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STATE ETHICS COMMISSION

In general, the State Ethics Commission will review cases which are not more than six years old. The Commission has established rules governing the Statute of Limitations. These rules state that the Statute of Limitations begins on the date that the State Ethics Commission (or another law enforcement agency, such as the District Attorney) learn about an alleged violation of the conflict law. This is usually the date when someone makes a complaint. The State Ethics Commission has three years from the date it learns of an alleged violation to issue an Order to Show Cause which starts public proceedings against an individual.

An Order to Show Cause may not be issued more than six years after the alleged violation occurred. Therefore, if a state official violated the law in 1980, if the Commission did not learn of the violation until 1988, the Ethics Commission could not take any action against the official.