ND HB1298

Creates an 11-member state ethics committee composed of four House members (two majority, two minority), four Senate members (two majority, two minority), the state health officer or designee, a State Bar Association appointee, and the Secretary of State as nonvoting chairman.

Allows any individual to submit written complaints to the Secretary of State alleging violations of specified constitutional provisions and North Dakota Century Code sections by elected officials or individuals subject to chapter 54-05.1.

Requires the Secretary of State to forward complaints to committee members and convene a meeting within 90 days to review complaints and either dismiss them or refer them to the Attorney General or a state's attorney for prosecution by majority vote.

Provides that the Attorney General or state's attorney must either prosecute referred complaints or provide the committee a written explanation for not pursuing prosecution.

Disqualifies voting committee members accused of violations from participating in their own complaint review, with the appointing official naming a replacement; nonvoting members are similarly disqualified but cannot be replaced.