§ 3-6-308. Administration and Enforcement — Duties of Ethics Commission — Duties of Attorney General — Confidentiality
This part shall be administered and enforced by the ethics commission. To that end, it is the duty of the ethics commission to: Develop, with the advice, assistance and approval of the division of strategic technology solutions, and prescribe electronic forms for registration, registration statements, amendments to registration statements, disclosure reports and other information required […]
§ 3-6-207. Misuse of Office for Personal Gain by General Assembly Member
Notwithstanding § 3-6-203, if the commission determines that probable cause exists to believe that a member of the general assembly has committed an act constituting misuse of office for personal financial gain, then, except as otherwise provided in § 3-6-306(a)(3), no civil penalty shall be imposed and the commission shall instead report its determination and […]
§ 3-6-208. Sanctions for Unsubstantiated Complaints — Immunity
If the commission determines that a person: Filed a complaint or provided information that resulted in an investigation knowing that the material statements in the complaint or the information provided was not true; Filed an unsubstantiated complaint in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the statements contained in the complaint; or Filed one […]
§ 3-6-116. Training Program for Members of the Commission
A person who is appointed to the Tennessee ethics commission may not vote, deliberate, or be counted as a member in attendance at a meeting of the commission until the person completes a training program provided by the office of the attorney general and reporter that complies with this section. This section shall not apply […]
§ 3-6-117. Exclusive Authority to Issue Formal Advisory Opinions
The commission is the only entity authorized to issue formal advisory opinions. All opinions that deal with any statutory provision or provisions that are in any way subject to interpretation, unclear or uncertain, or subject to dispute as to their meaning or application are formal advisory opinions. With respect to an issue addressed in a […]
§ 3-6-201. Complaints by Private Citizens or the Commission
Any citizen of Tennessee may file a sworn complaint executed on a form prescribed by the Tennessee ethics commission alleging a violation of laws or rules within the jurisdiction of the commission. No political party chairman, state or county executive director of a political party, or employee or agent of a political party acting in […]
§ 3-6-202. Confidentiality — Public Disclosure
The members and staff of the Tennessee ethics commission shall preserve the confidentiality of all commission proceedings, including records relating to a preliminary investigation. Such records shall be exempt from the provisions of title 10, chapter 7 and shall be confidential until: The alleged violator requests in writing that the investigation and associated records and […]
§ 3-6-203. Preliminary Investigation — Referral of Sufficient Complaint to Attorney General — Presentation of Evidence on Probable Cause — Determination of Probable Cause — Public Hearing
The commission shall initiate a preliminary investigation of each sworn complaint that complies with § 3-6-201. If the commission determines that the sworn complaint does not comply with § 3-6-201, then the commission shall dismiss the complaint and notify the complainant. In the notification sent to the complainant, the commission shall state with particularity why […]
§ 3-6-204. Subpoena Power — Fees — Judicial Review — Procedure
The Tennessee ethics commission, on its own motion or at the request of the alleged violator, may issue subpoenas in accordance with the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure, except that service may be by certified mail, in addition to the means of service provided by the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure. Witnesses under subpoena shall […]
§ 3-6-205. Penalties
The Tennessee ethics commission may impose a civil penalty for a violation of title 8, chapter 50, part 5. “Class 1 offense” means the late filing of any report or statement required by title 8, chapter 50, part 5. A Class 1 offense shall be punishable by a civil penalty of not more than twenty-five […]