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Committee approves new ethics-complaint rule that defines 'legislative misconduct' and sets confidentiality, review steps
Summary
The Joint Rules Committee adopted language to create or amend Joint Rule 22-1, establishing a written, signed complaint requirement, a definition of 'legislative misconduct,' a probable-cause subcommittee review, and confidentiality rules with public disclosure at dismissal or referral.
The Joint Rules Committee adopted a rewritten Joint Rule 22-1 that establishes a formal ethics-complaint procedure for the House and creates an identical rule for the Senate, which previously had no corresponding rule.
Matt Obrecht, director of the Legislative Service Office, told the committee the draft reflects work by a Management Council subcommittee and an effort to balance due process for members with public access and fairness. "The ethic complaint procedure under this rule shall be reserved for substantiated allegations of legislative misconduct," Obrecht said as he described new legislative findings and definitions drawn in part from Mason's Manual (section 797).
Key features of the adopted language include:
- A requirement that complaints be written, signed and based on unique personal knowledge. "It has to now be based on unique personal knowledge," Obrecht said, explaining that the change aims to reduce burdens on staff and…
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