09317C20A62824E3872586FF0054D4F9 Hearing Summary CLICS/CLICS2021A/commsumm.nsf PUBLICBILL SUMMARY For REVIEW OF COMMITTEE TIME LINEOTHER COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON ETHICS COMMITTEESDate Jun 25, 2021 Location SCR 352 Review of Committee Time Line - Committee Discussion Only 09:26:38 AM Ms. Berman continued by discussing the draft proposed timeline for the committee's work. She highlighted important deadlines for the committee, noting the committee has 30 days to complete a preliminary investigation. This date falls on Monday July 19. 09:29:25 AM Senator Gonzales asked for committee discussion on the proposed timeline. Committee members commented on the timeline. The committee discussed scheduling additional meetings, and Senator Gonzales asked if the committee members would like to request additional evidence. Ms. Berman clarified that evidence is requested by the committee, and the committee does not issue subpoenas for evidence. Senator Gonzales asked if committee members would like additional evidence, and she asked about reaching out to the State Court Administrator to determine how many requests the office receives from legislators. Senator Lundeen stated that he may have conclusive information on how to proceed without seeking additional information. Senator Cooke asked whether there was information in writing about the reasons why Senate leadership choose not to dismiss the complaint, and Ms. Berman and Mr. Lackner responded. Senator Lundeen asked if leadership had any additional information other than the complaint to make their decision, and Ms. Berman discussed the provisions of Senate Rule 43. 09:38:37 AM Senator Lundeen discussed the process of Senate leadership review of ethics complaints. Ms. Berman explained that leadership review of the complaint is essentially a screening device, noting that the role of leadership is not to determine whether there is merit to the complaint, but to determine whether a proper violation has been alleged. Senator Lundeen commented on the ethics complaint process outlined in Senate Rule 43. 09:45:57 AM Senator Gonzales returned to the issue of committee timeline and the evidence to be requested by the committee. She asked for information on how often the State Court Administrator receives communications from the legislature, and specifically from members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees to have as context for consideration of the complaint. She requested that the Ethics Committee receive this information by July 2. Senator Hansen asked for information on non-legislative requests of the State Court Administrator. Ms. Berman noted that OLLS would request the number of annual contacts, and ask the State Court Administrator to categorize them. Senator Lundeen noted that public interaction with the Judicial Branch could occur in a number of different ways. He asked for information on the number of efforts to contact the Judicial Branch through whatever means. 09:51:35 AM The committee requested that the information be provided by July 2. Senator Lundeen asked if it was necessary to have future meetings. Ms. Berman noted that the decision of the committee must be made at a public meeting. Senator Hansen shared his view that the committee should schedule another meeting, and Senator Gonzales concurred. Senator Gonzales noted that remote participation in Senate Ethics Committee was not permitted. The committee discussed scheduling a meeting for July 12 at 9 am. The deadline for providing additional evidence was moved to July 7. The committee discussed holding July 12 and 13 at 9 am for potential meeting dates and at 1 pm on on July 14. Senator Gonzales asked if Senator Winter was able to request additional information, and Ms. Berman replied that the committee, not individual members of the committee, must request the evidence.