Joint Committee Committee on Ethics (01/22/2010)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON ETHICS

Date:	01/22/2010	ATTENDANCE

Time:	10:30 AM to 11:11 AM	Levy	X
		Riesberg	X
Place:	HCR 0111	Waller	X
		Gerou	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Todd	X
	Representative Todd

This Report was prepared by
	Lauren Sisneros
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
House Ethics Committee - Organizational Meeting		-

10:31 AM -- House Ethics Committee - Organizational Meeting

Representative Todd, Chair, provided an overview of the committee's task. She reviewed the agenda for today's organizational meeting (Attachment A). A copy of the complaint letter from Colorado Ethics Watch and the subsequent letter from the Speaker of the House creating this committee is attached (Attachment B).

10:31 AM

Sharon Eubanks, Deputy Director, Office of Legislative Legal Services (OLLS), and Jennifer Gilroy, Revisor of Statutes, OLLS, provided committee members with a no-contact letter to be signed by all committee members (Attachment C).


BILL:	Organizational Meeting
TIME:	10:33:17 AM
MOVED:	Gerou
MOTION:	Moved to accept the no contact-letter (Attachment C) and execute the document. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Waller
		VOTE
	Levy
	Riesberg
	Waller
	Gerou
	Todd


Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

10:33 AM

Ms. Eubanks reviewed House Rule 49 (Attachment D) and explained that the rule controls the preliminary investigation. She indicated that the committee's role is to determine if probable cause exists. She stated that a finding of probable cause will determine whether the proceedings go forward. Ms. Eubanks explained the time frame for the Committee on Ethics and stated that Representative King may submit a written answer to the committee within 10 days of the complaint (January 29, 2010). She added that the committee will decide what type of documents will be submitted to the committee as evidence. Ms. Eubanks continued to explain probable cause and answered questions from committee members.

10:39 AM

Representative Reisberg asked about paragraph (f) of House Rule 49 (Attachment D). Ms. Eubanks indicated that after a hearing is held, the committee may dismiss the complaint, or, if it finds that action should be taken against the member complained against, the committee will make recommendations to the House of Representatives. She added that paragraph (e) concerns the open meetings law and referred to a memorandum addressing open meeting and open records in ethics investigations (Attachment E). Ms. Eubanks directed the committee to a proposed time line for the committee's work (Attachment F).

10:44 AM

Ms. Eubanks responded to questions about the time line for the committee and indicated that the committee has a total of 30 days to complete the preliminary investigation. She added that Representative King's response to the allegations may result in additional requests for information. She suggested February 1 as the deadline for submission of documentation and stated that the committee then could meet after the February 1 deadline. Ms. Eubanks answered questions about document submission, and indicated that Representative King can submit any documentation he wants to and, in addition, the committee can formally request additional documentation.

10:50 AM

Ms. Eubanks explained the process for document submittal and stated that the OLLS will write letters requesting information and will distribute the letters for signatures. In addition, OLLS, in the past, has received all submitted documentation and then distributed copies for the committee.

10:52 AM

Ms. Eubanks referred to a list of individuals from whom the committee may want to request documentation (Attachment G). The list includes:

Representative King;
Betsy Holdredge, Chief Accountant, Legislative Council Staff;
Cindy Brown, Registered Agent, Friends of Steve King Candidate Committee; and

the treasurer of Friends of Steve King Candidate Committee (if not Cindy Brown).


BILL:	Organizational Meeting
TIME:	10:54:29 AM
MOVED:	Gerou
MOTION:	Moved to adopt the list of documentation requests (Attachment G), and added a request to Betsy Holdredge to provide a list of rules for allowable expenses for travel, and a history of expenditures in the past. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Todd
		VOTE
	Levy
	Riesberg
	Waller
	Gerou
	Todd


Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

10:56 AM

Ms. Eubanks referred to the statutory provisions for travel allowance (Attachment H).

10:59 AM

Jennifer Gilroy discussed the standards and findings for probable cause memorandum (Attachment I).

11:06 AM

The committee discussed the scheduling of the next meeting. The committee will meet on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 8:00 a.m., in House Committee Room 0111.

11:10 AM

The House Committee on Ethics adjourned.