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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Lobbyists would be prohibited from giving gifts to lawmakers worth more than $10 under a bill the Utah House has approved.
The measure is part of a series of ethics bills that sailed through the House on Wednesday.
Lawmakers are trying to restore faith in the public that legislators can police themselves and that there's no need for voters to support a citizens ethics initiative that would create a code of conduct for state lawmakers.
To help address that issue, the package includes a constitutional amendment to create an independent ethics commission.
The bills also call for executive office holders and candidates to file financial disclosure and conflict of interest forms at least once a year for posting online.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
