House Resolution No. 22 Summary

• Amends Rule 45 governing the Ethics and House Policy Committee to require organization within twelve days of the first regular session of each Legislature, with five members (three from majority party, two from minority party) who have served at least one full term.

• Prohibits House members who have been sanctioned for ethics violations or hold leadership positions from serving on the committee, though Committee Chairmen are explicitly allowed to serve.

• Specifies that each party selects two ranked alternates who vote on House policy matters but only serve on ethics complaints when filling vacancies, with ranking determined by votes received or coin toss for ties.

• Establishes a multi-stage complaint process including initial review with four-fifths vote dismissal authority, preliminary investigation with fourteen-day response period for respondents, and public hearings with subpoena power and right to counsel.

• Authorizes committee recommendations of dismissal, reprimand, censure, or expulsion (by unanimous vote), with reprimand having no sanctions beyond reading into the Journal and censure potentially including conditions that cannot effect expulsion or terminate benefits.