Senate panel lays over bill to expand Independent Ethics Commission to school and special districts

House Bill 1079, which would add school boards and certain special districts to the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission's (IEC) jurisdiction, was laid over by the Senate Appropriations Committee until May 10 after sponsors and committee members raised constitutional and procedural concerns.

Sponsor Senator Weissman told the panel the bill would "propose[] a modest expansion of the jurisdiction of the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission," noting the IEC was created under Amendment 41, approved by voters in 2006. He said the bill would allow the IEC to receive complaints about some additional local public officials but would not otherwise change procedures.

Weissman argued the expansion would provide a neutral forum to resolve public allegations that otherwise could spread on social media and "haunt people" who may be in the right. He also cited the bill's fiscal note, saying it anticipates "1 more FTE to review what would come in, should the bill become law," and that he did not expect "a flood" of frivolous complaints.

Senator Kirkmeyer urged caution, saying he did "not think it's appropriate or even plausible to expand the independent ethics commission's jurisdiction to include school districts and special districts," and raised a constitutional reading of the IEC's existing definitions that he said limit who may be subject to IEC complaints.

Weissman said he had consulted the Office of Legislative Legal Services on the bill's compatibility with constitutional definitions and asked the committee to lay the bill over. The committee agreed and the bill was laid over until May 10.

The committee did not take a final vote on the bill. Further review and discussion were requested by committee members before any committee action.