LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Political watchdog groups are asking Nebraska lawmakers to pass a new campaign disclosure law that would make it harder for candidates to hide spending violations.

The bill presented to a legislative committee Thursday would require candidates and office-holders to submit end-of-year balance reports from their banks to the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. Current law allows them to self-report, so it’s harder to detect mistakes or fraud.

Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue says she introduced the bill to protect the system.

Jack Gould of Common Cause Nebraska says the law would have helped catch former state Sen. Brenda Council of Omaha earlier, before she misspent $63,000 in campaign money at casinos.

Some committee members questioned the wisdom of creating a law based on isolated violations.