February 3, 2016 5:17 PM

Confusion arises over new business conflict of interest forms

“We certainly expected to comply…But there were certain complexities and unintended consequences we found”

New conflict of interest forms that went into effect on Jan. 1 – and are intended to increase transparency in contracting – have launched with fits and starts around the state.

Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, passed one of two versions of the conflict of interest notification during the last session. Local government and state agencies can no longer enter contracts with businesses unless the form is filed. But the form has left some confusion, especially among the financial services industry.

“The idea was to provide more governmental transparency,” Capriglione told the Bond Buyer’s Texas Public Finance Conference. “People wanted to know who’s giving out those contracts and who’s profiting from those contracts?”

By Kimberly Reeves