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 receive a two-thirds majority vote. It establishes specific requirements for filing both sworn and non-sworn complaints, including the necessity for non-sworn complaints to be filed in person and for sworn complaints to be notarized. Additionally, the bill mandates that the name of the complainant be disclosed to the accused, reversing the previous requirement for redaction.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a prohibition against retaliation against complainants, defining "retaliatory action" and allowing individuals who experience such actions to file civil suits for damages. It also stipulates penalties for individuals who knowingly file false complaints, including the assessment of attorney fees. Overall, the legislation seeks to strengthen the integrity of the ethics complaint process by ensuring accountability and protecting those who come forward with complaints.

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