Bill raises amount of top ethics fine

The Arkansas Senate approved on Monday a measure to increase the maximum fine the Arkansas Ethics Commission can impose for ethics violations.

Under Senate Bill 249 by Senate President Pro Tempore Jim Hendren, R-Sulphur Springs, the maximum ethics fine would be increased to $3,500 from the current $2,000 cap.

The bill is part of series of ethics measures being proposed by Senate leaders after a series of federal corruption charges and convictions against former legislators.