1     
SCHOOL BOARD ETHICS COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION

2     
REQUIREMENTS

3     
2023 GENERAL SESSION

4     
STATE OF UTAH

5     
Chief Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble

6     
House Sponsor: Candice B. Pierucci

7     

8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill addresses the process for an ethics complaint regarding a local school board
11     member.
12     Highlighted Provisions:
13          This bill:
14          ▸     clarifies the process for an ethics complaint regarding a local school board member;
15          ▸     prohibits a school district from establishing a local political subdivision ethics
16     commission;
17          ▸     requires that an ethics complaint against a local school board member be reviewed
18     by the Political Subdivisions Ethics Review Commission; and
19          ▸     makes technical changes.
20     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
21          None
22     Other Special Clauses:
23          None
24     Utah Code Sections Affected:
25     AMENDS:
26          63A-15-103, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 461
27     ENACTS:

28          53G-4-206, Utah Code Annotated 1953
29     

30     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
31          Section 1. Section 53G-4-206 is enacted to read:
32          53G-4-206. Ethics complaint -- Political Subdivisions Ethics Review Commission.
33          A person may file a complaint for an alleged violation of Title 67, Chapter 16, Utah
34     Public Officers, and Employees, Ethics Act, by a member of a local school board in accordance
35     with Title 63A, Chapter 15, Political Subdivisions Ethics Review Commission.
36          Section 2. Section 63A-15-103 is amended to read:
37          63A-15-103. Local ethics commission permitted -- Filing requirements.
38          (1) A political subdivision, other than a municipality described in Section 10-3-1311,
39     [or] a county described in Section 17-16a-11, or a school district may establish a local political
40     subdivision ethics commission within the political subdivision to review a complaint against a
41     political subdivision officer or employee subject to Title 67, Chapter 16, Utah Public Officers'
42     and Employees' Ethics Act.
43          (2) A political subdivision other than a school district may enter into an interlocal
44     agreement with another political subdivision, in accordance with Title 11, Chapter 13,
45     Interlocal Cooperation Act, to establish a local political subdivision ethics commission to
46     review a complaint against a political subdivision officer or employee subject to Title 67,
47     Chapter 16, Utah Public Officers' and Employees' Ethics Act.
48          (3) (a) A person filing a complaint for an ethics violation of Title 67, Chapter 16, Utah
49     Public Officers' and Employees' Ethics Act, shall file the complaint with:
50          (i) a local political subdivision ethics commission, if the political subdivision has
51     established a local political subdivision ethics commission under Subsection (1) or (2); or
52          (ii) the commission if the political subdivision has not established a local political
53     subdivision ethics commission or is a school district.
54          (b) A political subdivision that receives a complaint described in Subsection (3)(a)
55     may:
56          (i) accept the complaint if the political subdivision has established a local political
57     subdivision ethics commission in accordance with Subsection (1) or (2); or
58          (ii) forward the complaint to the commission:

59          (A) regardless of whether the political subdivision has established a local political
60     subdivision ethics commission; [or]
61          (B) if the political subdivision has not established a local political subdivision ethics
62     commission[.]; or
63          (C) if the complaint is regarding a member of a local school board as defined in
64     Section 53E-1-102.