August 18, 2015, Introduced by Rep. Schor and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Ethics.
A bill to amend 1986 PA 268, entitled
"Legislative council act,"
(MCL 4.1101 to 4.1901) by adding section 801.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 801. (1) The legislative ethics committee is established
within the legislature and shall consist of the following members:
(a) Two members of the house of representatives appointed by
the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Two members of the house of representatives appointed by
the minority leader of the house of representatives.
(c) Two members of the senate appointed by the senate majority
leader.
(d) Two members of the senate appointed by the senate minority
leader.
(2) The legislative ethics committee may establish, by
majority vote, its rules and procedures.
(3) The legislative ethics committee shall do all of the
following:
(a) Receive complaints concerning alleged unethical conduct by
a member, officer, or employee of the legislature.
(b) Investigate the alleged unethical conduct.
(c) Make recommendations to each house of the legislature
regarding the alleged unethical conduct.
(d) Issue a report detailing any recommendations under
subdivision (c) and forward that report to each member of the
senate and house of representatives.
(e) Report to the appropriate federal or state authorities,
with the approval of the legislature, any substantial evidence of a
violation by a member, officer, or employee of the legislature of
any law applicable to the performance of that individual's duties
or the discharge of his or her responsibilities that may have been
disclosed in a committee investigation.
(4) In conducting an investigation under subsection (3), the
legislative ethics committee may do any of the following:
(a) Allow the house or senate business office to conduct the
investigation.
(b) Retain an outside entity to conduct the investigation.
(c) Refer the matter to the attorney general or a law
enforcement agency to investigate the alleged unethical conduct.
(5) The legislative ethics committee shall not adopt a
resolution, report, recommendation, or advisory opinion relating to
the official conduct of a member, officer, or employee of the
legislature, or investigate any conduct of a member, officer, or
employee of the legislature, unless approved by the affirmative
vote of not less than a majority of the members appointed to and
serving on the committee.