness attesting that the form was signed in the presence of the witness, but form need not be notarized before it is submitted.
c. For disclosure statements filed electronically, the disclosure statement must include the printed first and last name of the employee who shall indicate on the form that the information contained therein is true to the best of that employee's information and belief. Further, the statement shall include the first and last name of one (1) witness attesting that the employee’s name was entered on the electronic form in the presence of the witness.
d. In completing the disclosure form, the employee should recognize that the purpose of the disclosure is to alleviate reasonable concerns, justified or not, of the public concerning possible conflicts and influences upon the employee's exercise of his or her official discretion. In situations involving ambiguity as to the application of the requested information to the facts of an employee's situation, the disclosure statement should be completed in all material respects, reasonably consistent with this intent.

Section 2. That Section 2.222.030 of the Metropolitan Code is hereby amended by deleting subsection C. in its entirety and substituting with the following new subsection C.:

C. Annual benefits disclosures. In addition to the foregoing, each employee included in subsection A of this section shall file a benefits report, in form and substance as attached below, with the metropolitan clerk on or before January 31 for the year ended December 31 of the preceding year. The benefits disclosure statement shall include anything of value received by the employee during the previous year other than donations in connection with political campaigns made and reported in compliance with Tennessee election laws.
1. Said benefits report may be filed either electronically or in written paper form. The metropolitan clerk, working with the department of information technology services, shall develop a method for electronic filing through the clerk’s website.
2. For benefits reports filed in paper form, the report must be personally signed by the employee and attested as being true to the best of that employee's information and belief. Further, the report shall include the signature of one (1) witness.
3. For benefits reports filed electronically, the report must include the printed first and last name of the employee who shall indicate on the form that the information contained therein is true to the best of that employee's information and belief. Further, the statement shall include the first and last name of one (1) witness.
4. The annual disclosure statement shall require the information set forth in the following form:

ANNUAL BENEFIT REPORTING STATEMENT
EMPLOYEE NAME: ____________
For the year ending December 31 ____________ (year).
Use additional sheets of paper as necessary.
Instructions:
List Anything of Value you have received, as defined in Chapter 2.222 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws, since your last Quarterly Reporting Form was submitted.
a. Benefit type may be described by reference to the following abbreviations:
M = Meals, food, and beverage items
A = Admissions, tickets to events, or other access (including parking)
T = Travel expense
O = Other (describe)
b. For purposes of this report, the Employee is not required to list those items set forth in Section 2.222.030 C.1 and 2.
Source: Date: Benefit Type and Description: Value:
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
The information provided herein is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true and complete.
____________
Signature of Employee
____________
Date
____________
Signature of Witness
____________
Date

Section 3. The Metropolitan Clerk, working with the Department of Information Technology Services, shall develop a method for electronic filing through the Clerk’s website.

Section 4. This Ordinance shall take effect from and after its enactment, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Darren Jernigan, Chris Harmon

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Introduced:	February 21, 2012
Passed First Reading:	February 21, 2012
Referred to:	Rules Committee
Passed Second Reading:	March 20, 2012
Passed Third Reading:	April 3, 2012
Approved:	April 4, 2012
By: