Ethics commission asks for $82,452 increase and temporary panel members to avoid stalled hearings

An unnamed executive director for the State Ethics Commission told the legislative committee the agency has updated its electronic filing portals and will extend similar improvements to lobbyist filings, and asked for an $82,452 increase to its "other funds" to support the work. The director said the portal updates are being completed at no added cost to citizens but that the agency needs modest additional operating funds to maintain the improvements.

The director also described a procedural problem that is preventing the commission from convening probable‑cause hearings in at least one pending complaint: multiple commissioners have recused themselves for conflicts of interest and the commission lacks a quorum of non‑recused members. To address that, the director asked the committee to approve a proviso allowing commissioners who have rolled off the panel but who were originally commissioned under Section 8‑13‑310 of the Ethics Act to be temporarily brought in to serve on probable‑cause panels when recusals would otherwise prevent a hearing.

Committee members did not press for additional details. The director said this is the first time staff can remember being unable to hold a probable‑cause hearing because of recusals, and that the change would be needed only in limited, multi‑recusal circumstances. The chair noted the request and recorded the proviso line number for committee consideration.

The committee did not take a vote during the presentation. Next steps are consideration of the proviso language and whether to include the increase in the committee's budget recommendation.