If a dispute arises between any member of the general assembly, any member of the controlling board, or a member of the staff of the general assembly or controlling board and an employer or legislative agent with respect to an expenditure or financial transaction alleged in any statement to be filed under section 101.73 or 101.74 of the Revised Code, the member, employer, or legislative agent may file a complaint with the joint legislative ethics committee. The committee shall proceed to investigate the complaint as provided for other complaints in section 101.34 of the Revised Code.

The complaint shall be filed at least three days prior to the time the statement is required to be filed with the joint legislative ethics committee. The time for filing a disputed expenditure or financial transaction in any statement of expenditures or the details of a financial transaction shall be extended pending the final decision of the joint committee. This extension does not extend the time for filing the nondisputed portions of an expenditure statement or of the details of a financial transaction. The joint committee shall notify the parties of its final decision by certified mail. If the committee decides that the disputed expenditure or financial transaction should be reported, the employer or legislative agent shall include the matter in an amended statement and file the amended statement not later than ten days after the employer or agent receives notice of the decision of the committee by certified mail.

An employer or legislative agent who files a false statement of expenditures or details of a financial transaction is liable in a civil action to any public officer or employee who sustains damage as a result of the filing or publication of the statement.

Effective Date: 05-12-1994.