State Senate adopts conduct code for staff

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Senate leaders adopted an official code of conduct for staff members on Thursday, which they touted as a first in Missouri history.

The staff conduct code comes after some senators expressed concerns about whether Senate researchers should be sharing information with lawmakers about bills they are drafting for others.

The code includes a section on confidentiality stating that research staff shall not reveal information about their work to others without the consent of the senator for whom the work was performed.

Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, said the conduct code is part of an effort to make Senate operations more efficient and more responsive to the public.