House Bill No. 160 aims to enhance the procedures and protections surrounding ethics complaints within the jurisdiction of the Board of Ethics in Louisiana. The bill amends existing law to allow the Board to consider non-sworn complaints, provided they are submitted in writing and in person, and require complainants to present valid identification. It also establishes that sworn complaints must be notarized and include an oath attesting to their truthfulness. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Board send a copy of the complaint and the vote regarding its investigation to both the accused and the complainant, without redacting the complainant's name.

Furthermore, the bill introduces provisions to prohibit retaliation against individuals who file complaints, allowing them to pursue civil action if they experience retaliatory actions. It defines "retaliatory action" and outlines the penalties for making false complaints, including the assessment of attorney fees against those found to have knowingly filed false complaints. Overall, the bill seeks to strengthen the integrity of the ethics complaint process by ensuring accountability and protecting complainants from intimidation or retaliation.

Statutes affected:
HB160 Original: 42:1141(B)(1)
HB160 Engrossed: 42:1141(B)(1)
HB160 Reengrossed: 42:1141(B)(1)