The bill introduced by Representatives LaLonde, Cina, Ode, and Sibilia proposes to exempt the House and Senate Ethics Panels from the requirement to consult with the Executive Director of the State Ethics Commission regarding any complaints referred to them by the Commission. It includes a repeal of a previous act and amends the procedure for accepting and referring complaints under 3 V.S.A. 1223. Notably, the bill changes the terminology from "handling" to "accepting and referring" complaints and introduces new provisions for the Executive Director's responsibilities, including the referral of complaints alleging violations of the Municipal Code of Ethics to the appropriate municipal ethics liaison.

Additionally, the bill establishes a requirement for entities receiving referred complaints to consult with the Commission about the application of the State Code of Ethics, with a written consultation to occur within 60 days of receiving the complaint. It also emphasizes the confidentiality of complaints and related documents, exempting them from public inspection under the Public Records Act, except as specified in another section. The act is set to take effect upon passage, with the amendments to 3 V.S.A. 1223 becoming effective on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3-1223), 3-1223