Conference committee on Senate Bill 2004 debates changes to complaint process, plus staffing and IT funding

The conference committee on Senate Bill 2004 spent much of its meeting debating language that would let the Ethics Commission negotiate informal resolutions directly with respondents rather than attempting to negotiate between complainants and respondents, and discussing related budget and staffing items.

Chairman Nader opened the session and asked the group to take up the amendment language and other items. Representative Lausser raised procedural questions about replacing a clause that currently "shall attempt to negotiate or mediate between the 2 parties" with language stating the commission "may negotiate an informal resolution with the accused." He asked staff to explain how that change would affect cases where complainants want to participate.

Rebecca Binstock, Director of the Ethics Commission, told the committee the proposed change would standardize and speed the resolution process. "It creates a standardization," Binstock said, adding that the commission could adopt settlement guidelines — for example, a private reprimand for a first offense or training requirements — and use informal resolutions as an educational tool rather than as primarily punitive measures.

Binstock also said the change could shorten investigations by allowing the commission to resolve cases after…