Bill Text: MI HR0224 | 2021-2022 | 101st Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution to create the House Select Committee on Ethics.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 23-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-09-21 - Motion To Discharge Committee Postponed For Day [HR0224 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2021-HR0224-Introduced.html
this resolution is offered to comply with mcl 4.101, mcl 4.541, and rule 37 of the standing rules of the house of REPRESENTATIVES.
house resolution no.224
Reps. LaGrand, Lasinski, Hertel, Tate, Hope, O'Neal, Breen, Puri, Peterson, Thanedar, Brixie, Neeley, Scott, Cherry, Sneller and Cynthia Johnson offered the following resolution:
A resolution to create the House Select Committee on Ethics.
Whereas, Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution of the State of Michigan of 1963 provides, in relevant part:
All officers, legislative, executive and judicial, before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of this state, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of .......... according to the best of my ability...
; and
Whereas, Rule 74(4) of the Standing Rules of the House of Representatives states:
A Member shall not convert for personal, business and/or campaign use, unrelated to House business, any supplies, services, facilities, or staff provided by the State of Michigan. This includes, but is not limited to, telephones, telecopy machines, computers, postage, and copy machines.
; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the House Select Committee on Ethics is created. The select committee shall consist of six members. Three members of the select committee shall be members of the House Republican Caucus. Three members of the select committee shall be members of the House Democratic Caucus. The Speaker of the House and the House Minority Leader shall each designate a co-chair of the select committee; and be it further
Resolved, That the House Select Committee on Ethics may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, and examine the books, records, and tapes of any person, partnership, association, or corporation, public or private, involved in a matter properly before the committee; may call upon the services and personnel of any agency of the state and its political subdivisions; and may engage such assistance as it deems necessary; and be it further
Resolved, That the House Select Committee on Ethics shall have the power to investigate impropriety, unjust or illicit self-enrichment, or gross misconduct, and to work in conjunction with law enforcement on suspected criminal activity by current and former members of the House of Representatives for the purposes of transparency, to inform the public, and to consider disciplinary action; and be it further
Resolved, That the House Select Committee on Ethics shall:
1. Act only on complaints made publicly, tendered with an offer of proof and subject to criminal penalties for knowingly false statements in tendered complaints.
2. Open investigations only by vote of a majority of each Caucus' members serving on the select committee.
3. Conduct all deliberations in public, and make all documents tendered to the select committee freely available to the public and comply with the Open Meetings Act.
; and be it further
Resolved, That the House Select Committee on Ethics shall report its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives.
