Committee moves to adopt internal ethics rules, sets May 1 probable-cause hearings

The chair called the House Committee on Ethics to order and said the committee would consider adopting a rules-of-procedure document to guide how it handles ethics complaints.

A committee member moved the adoption of the "House Committee on Ethics Rules of Procedure," referred to in the record as the "J D DASH Ethics rules," and the motion was put to a voice vote. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally or a clearly stated final outcome for that motion.

The move to adopt formal procedures accompanies scheduling for probable-cause hearings: the chair announced a probable-cause hearing for Friday, May 1, and said the committee has prepared a scheduling order to inform parties what to expect. Committee packets included a document labeled "Probable Cause hearing schedule," the chair added.

The committee also set deadlines for evidence and witness disclosures. The chair said complainants and respondents must submit evidence and other relevant documents to committee administrators by 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29, and respondents must provide the names of any witnesses they plan to call by that same deadline. The chair said the chairs will have discretion to accept submissions filed after that date.

The chair told attendees that documents discussed at the meeting would be posted online after the hearing and clarified who may file complaints: "They have to be submitted by members of the body, not members of the public," the chair said, noting that the process is governed by a house rule transcribed in the record as "house rule, 6.1, 0." The chair added there is no opportunity for the public to submit documents or present at this stage of the process.

The meeting concluded after the procedural items and was adjourned. The probable-cause hearings are scheduled for May 1; interested parties should consult the committee's posted schedule for details and any further instructions from committee administrators.