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09317C20A62824E3872586FF0054D4F9 Hearing Summary




PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For REVIEW OF COMMITTEE TIME LINE

OTHER COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON ETHICS COMMITTEES
Date 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.






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