NMLEGIS News:SANTA FE ― Saturday, Jan, 29, the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee unanimously passed a proposed constitutional amendment to establish an independent state ethics commission.
House Joint Resolution 5, sponsored by Rep. Jim Dines, would give New Mexico voters the option to approve this process to uphold ethical standards in state government.
“An independent ethics commission will help ensure that public officials are adhering to ethical standards,” Dines said. “This resolution provides a transparent process for reviewing allegations of misconduct.”
The independent ethics commission proposed by Dines would be made up of nine members – Republicans, Democrats and an Independent. All hearings and findings of this commission would be open to the public. The proposed commission would review complaints made against public officials, employees, government contractors and lobbyists. It would also have the authority to initiate inquiries and issue subpoenas. Importantly, it would be able to review rules governing ethical conduct and provide guidance to public officials through the issuance of advisory opinions.
The proposed commission would oversee the legislative and executive branches of state government. The judicial branch of state government has its own Judicial Standards Commission, and it is not included in the legislation.
Last session, Dines co-sponsored legislation that would have required legislators, cabinet secretaries and public regulation commissioners to go through a two year “cooling off” phase before they could become a paid lobbyist. The bill passed the House with bipartisan support, but it died in the Senate.