A. The commission shall not accept or consider a complaint unless the complaint is filed with the commission within the later of two years from the date:

(1) on which the alleged conduct occurred; or

(2) the alleged conduct could reasonably have been discovered.

B. The commission shall not adjudicate a complaint filed against a candidate, except pursuant to the Campaign Reporting Act [1-19-25 to 1-19-36 NMSA 1978] or Voter Action Act [1-19A-1 to 1-19A-17 NMSA 1978], less than sixty days before a primary or general election. During that time period, the commission may dismiss complaints that are frivolous or unsubstantiated or refer complaints that are outside the jurisdiction of the commission.

C. A complainant shall be notified in writing of the provisions of this section and shall also be notified in writing that the complainant may refer allegations of criminal conduct to the attorney general or the appropriate district attorney.

D. When commission action on a complaint is suspended pursuant to the provisions of this section, the respondent shall promptly be notified that a complaint has been filed and of the specific allegations in the complaint and the specific violations charged in the complaint.

History: Laws 2019, ch. 86, § 15.

Effective dates. — Laws 2019, ch. 86, § 41 made Laws 2019, ch. 86, § 15 effective January 1, 2020.

Applicability. — Laws 2019, ch. 86, § 40 provided that the provisions of the State Ethics Commission Act apply only to conduct occurring on or after July 1, 2019.