KRS 6.767: Prohibitions against acceptance of campaign contributions from

legislative agents at any time and from employers of legislative agents or

permanent committees during regular sessions -- Penalties -- Defenses.

(1) For purposes of this section, "accept" means the date a contribution is

postmarked, if mailed, or the date of the hand delivery, if the contribution is

hand-delivered.

(2) A member of the General Assembly, candidate for the General Assembly, or

his or her campaign committee shall not accept a campaign contribution from a

legislative agent. Violation of this provision is ethical misconduct.

(3) A member of the General Assembly, candidate for the General Assembly, or

his or her campaign committee shall not, during a regular session of the

General Assembly, accept a campaign contribution from an employer of a

legislative agent, or from a permanent committee as defined in KRS 121.015.

Violation of this provision is ethical misconduct. This subsection shall not apply

to:

(a) Candidates for the General Assembly in a special election held during a

regular session of the General Assembly; or

(b) A member of the General Assembly who is a candidate, as defined in

KRS 121.015, contemporaneously seeking election for a statewide office.

(4) It shall be a complete defense under this section if the legislator, candidate, or

his or her campaign committee receives a campaign contribution from a

legislative agent or, during a regular session, from an employer or from a

permanent committee, which fact is unknown to the legislator, candidate, or

committee at the time of receipt, if the legislator, candidate, or his or her

campaign committee either returns the contribution within thirty (30) days of

receipt, and within fourteen (14) additional days makes that fact, together with

the name of the contributor, amount of the contribution, and the date of return

or payment known, in writing to the commission. It shall also be a defense if a

legislator, candidate, or his or her campaign committee receives a campaign

contribution from a legislative agent whose name does not yet appear on the

list of legislative agents and their employers furnished to the Legislative

Research Commission if the legislator, candidate, or his or her campaign

committee returns the campaign contribution within thirty (30) days of the

Legislative Research Commission's receipt of the list bearing the name of the

legislative agent and all employers and makes the written disclosure to the

commission required in this subsection. The time periods shall be tolled upon

the filing with the commission of a request for an advisory opinion regarding the

campaign contribution. Upon the issuance of the opinion or decision not to

render an opinion, the time period shall resume.