A. Upon receipt of the general counsel's recommendation, the commission or hearing officer shall:
(1) dismiss a complaint and notify the complainant and the respondent of the dismissal; or
(2) set a public hearing, as soon as practicable.
B. At any time before or during a hearing provided for in Subsection A of this section, the hearing officer may, at a public meeting, approve a disposition of a complaint agreed to by the general counsel and the respondent, as approved by the commission.
C. The hearing provided for in Subsection A of this section shall be pursuant to the rules of evidence that govern proceedings in the state's courts and procedures established by the commission. An audio recording shall be made of the hearing. The respondent may be represented by counsel. The parties may present evidence and testimony, request the director to compel the presence of witnesses and examine and cross-examine witnesses.
D. The hearing officer shall issue a written decision that shall include the reasons for the decision. If the hearing officer finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the respondent's conduct constituted a violation, the decision may include recommendations for disciplinary action against the respondent, and the hearing officer may impose any fines provided for by law. A finding of fraudulent or willful misconduct shall require clear and convincing evidence.
E. The complainant or respondent may appeal a decision of the hearing officer within thirty days of the decision to the full commission, which shall hear the matter within sixty days of notice of the appeal and issue its decision within 180 days.
F. The commission shall publicly disclose a decision, including a dismissal following a finding of probable cause or the terms of a settlement, issued pursuant to this section. The commission shall provide the decision to the complainant, the respondent and the:
(1) house of representatives if the respondent is a public official who is subject to impeachment;
(2) appropriate legislative body if the respondent is a member of the legislature;
(3) respondent's appointing authority if the respondent is an appointed public official;
(4) appropriate public agency if the respondent is a public employee;
(5) public agency with which the respondent has a government contract if the respondent is a government contractor; and
(6) secretary of state and the respondent's employer, if any, if the respondent is a lobbyist.
G. The commission shall produce a quarterly report subject to public inspection containing the following information:
(1) the number of complaints filed with and referred to the commission;
(2) the disposition of the complaints; and
(3) the type of violation alleged in the complaints.
History: Laws 2019, ch. 86, § 12.
ANNOTATIONSEffective dates. — Laws 2019, ch. 86, § 41 made Laws 2019, ch. 86, § 12 effective January 1, 2020.
Applicability. — Laws 2019, ch. 86, § 40 provided that the provisions of the State Ethics Commission Act apply only to conduct occurring on or after July 1, 2019.