The Texas Ethics Commission investigates sworn complaints filed against people involved in political campaigns, lobbying and other specific activities in the state's election, government and local government codes. Anyone may file sworn complaint with the commission alleging that these laws were broken, but they must use a specific form.
The commission only considers violations of these laws, according to its Web site:
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Title 15, Election Code, concerning political contributions and expenditures, and political advertising;
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Chapter 302, Government Code, concerning the election of the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives;
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Chapter 303, Government Code, concerning the governor for a day and speaker's reunion day ceremonies;
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Chapter 305, Government Code, concerning lobbyist registration, reports, and activities;
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Section 306.005, Government Code, concerning the use of legislatively produced audio or visual materials in political advertising;
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Chapter 572, Government Code, concerning personal financial disclosure of state officers and conduct of state officers and employees;
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Chapter 2004, Government Code, concerning representation before state agencies;
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Chapter 159, Local Government Code, concerning judges of statutory county courts or statutory probate courts who elect to file a personal financial statement with the Commission; and
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Sections 334.025 and 335.055, Local Government Code, concerning false and misleading campaign material supporting or opposing the authorization of a sports or community venue project.
Once a complain is filed, the commission has several options that may include informal or formal hearings, dismissal or a civil penalty. The information in a sworn complaint is confidential during most of the process, but the commission publishes information after a sworn complaint order is issued against a complaint respondent.
A sworn complaint sets in motion a process that may include informal or formal hearings. The Commission may ultimately resolve a sworn complaint by dismissal or imposition of a civil penalty. It is also allowed to undertake civil enforcement actions on its own motion or in response to a sworn complaint, hold enforcement hearings, issue orders, impose civil penalties and refer information to criminal prosecutors.
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