(a) Employment sanction. In addition to any other applicable penalty provided in this article, any employee found to have violated any of the provisions of this chapter, or to have knowingly furnished false or misleading information to the board of ethics, shall be subject to employment sanctions, including discharge, in accordance with procedures under which the employee may otherwise be disciplined. Any official who knowingly files a false or misleading statement of financial interests, or knowingly fails to file a statement within the time prescribed in this chapter, or otherwise violates any provision of this chapter, shall be subject to removal from office.
(b) Fines. The following fines shall, as appropriate, apply to violations of this chapter:
(1) Failure to complete ethics training. Any employee or official who violates Section 2-156-145 and any lobbyist who violates Section 2-156-146 shall be fined $250.00 for each such violation. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense to which a separate fine shall apply. The Board shall also make public, in a manner that the Board may deem appropriate, the names of lobbyists, employees and officials who failed to complete a mandatory ethics training on time.
(2) Failure to file a statement of financial interests. Any reporting person who violates Section 2-156-190 shall be fined $250.00 for each such violation. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense to which a separate fine shall apply. The Board shall also make public, in a manner that the Board may deem appropriate, the names of reporting persons who failed to file statements of financial interests on time.
(3) Failure to register by lobbyists.
(A) Any lobbyist who violates Section 2-156-245 because of failure to register on behalf of one or more clients pursuant to Section 2-156-230 shall be fined $1,000.00 for each such violation. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense to which a separate fine shall apply. Any lobbyist who violates any provision of Article IV of this chapter shall be subject to the suspension of their lobbyist registration.
(B) Any lobbyist who is registered with the Board and who violates Section 2-156-245 because of failure to re-register with the Board or properly amend or terminate their registration as required in Section 2-156-240 or Section 2-156-280, respectively, shall be subject to a $250.00 fine for each such violation. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense to which a separate fine shall apply. Provided, however, the maximum total fine for all violations of Section 2-156-245 that stem from a single incident of failure by a lobbyist to file a re-registration, amendment, or termination described in this subsection (3)(B) shall not exceed $20,000.00.
(C) The Board shall make public, in a manner the Board deems appropriate, the names of lobbyists who violate Section 2-156-245 and fine assessed.
(4) Failure to file reports by lobbyists. Any lobbyist who violates Section 2-156-270 shall be subject to a $250.00 fine for each such violation. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense to which a separate fine shall apply. Provided, however, the maximum total fine for all violations of Section 2-156-270 that stem from a single incident of failure to file a report by a lobbyist shall not exceed $20,000.00. The Board shall also make public, in a manner the Board deems appropriate, the names of lobbyists who violate Section 2-156-270 and fine assessed.
(5) Improper contributions. Any person who knowingly makes, solicits or accepts a political contribution in violation of Section 2-156-140 or Section 2-156-445 shall be subject to a fine of not less than $1,000.00 and up to the higher of $5,000.00 or three times the amount of the improper contribution that was accepted for each violation of these sections.
(6) Violation of chapter provisions. Any person who violates any other provision of this chapter, where no other fine is specifically provided, shall be subject to a public censure by the Board and a fine of not less than $500.00 and not more than $20,000.00 for each offense; provided that the Board may also impose a fine equal to the financial benefit an official or employee realized from a violation, if higher.
(7) Candidates: filing of statements of financial interests. Any person who qualifies as a candidate for City office who knowingly files a false or misleading statement of financial interests shall be subject to fines as provided in subsection (b)(6) of this section.
(Prior code § 26.2-41; Added Coun. J. 5-16-90, p. 16204; Amend Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32667, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 6-23-04, p. 26931, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 3-9-05, p. 43514, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-25-12, p. 31123, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 2-13-13, p. 46730, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-29-15, p. 3567, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-8-17, p. 58447, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 7-24-19, p. 2394, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 4-27-22, p. 46382, § 9; Amend Coun. J. 7-20-22, p. 50671, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-13-23, p. 7721, § 1)