Sec. 4. (a) The commission may do any of the following:

(1) Upon a vote of four (4) members, refer any matter within the inspector general's authority to the inspector general for investigation.

(2) Receive and hear any complaint filed with the commission by the inspector general that alleges a violation of:

(A) this chapter;

(B) a rule adopted under this chapter;

(C) IC 4-2-7;

(D) a rule adopted under IC 4-2-7;

(E) IC 4-2-8; or

(F) a rule adopted under IC 4-2-8.

(3) Obtain information and, upon a vote of four (4) members, compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of pertinent books and papers by a subpoena enforceable by the circuit or superior court of the county where the subpoena is to be issued.

(4) Recommend legislation to the general assembly relating to the conduct and ethics of state officers, employees, special state appointees, and persons who have business relationships with agencies.

(5) Adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to implement this chapter.

(6) Accept and file information:

(A) voluntarily supplied; and

(B) that exceeds the requirements of this chapter.

(7) Conduct research.

(b) The commission shall do the following:

(1) Act as an advisory body by issuing advisory opinions to interpret this chapter, IC 4-2-7, or the rules adopted under this chapter or IC 4-2-7, upon:

(A) request of:

(i) a state officer or a former state officer;

(ii) an employee or a former employee;

(iii) a person who has or had a business relationship with an agency;

(iv) a special state appointee or former special state appointee; or

(v) the inspector general; or

(B) motion of the commission.

(2) Conduct its proceedings in the following manner:

(A) When a complaint is filed with the commission, the commission may:

(i) reject, without further proceedings, a complaint that the commission considers frivolous or inconsequential;

(ii) reject, without further proceedings, a complaint that the commission is satisfied has been dealt with appropriately by an agency;

(iii) upon the vote of four (4) members, determine that the complaint does not allege facts sufficient to constitute a violation of this chapter or the code of ethics and dismiss the complaint; or

(iv) forward a copy of the complaint to the attorney general, the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the alleged violation occurred, the state board of accounts, a state officer, the appointing authority, or other appropriate person for action, and stay the commission's proceedings pending the other action.

(B) If a complaint is not disposed of under clause (A), a copy of the complaint shall be sent to the person alleged to have committed the violation.

(C) If the complaint is not disposed of under clause (A), the commission may promptly refer the alleged violation for additional investigation by the inspector general. If the commission finds by a majority vote that probable cause exists to support an alleged violation, it shall set a public hearing on the matter. The respondent shall be notified within fifteen (15) days of the commission's determination. Except as provided in this section, the commission's evidence relating to an investigation is confidential.

(D) A complaint filed with the commission is open for public inspection after the commission finds that probable cause exists. However, a complaint filed by the inspector general that contains confidential information under IC 4-2-7-8 may be redacted to exclude the confidential information. Every hearing and other proceeding in which evidence is received by the commission is open to the public. Investigative reports by the inspector general that are not filed with the commission may be kept confidential.

(E) A:

(i) complaint that is filed with; or

(ii) proceeding that is held by;

the commission before the commission has found probable cause is confidential unless the target of the investigation elects to have information disclosed, or the commission elects to respond to public statements by the person who filed the complaint.

(F) The commission may acknowledge:

(i) the existence and scope of an investigation before the finding of probable cause; or

(ii) that the commission did not find probable cause to support an alleged violation.

(G) If a hearing is to be held, the respondent may examine and make copies of all evidence in the commission's possession relating to the charges. At the hearing, the charged party shall be afforded appropriate due process protection consistent with IC 4-21.5, including the right to be represented by counsel, the right to call and examine witnesses, the right to introduce exhibits, and the right to cross-examine opposing witnesses.

(H) After the hearing, the commission shall state its findings of fact. If the commission, based on a preponderance of the evidence, finds by a majority vote that the respondent has violated this chapter, IC 4-2-7, IC 4-2-8, or a rule adopted under this chapter, IC 4-2-7, or IC 4-2-8, it shall state its findings in writing in a report, which shall be supported and signed by a majority of the commission members and shall be made public.

(I) If the commission, based on a preponderance of the evidence, finds by a majority vote a violation of this chapter, IC 4-2-7, IC 4-2-8, or a rule adopted under this chapter, IC 4-2-7, or IC 4-2-8, the commission may also take any of the actions provided in section 12 of this chapter.

(J) The report required under clause (H) shall be presented to:

(i) the respondent;

(ii) the appointing authority or state officer of the employee, former employee, or special state appointee;

(iii) the appointing authority or state officer of an agency or office that has a business relationship with the person sanctioned; and

(iv) the governor.

(K) The commission may also forward the report to any of the following:

(i) The prosecuting attorney of each county in which the violation occurred.

(ii) The state board of accounts.

(iii) The state personnel director.

(iv) The attorney general.

(v) A state officer.

(vi) The appointing authority of the state employee or agency that has a business relationship with the person sanctioned.

(vii) Any other appropriate person.

(L) If the commission finds the respondent has not violated a code or statutory provision or a rule adopted under this chapter, IC 4-2-7, or IC 4-2-8, it shall dismiss the charges.

(3) Review all conflict of interest disclosures received by the commission under IC 35-44.1-1-4, maintain an index of those disclosures, and issue advisory opinions and screening procedures as set forth in section 9 of this chapter.

(c) Notwithstanding IC 5-14-3-4(b)(8)(C), the records of the commission concerning the case of a respondent that are not confidential under IC 5-14-3-4(b)(2)(C) shall be available for inspection and copying in accordance with IC 5-14-3.

Formerly: Acts 1974, P.L.4, SEC.2. As amended by P.L.12-1983, SEC.4; P.L.13-1987, SEC.7; P.L.5-1988, SEC.19; P.L.9-1990, SEC.4; P.L.15-1992, SEC.3; P.L.44-2001, SEC.2; P.L.222-2005, SEC.4; P.L.89-2006, SEC.3; P.L.126-2012, SEC.1.