§ 63A-15-202 — Meetings -- Staff -- Legal counsel -- Additional appropriations.

(1) The commission shall meet for the purpose of reviewing an ethics complaint when:

(1)(a) except otherwise expressly provided in this chapter, called to meet at the discretion of the chair; or
(1)(b) a majority of members agree to meet.
(2) A majority of the commission is a quorum.
(3) (3)(a) The commission shall prepare, on an annual basis, a summary data report that contains:
(3)(a)(i) a general description of the activities of the commission during the past year;
(3)(a)(ii) the number of ethics complaints filed with the commission;
(3)(a)(iii) the number of ethics complaints dismissed in accordance with Section 63A-15-602;
(3)(a)(iv) the number of ethics complaints reviewed by the commission in accordance with Section 63A-15-701;
(3)(a)(v) an executive summary of each complaint review in accordance with Section 63A-15-701; and
(3)(a)(vi) an accounting of the commission's budget and expenditures.
(3)(b) The commission shall submit the summary data report to the governor on an annual basis.
(3)(c) The summary data report shall be a public record.
(4) (4)(a) The commission shall employ staff at a level that is reasonable to assist the commission in performing its duties as established in this chapter.
(4)(b) Staff for the commission may not perform services for a political subdivision.
(4)(c) A person employed as staff for the commission may be the same person employed as staff for the Independent Legislative Ethics Commission, if the staff ensures that proper protections are in place to preserve the confidentiality to both bodies and to avoid a conflict of interest.
(5) A meeting held by the commission is subject to Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public Meetings Act, unless otherwise provided.
(6) The commission:

(6)(a) is an independent entity established within the department for budgetary and general administrative purposes only;
(6)(b) is not under the direction or control of the department, the executive director, or any other officer or employee of the department;
(6)(c) shall employ a director to provide administrative support to the commission and to assist the commission in fulfilling the commission's duties;
(6)(d) may employ additional staff, to work under the direction of the director;
(6)(e) shall contract with private legal counsel to provide legal services to the commission, as needed; and
(6)(f) may, in consultation with the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst, request supplemental appropriations to pay the costs of legal fees and other staffing needs that exceed the commission's budget due to the number or complexity of the ethics complaints filed with or considered by the commission in a fiscal year.

Legislative History

Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 461, 2018 General Session