The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 3 : Executive

Chapter 031 : Governmental Ethics

Subchapter 003 : STATE ETHICS COMMISSION

• § 1221. State Ethics Commission

  [Subsection (a) effective until September 1, 2025; see also subsection (a) effective September 1, 2025 set out below.]

  (a) Creation. There is created within the Executive Branch an independent commission named the State Ethics Commission to accept, review, make referrals regarding, and track complaints of alleged violations of governmental conduct regulated by law, of the Department of Human Resources Personnel Policy and Procedure Manual, and of the State’s campaign finance law set forth in 17 V.S.A. chapter 61; to provide ethics training; and to issue guidance and advisory opinions regarding ethical conduct.

  [Subsection (a) effective September 1, 2025; see also subsection (a) effective until September 1, 2025 set out above.]

  (a) Creation. There is created within the Executive Branch an independent commission named the State Ethics Commission to accept, review, investigate; hold hearings; issue warnings and reprimands; and recommended actions, make referrals regarding, and track complaints of alleged violations of governmental conduct regulated by law, of the Department of Human Resources Personnel Policy and Procedure Manual, of the State Code of Ethics, and of the State’s campaign finance law set forth in 17 V.S.A. chapter 61; to provide ethics training; and to issue guidance and advisory opinions regarding ethical conduct.

  (b) Membership.

  (1) The Commission shall be composed of the following seven members:

  (A) one member, appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;

  (B) one member, appointed by the League of Women Voters of Vermont, who shall be a member of the League;

  (C) one member, appointed by the Board of Directors of the Vermont Society of Certified Public Accountants, who shall be a member of the Society;

  (D) one member, appointed by the Board of Managers of the Vermont Bar Association, who shall be a member of the Association;

  (E) one member, appointed by the Board of Directors of the SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) Vermont State Council, who shall be a member of the Council;

  (F) one member, who shall be a former municipal officer, appointed by the Speaker of the House; and

  (G) one member, who shall be a former municipal officer, appointed by the Senate Committee on Committees.

  (2) The Commission shall elect the Chair of the Commission from among its membership.

  (3) A member shall not:

  (A) hold any office in the Legislative, Executive, or Judicial Branch of State government or otherwise be employed by the State;

  (B) hold or enter into any lease or contract with the State, or have a controlling interest in a company that holds or enters into a lease or contract with the State;

  (C) be a lobbyist;

  (D) be a candidate for State, legislative, or elected judicial office; or

  (E) hold any office in a State, legislative, or elected judicial office candidate’s committee, a political committee, or a political party.

  (4) A member may be removed for cause by the remaining members of the Commission in accordance with the Vermont Administrative Procedure Act.

  (5)(A) A member shall serve a term of five years and until a successor is appointed. A term shall begin on January 1 of the year of appointment and run through December 31 of the last year of the term. Terms of members shall be staggered so that no two terms expire at the same time.

  (B) A vacancy created before the expiration of a term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the unexpired portion of the term.

  (C) A member shall not serve more than two consecutive terms. A member appointed to fill a vacancy created before the expiration of a term shall not be deemed to have served a term for the purpose of this subdivision (C).

  (c) Executive Director.

  (1) The Commission shall be staffed by an Executive Director who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Commission.

  (2) The Executive Director shall maintain the records of the Commission and shall provide administrative support as requested by the Commission, in addition to any other duties required by this chapter.

  (d) Confidentiality. The Commission and the Executive Director shall maintain the confidentiality required by this chapter.

  (e) Meetings. Meetings of the Commission:

  (1) shall be held at least quarterly for the purpose of the Executive Director updating the Commission on the Executive Director’s work;

  (2) may be called by the Chair and shall be called upon the request of any other two Commission members; and

  (3) shall be conducted in accordance with 1 V.S.A. § 310 et seq.

  (f) Reimbursement. Each member of the Commission shall be entitled to per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 1010. (Added 2017, No. 79, § 7, eff. Jan. 1, 2018; amended 2021, No. 44, § 1, eff. June 1, 2021; 2023, No. 6, § 5, eff. July 1, 2023; 2023, No. 171 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 15, 16, 18, eff. June 10, 2024; 2023, No. 171 (Adj. Sess.), § 7, eff. September 1, 2025.)