CO HB1216

Requires the Independent Ethics Commission to employ or retain independent legal counsel to provide legal representation on all matters, ending reliance on the Attorney General's office for legal services.

Mandates the commission adopt rules of conduct governing member recusals for personal conflicts of interest and restrictions on political activity during service on the commission.

Changes existing authorization for the commission to employ staff into a requirement to employ staff responsible for investigating and prosecuting ethics complaints.

Clarifies that advisory opinions issued by the board of ethics for the general assembly are not binding on the Independent Ethics Commission and may not constitute a defense to complaints.

Reduces judicial department appropriations by $171,090 for legal services while appropriating $130,368 to the judicial department for the commission's independent legal counsel and operations, effective July 1, 2016.