The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2024 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Title 3 : Executive
Chapter 031 : Governmental Ethics
Subchapter 003 : STATE ETHICS COMMISSION
(Cite as: 3 V.S.A. § 1223)-
§ 1223. Procedure for accepting and referring complaints
(a) Accepting complaints.
(1) On behalf of the Commission, the Executive Director shall accept complaints from any source regarding governmental ethics in any of the three branches of State government or of the State’s campaign finance law set forth in 17 V.S.A. chapter 61.
(2) Complaints shall be in writing and shall include the identity of the complainant.
[Subsection (b) introductory paragraph effective until September 1, 2025; see also subsection (b) introductory paragraph effective September 1, 2025 set out below.]
(b) Preliminary review by Executive Director. The Executive Director shall conduct a preliminary review of complaints made to the Commission in order to take action as set forth in this subsection, which shall include referring complaints to all relevant entities.
[Subsection (b) introductory paragraph effective September 1, 2025; see also subsection (b) introductory paragraph effective until September 1, 2025 set out above.]
(b) Preliminary review by Executive Director. The Executive Director shall conduct a preliminary review of complaints made to the Commission in order to take action as set forth in this subsection and section 1223a of this title, which shall include referring complaints to all relevant entities, including the Commission itself.
(1) Governmental conduct regulated by law.
(A) If the complaint alleges a violation of governmental conduct regulated by law, the Executive Director shall refer the complaint to the Attorney General or to the State’s Attorney of jurisdiction, as appropriate.
(B) The Attorney General or State’s Attorney shall file a report with the Executive Director regarding his or her decision as to whether to bring an enforcement action as a result of a complaint referred under subdivision (A) of this subdivision (1) within 10 days of that decision.
(2) Department of Human Resources, Personnel Policy and Procedure Manual.
(A) If the complaint alleges a violation of the Department of Human Resources Personnel Policy and Procedure Manual, the Executive Director shall refer the complaint to the Commissioner of Human Resources.
(B) The Commissioner shall report back to the Executive Director regarding the final disposition of a complaint referred under subdivision (A) of this subdivision (2) within 10 days of that final disposition.
(3) Campaign finance.
(A) If the complaint alleges a violation of campaign finance law, the Executive Director shall refer the complaint to the Attorney General or to the State’s Attorney of jurisdiction, as appropriate.
(B) The Attorney General or State’s Attorney shall file a report with the Executive Director regarding his or her decision as to whether to bring an enforcement action as a result of a complaint referred under subdivision (A) of this subdivision (3) as set forth in 17 V.S.A. § 2904a.
(4) Legislative and Judicial Branches; attorneys.
(A) If the complaint is in regard to conduct committed by a State Senator, the Executive Director shall refer the complaint to the Senate Ethics Panel and shall request a report back from the Panel regarding the final disposition of the complaint.
(B) If the complaint is in regard to conduct committed by a State Representative, the Executive Director shall refer the complaint to the House Ethics Panel and shall request a report back from the Panel regarding the final disposition of the complaint.
(C) If the complaint is in regard to conduct committed by a judicial officer, the Executive Director shall refer the complaint to the Judicial Conduct Board and shall request a report back from the Board regarding the final disposition of the complaint.
(D) If the complaint is in regard to an attorney employed by the State, the Executive Director shall refer the complaint to the Professional Responsibility Board and shall request a report back from the Board regarding the final disposition of the complaint.
(E) If any of the complaints described in subdivisions (A)-(D) of this subdivision (4) also allege that a crime has been committed, the Executive Director shall also refer the complaint to the Attorney General and the State’s Attorney of jurisdiction.
[Subdivision (b)(5) effective until September 1, 2025; see also subdivision (b)(5) effective September 1, 2025 set out below.]
(5) Closures. The Executive Director shall close any complaint that he or she does not refer as set forth in subdivisions (1)-(4) of this subsection.
[Subdivision (b)(5) effective September 1, 2025; see also subdivision (b)(5) effective until September 1, 2025 set out above.]
(5) Municipal Code of Ethics. If the complaint alleges a violation of the Municipal Code of Ethics, the Executive Director shall refer the complaint to the designated ethics liaison of the appropriate municipality.
[Subdivision (b)(6) effective September 1, 2025.]
(6) The Executive Director shall close any complaint that the Executive Director does not refer as set forth in subdivisions (1)– (5) of this subsection.
[Subsection (c) effective until September 1, 2025; see also subsection (c) effective September 1, 2025 set out below.]
(c) Confidentiality. Complaints and related documents in the custody of the Commission shall be exempt from public inspection and copying under the Public Records Act and kept confidential.
[Subsection (c) effective September 1, 2025; see also subsection (c) effective until September 1, 2025 set out above.]
(c) Consultation on unethical conduct. If the Executive Director refers a complaint under subsection (b) of this section, the Executive Director shall signify any likely unethical conduct described in the complaint. Any entity receiving a referred complaint, except those in subdivision (b)(5) of this section, shall consult with the Commission regarding the application of the State Code of Ethics to facts presented in the complaint. The consultation shall be in writing and occur within 60 days after an entity receives a referred complaint and prior to the entity making a determination on the complaint, meaning either closing a complaint without further investigation or issuing findings following an investigation.
(d) Confidentiality. Complaints and related documents in the custody of the Commission shall be exempt from public inspection and copying under the Public Records Act and kept confidential, except as provided for in section 1231 of this title. (Added 2017, No. 79, § 7, eff. Jan. 1, 2018; amended 2021, No. 44, § 1, eff. June 1, 2021; 2023, No. 171 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. September 1, 2025.)
