Ohio § 101.34

§ 101.34.

(A) There is hereby created a joint legislative ethics committee to serve the general

assembly.  The committee shall be composed of twelve members, six each from the two major political

parties, and each member shall serve on the committee during the member's term as

a member of that general assembly.  Six members of the committee shall be members of the house of representatives appointed

by the speaker of the house of representatives, not more than three from the same

political party, and six members of the committee shall be members of the senate appointed

by the president of the senate, not more than three from the same political party.  A vacancy in the committee shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner

as an original appointment.  The members of the committee shall be appointed within forty-five days after the

first day of the first regular session of each general assembly and the committee

shall meet and proceed to recommend an ethics code not later than sixty days after

the first day of the first regular session of each general assembly. In the first regular session of each general assembly, the speaker of the house of

representatives shall appoint the chairperson of the committee from among the house

members of the committee, and the president of the senate shall appoint the vice-chairperson

of the committee from among the senate members of the committee.  In the second regular session of each general assembly, the president of the senate

shall appoint the chairperson of the committee from among the senate members of the

committee, and the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the vice-chairperson

of the committee from among the house members of the committee.  The chairperson, vice-chairperson, and members of the committee shall serve until

their respective successors are appointed or until they are no longer members of the

general assembly. The committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson or upon the written request

of seven members of the committee. (B) The joint legislative ethics committee: (1) Shall recommend a code of ethics that is consistent with law to govern all members

and employees of each house of the general assembly and all candidates for the office

of member of each house; (2) May receive and hear any complaint that alleges a breach of any privilege of either

house, or misconduct of any member, employee, or candidate, or any violation of the

appropriate code of ethics; (3) May obtain information with respect to any complaint filed pursuant to this section

and to that end may enforce the attendance and testimony of witnesses, and the production

of books and papers; (4) May recommend whatever sanction is appropriate with respect to a particular member,

employee, or candidate as will best maintain in the minds of the public a good opinion

of the conduct and character of members and employees of the general assembly; (5) May recommend legislation to the general assembly relating to the conduct and ethics

of members and employees of and candidates for the general assembly; (6) Shall employ an executive director for the committee and may employ other staff as

the committee determines necessary to assist it in exercising its powers and duties.  The executive director and staff of the committee shall be known as the office of

legislative inspector general.  At least one member of the staff of the committee shall be an attorney at law licensed

to practice law in this state.  The appointment and removal of the executive director shall require the approval

of at least eight members of the committee. (7) May employ a special counsel to assist the committee in exercising its powers and

duties.  The appointment and removal of a special counsel shall require the approval of at

least eight members of the committee. (8) Shall act as an advisory body to the general assembly and to individual members,

candidates, and employees on questions relating to ethics, possible conflicts of interest,

and financial disclosure; (9) Shall provide for the proper forms on which a statement required pursuant to section 102.02 or 102.021 of the Revised Code shall be filed and instructions as to the filing of the statement; (10) May exercise the powers and duties prescribed under sections 101.70 to 101.79, sections

101.90 to 101.98, Chapter 102., and sections 121.60 to 121.69 of the Revised Code ; (11) May adopt, in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code , any rules that are necessary to implement and clarify Chapter 102. and sections 2921.42 and 2921.43 of the Revised Code . (C) There is hereby created in the state treasury the joint legislative ethics committee

fund.  All money collected from registration fees and late filing fees prescribed under sections 101.72 , 101.92 , and 121.62 of the Revised Code shall be deposited into the state treasury to the credit of the fund.  Money credited to the fund and any interest and earnings from the fund shall be

used solely for the operation of the joint legislative ethics committee and the office

of legislative inspector general and for the purchase of data storage and computerization

facilities for the statements filed with the committee under sections 101.73 , 101.74 , 101.93 , 101.94 , 121.63 , and 121.64 of the Revised Code . (D) The chairperson of the joint legislative ethics committee shall issue a written report,

not later than the thirty-first day of January of each year, to the speaker and minority

leader of the house of representatives and to the president and minority leader of

the senate that lists the number of committee meetings and investigations the committee

conducted during the immediately preceding calendar year and the number of advisory

opinions it issued during the immediately preceding calendar year. (E) Any investigative report that contains facts and findings regarding a complaint filed

with the joint legislative ethics committee and that is prepared by the staff of the

committee or a special counsel to the committee shall become a public record upon

its acceptance by a vote of the majority of the members of the committee, except for

any names of specific individuals and entities contained in the report.  If the committee recommends disciplinary action or reports its findings to the appropriate

prosecuting authority for proceedings in prosecution of the violations alleged in

the complaint, the investigatory report regarding the complaint shall become a public

record in its entirety. (F)(1) Any file obtained by or in the possession of the former house ethics committee or

former senate ethics committee shall become the property of the joint legislative

ethics committee.  Any such file is confidential if either of the following applies: (a) It is confidential under section 102.06 of the Revised Code or the legislative code of ethics. (b) If the file was obtained from the former house ethics committee or from the former

senate ethics committee, it was confidential under any statute or any provision of

a code of ethics that governed the file. (2) As used in this division, “ file ” includes, but is not limited to, evidence, documentation, or any other tangible

thing. (G) There is hereby created in the state treasury the joint legislative ethics committee

investigative and financial disclosure fund.  Investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund.  All moneys credited to the fund shall be used solely for expenses related to the

investigative and financial disclosure functions of the committee.