The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 3 : Executive

Chapter 031 : Governmental Ethics

Subchapter 003 : STATE ETHICS COMMISSION

• § 1231. Records; confidentiality [Effective September 1, 2025]

  (a) Intent. It is the intent of this section both to protect the reputation of public servants from public disclosure of frivolous complaints against them and to fulfill the public’s right to know any unethical conduct committed by a public servant that results in issued warnings, reprimands, or recommended actions.

  (b) Public records. Except as where otherwise provided in this chapter, public records relating to the Commission’s handling of complaints, alleged unethical conduct, investigations, proceedings, and executed resolution agreements are exempt from public inspection and copying under the Public Records Act and shall be kept confidential, except those public records required or permitted to be released under this chapter. Records subject to public inspection and copying under the Public Records Act shall include:

  (1) investigation reports relating to alleged unethical conduct determined to warrant a hearing pursuant to section 1227 of this title, but not any undisclosed records gathered or created in the course of an investigation;

  (2) at the request of the public servant or the public servant’s designated representative, investigation reports relating to alleged unethical conduct determined to not warrant a hearing pursuant to section 1227 of this title, but not any undisclosed records gathered or created in the course of an investigation;

  (3) evidence produced in the open and public portions of Commission hearings;

  (4) any warnings, reprimands, and recommendations issued by the Commission;

  (5) any summaries of executed resolution agreements; and

  (6) any records, as determined by the Commission, that support a warning, reprimand, recommendation, or summary of an executed resolution agreement, including consultations created pursuant to subsection 1223(c) of this title and investigation reports in accordance with subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection.

  (c) Court orders. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the disclosure of any information regarding alleged unethical conduct pursuant to an order from a court of competent jurisdiction, or to a State or federal law enforcement agency in the course of its investigation, provided the agency agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the information as provided in subsection (b) of this section. (Added 2023, No. 171 (Adj. Sess.), § 14, eff. September 1, 2025.)