Commission approves request to add advocate attorney and assistant; seeks budget amendment

The commission approved a request to pursue additional advocate staffing to support prosecution and recommendation deadlines created by recent statutory changes. Executive Director Stillman and staff explained the office of the Attorney General is reorganizing to add an attorney and a legal assistant to the ethics practice; the commission currently contracts with the AG's office and staff requested a budget amendment to cover the incremental cost.

"One of the priorities of uh, Senate Bill 714 was to make the ethics complaint proceedings more efficient. It placed statutory time frames for certain parts of our process," Stillman said, citing a statutory deadline that requires advocates to file recommendations within 15 days of a report of investigation. Staff said the current contract was $473,540 and that adding the two positions would require an estimated $170,882 for salary and benefits plus a modest non‑recurring amount; the commission authorized the executive director to seek use of carry‑forward funds and to sign an addendum if approved by the Legislature.