(a) There is hereby created the Kansas commission on governmental standards and conduct.

(b) On July 1, 1998, the Kansas commission on governmental standards and conduct is hereby redesignated as the governmental ethics commission. On and after July 1, 1998, whenever the Kansas commission on governmental standards and conduct, or words of like effect, is referred to or designated by a statute, contract or other document, such reference or designation shall be deemed to apply to the governmental ethics commission. Nothing in this act shall be construed as abolishing and reestablishing the Kansas commission on governmental standards and conduct. The commission shall consist of nine members of whom two shall be appointed by the governor, one by the president of the senate, one by the speaker of the house of representatives, one by the minority leader of the house of representatives, one by the minority leader of the senate, one by the chief justice of the supreme court, one by the attorney general and one by the secretary of state. Nothing in this act shall be construed as affecting the terms of members serving on July 1, 1998. Not more than five members of the commission shall be members of the same political party and the two members appointed by the governor shall not be members of the same political party.

(c) The terms of all subsequently appointed members shall be two years commencing on February 1 of the appropriate years. Vacancies occurring on the commission shall be filled for the unexpired term by the same appointing officer as made the original appointment. Members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. The governor shall designate one of the members appointed by the governor to be the chairperson of the commission. A majority vote of five members of the commission shall be required for any action of the commission. The commission may adopt rules to govern its proceedings and may provide for such officers other than the chairperson as it may determine. The commission shall meet at least once each quarter, and also shall meet on call of its chairperson or any four members of the commission. Members of the commission attending meetings of such commission, or attending a subcommittee meeting thereof authorized by such commission, shall be paid compensation, subsistence allowances, mileage and other expenses as provided in subsections (a) to (d), inclusive, of Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-3223, and amendments thereto. The commission shall appoint an executive director who shall be in the unclassified service and receive compensation fixed by the commission, in accordance with appropriation acts of the legislature, subject to approval by the governor. The commission may employ such other staff and attorneys as it determines, within amounts appropriated to the commission, all of whom shall be in the unclassified service and shall receive compensation fixed by the commission and not subject to approval by the governor.

(d) The commission may adopt rules and regulations for the administration of the campaign finance act. Subject to Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25-4178, and amendments thereto, rules and regulations adopted by the commission created prior to this act shall continue in force and effect and shall be deemed to be the rules and regulations of the commission created by this section of this enactment, until revised, amended, repealed or nullified pursuant to law. All rules and regulations of the commission shall be subject to the provisions of article 4 of chapter 77 of Kansas Statutes Annotated. The commission shall continue to administer all of the acts administered by the commission to which it is successor.

(e) The commission may provide copies of opinions, informational materials compiled and published by the commission and public records filed in the office of the commission to persons requesting the same and may adopt rules and regulations fixing reasonable fees therefor. All fees collected by the commission under the provisions of this subsection shall be remitted to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-4215, and amendments thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall deposit the entire amount in the state treasury to the credit of the governmental ethics commission fee fund.

(f) The commission shall submit an annual report and recommendations in relation to all acts administered by the commission to the governor and to the legislative coordinating council on or before December 1 of each year. The legislative coordinating council shall transmit such report and recommendations to the legislature.

(g) Whenever the Kansas commission on governmental standards and conduct, or words of like effect, is referred to or designated by a statute, contract or other document, such reference or designation shall be deemed to apply to the governmental ethics commission.