States of Disclosure
 
Document Warehouse

Center researchers cut through the red tape to bring you Personal Financial Disclosure reports filed by members of the executive, judicial and legislative branches in the 50 states. Choose a state to go directly to listings:

 
In Your State

Select a state to find details on Personal Financial Disclosures in each branch of government, including:

  • Governors, Judges and Legislators
  • Rules on Gifts, Trips and Honoraria
  • Sample and Actual Disclosure Reports

 
In Your State — Alaska

How easy is it to find information on the private interests of public officials? The Center researched state requirements on the filing of Personal Financial Disclosures by all three branches of state government — executive, legislative and judicial — to help the public hold officials accountable and determine the potential for conflicts of interest. Find out more about this state's requirements below.

States of Disclosure executive branch project logo
Governors
A Center examination of Personal Financial Disclosure requirements for the nation’s governors in all 50 states found governors in 46 states report financial ties. Below are links to findings from this state, or go to the nationwide overview.
Governor Disclosure Grade / Rank: B / 6
Are disclosures available electronically?: Yes
What does the disclosure form look like?
Public Offices Commission 
States of Disclosure judicial branch project logo
Judges
A survey of Personal Financial Disclosure requirements for Supreme Court judges in all 50 states discovered that judges in 47 states report financial ties. Below are links to findings from this state, or go to the nationwide overview.
How are Supreme Court judges selected?: Nominated by commission, appointed by governor, retention election
Are they required to file disclosures?: Yes
What does the disclosure form look like?
Court Initiatives Attorney, Alaska Statewide Court Administration
Public Offices Commission 
States of Disclosure legislative branch project logo
Legislators
A study of Personal Financial Disclosure requirements for the 7,400 state legislators in all 50 states found lawmakers in 47 states report financial ties. Below are links to findings from this state, or go to the nationwide overview.
Legislator Disclosure Grade / Rank: B / 4
Are disclosures available electronically?: No
What does the disclosure form look like?
Public Offices Commission 



Gifts, Trips and Honoraria Guidelines

States commonly prohibit lawmakers from accepting gifts in return for legislative action (or inaction). Many states also have put in place more specific bans preventing lobbyists or others with financial interests in government business from giving gifts, paying for travel or providing speaking fees. These laws, however, often provide for exceptions. The Center reviewed these guidelines in 2007 to provide a brief, informational overview of states' rules for gifts, trips and honoraria.

Gift policy: 
The governor can accept gifts from any source, pending the approval of the Alaska Public Offices Commission. Ethics law in Alaska charges public officials with avoiding the appearance of a conflict of interest, and ethics officers evaluate gifts on a case-by-case basis to ensure they meet this criterion.
Does the governor report gifts? Yes
The governor reports gifts that exceed $250. This reporting requirement also covers a series of gifts whose cumulative value reaches $250.
What are the exceptions? 
The definition of gift does not include: political contributions, normal loans, inheritances, or gifts from relatives.
Do lobbyists report gifts? Yes
Lobbyists itemize a gift exceeding $100 or a series of cash gifts that reach $100. Other gift expenditures are grouped under the following categories: food and beverages, living accommodations and travel.
Can travel expenses be paid by non-state entities? Yes
Trips are subject to the same rules as other gifts.
Are honoraria different than other gifts? Yes
The governor cannot accept honoraria. Such payments would be considered either additional compensation for official duties or outside employment, both of which are prohibited.
Do the same rules apply to other state employees? Yes
Each agency has an ethics officer who approves gifts.
Do the same rules apply to legislators? No
Legislators cannot accept gifts from lobbyists during the legislative session (with the exception of food and beverage for immediate consumption and tickets to pre-approved charity events). In general, legislators cannot accept gifts totaling more than $250 a year from one source. There is a long series of exceptions to this rule, however, which range from trips for educational purposes to gifts of food indigenous to Alaska that are shared as a cultural norm. If a gift worth more than $250 falls within the excepted categories, a legislator must notify the Alaska Select Committee on Legislative Ethics within 30 days. A legislator cannot accept honoraria, but can accept related travel or hospitality which fall into the exceptions to the gift rule and must be reported accordingly. These rules also apply to legislative employees.
This summary is provided for informational purposes. For more details contact the appropriate state agency for official rules: Alaska Public Offices Commission, Alaska Select Committee on Legislative Ethics. (http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/ADMIN/apoc/index.htm)