Mass. task force issues report on ethics reform

BOSTON – Gov. Deval L. Patrick’s Task Force on Public Integrity last week issued a report outlining several recommendations to strengthen the state’s ethics and lobbying laws, including expanded investigative and enforcement authority and tougher penalties for violations.
The task force recommended increasing the maximum punishment for bribery to $100,000 and 10 years in prison – a steep hike from the current penalty of $5,000 and three years.
The task force also recommended increasing the penalties for violations of conflict of interest involving gifts and gratuities, revolving-door violations and other abuses to $10,000 and imprisonment for five years. Currently, penalties are up to $3,000 and two years in prison.
The task force also recommended expanding law enforcement’s authority to record conversations in public-corruption investigations. Under current state law, only organized crime cases are subject to such investigative techniques. &#8226