H.3174 would remove references in the state code to the legislative ethics committees and their powers. The bill would also delete sections of law that exempt legislators from the oversight of the State Ethics Commission. Independent oversight is an absolutely critical component of any true ethics reform. The current system of legislative ethics committees has contributed to a situation in which enforcement of ethics laws seem largely dependent on the power and influence of the individual accused of wrongdoing. The bottom line is, no matter what the other ethics laws are, citizens can never be sure legislators are being held accountable if they are allowed to judge themselves.
(Related proposed constitutional amendment, H.3175)