Commission Powers and Duties

• Rendering advisory opinions to present or former public officials and public employees, or their appointing authorities or employers, regarding such individuals' duties and responsibilities under the Ethics Act.
• Prescribing Statement of Financial Interests forms for filing; accepting and reviewing statements of persons required to file; and inspecting such statements to ascertain whether any reporting person has failed to file such statement or has filed a deficient statement.
• Accepting and filing information voluntarily supplied that exceeds the requirements of the law.
• Preserving statements and reports filed with the Commission for a period of five years,  maintaining a master index of statements filed with the Commission, and making statements available for public inspection and copying.
• Instructing other state and local agencies in the maintenance of systems which facilitate public access to such statements.
• Investigating alleged violations of the Ethics Act; holding hearings, taking testimony, issuing subpoenas, and compelling the attendance of witnesses; and issuing decisions in relation to investigations.
• Preparing and publishing an annual report, special reports, educational materials, and technical studies to further the purposes of the Ethics Act.
• Prescribing rules and regulations to implement the provisions of the Ethics Act.
• Holding at least two public hearings each year to seek input from persons and organizations which represent individuals subject to the Ethics Act and from other interested parties.