Bill > SB124

This bill establishes the "State Ethics Commission Act" by creating a new State Ethics Commission composed of seven commissioners appointed by various legislative leaders and the governor, with the chief justice of the supreme court appointing the chair. The commission is an "adjunct agency," meaning it operates with independence from other state government entities. The Act defines key terms like "ethics violation," which encompasses breaches of several existing laws related to gifts, governmental conduct, procurement, lobbying, financial disclosure, and campaign reporting, and "public official" and "public employee." The commission's duties include receiving and investigating ethics violation complaints against public officials, employees, government contractors, and lobbyists; holding hearings; developing a proposed code of ethics; and submitting annual reports. It also has the power to initiate complaints, petition courts for subpoenas, issue advisory opinions, and provide ethics training. The bill outlines qualifications and limitations for commissioners, including restrictions on holding other public office or being a government contractor or lobbyist during their tenure, and establishes rules for recusal and disqualification. The Act also details procedures for filing complaints, conducting investigations, and holding hearings, with provisions for confidentiality of records and a penalty for unauthorized disclosure. Furthermore, it amends the Open Meetings Act to allow the State Ethics Commission to hold closed meetings for complaints and investigations, and it includes a temporary provision for a report on extending the commission's jurisdiction to local governments, along with an appropriation of $200,000 for its operations.