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Meeting roundup: committee dismisses two complaints, approves SOP changes and administrative reports
Summary
At its Feb. 18 meeting, the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards approved minutes and financial-disclosure forms, dismissed two ethics complaints (Headley and Livesay), noted a withdrawn grant application tied to Assemblywoman Sumter, and adopted amendments to its Standard Operating Procedures.
The Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards completed several administrative and adjudicative actions at its Feb. 18 meeting, including approval of minutes; dismissal of two ethics complaints; confirmation of staff reports on a bid request and financial-disclosure forms; and adoption of amendments to the committee’s Standard Operating Procedures.
On approval of minutes from the Sept. 17, 2024 meeting, the committee recorded a single abstention from Assemblywoman Quigley (she said she was not present at that earlier meeting); all other members present voted yes and the motion carried.
The committee dismissed a complaint filed by Stephen Headley, received Nov. 25, 2024, alleging former Senator Diane Allen improperly intervened in a 2013 sentencing. Counsel reported the alleged conduct occurred more than two years prior to filing, the respondent is a former legislator, and the complaint was untimely; counsel recommended dismissal for lack of jurisdiction and untimeliness. The committee voted to dismiss.
The committee also dismissed the complaint from Christine Livesay concerning the Freedom to Read Act; counsel recommended dismissal for lack of jurisdiction for the bulk of the claims and dismissal for lack of probable cause on the narrow misuse-of-funds and quid-pro-quo allegations. The committee voted to dismiss that complaint as well.
Staff reports: Counsel reported a request to bid from Assemblywoman Sumter (received Oct. 29, 2024) seeking authorization for Children’s Aid and Family Services to apply for a Department of Children and Families grant for a family-support services program; staff approved the solicitation on Nov. 1, 2024 but later informed the committee the state agency withdrew the program and no award was made. The committee also reviewed and approved the financial-disclosure forms used for calendar year 2024 filings; no form changes were recommended.
The committee adopted SOP amendments that add a tangible-evidence standard for jurisdictional questions, create a summary-dismissal pathway (with chair and vice-chair consent and notice to members), and require a committee vote before counsel proceeds to preliminary inquiry and requests a response from a legislator. Members discussed logistics of notice to accused legislators in summary-dismissal cases and asked counsel to work with the chair on protocols.
Votes at a glance: - Approve minutes (Sept. 17, 2024): motion carried; Billick yes, Mayo yes, Mitsner yes, Quigley abstain, Salerno yes, Scrivo yes, Weisberg yes; Toscano absent. - Dismiss Headley complaint (agenda item 2): motion carried; Billick yes, Mayo yes, Mitsner yes, Quigley yes, Salerno yes, Scrivo yes, Weisberg yes; Toscano absent. - Dismiss Livesay complaint (agenda item 3): motion carried; Billick yes, Mayo yes, Mitsner yes, Quigley yes, Salerno yes, Scrivo yes, Weisberg yes; Toscano absent. - Approve staff report re: Assemblywoman Sumter bid request (item 4): noted approval December 2024 and later withdrawal by agency; motion to accept report carried. - Approve financial-disclosure forms for calendar year 2024 (item 5): motion carried; unanimous of members present with Toscano absent. - Approve SOP amendments (item 6): motion carried; Billick yes, Mayo yes, Mitsner yes, Quigley yes, Salerno yes, Scrivo yes, Weisberg yes; Toscano absent.
The meeting concluded with the chairman announcing his resignation from the committee due to accepting a conflicting position; members moved to adjourn.
