Duties of Commission; Complaint, Hearing,

Determination.

(a)The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

(1)It shall prescribe a form for the financial disclosures required by § 15208 and shall establish an orderly procedure for implementing the requirements of that Section.

(2)It shall render advisory opinions upon the request of any employee or former employee as to whether the facts and circumstances of a particular case constitutes or will constitute a violation of the code of ethics. The opinion rendered, until amended or revoked, shall be binding on the Commission in any subsequent charges concerning the employee or former employee who sought the opinion and CH. 15 STANDARD OF CONDUCT acted in reliance on it in good faith, unless material facts were omitted or misstated by the employee or former employee in the request for an advisory opinion.

(3)It shall initiate, receive and consider charges concerning alleged violations of this Chapter, initiate or make investigations, and hold hearings.

(4)It may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, and take testimony relating to matters before the Commission and require the production for examination of any books, papers or electronic records relative to any matter under investigation or in question before the Commission. Before the Commission shall exercise any of the powers authorized herein with respect to any investigation or hearings, it shall by formal resolution, supported by a vote of five or more members of the Commission, define the nature and scope of its inquiry.

(5)It may, from time to time, make, amend, and repeal such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this Chapter as in the opinion of the Commission, seem appropriate for the carrying out of this Chapter for the efficient administration thereof, including every matter or thing required to be done or which may be done with the approval or consent or by order or under the direction or supervision of or as prescribed by the Commission. The rules and regulations, shall be adopted in conformance with the Administrative Adjudication Law, and shall have the force and effect of law.

(6)It shall have jurisdiction for purposes of investigation and taking appropriate action on alleged violations of this Chapter in all proceedings commenced within three

(3)years of an alleged violation of this Chapter by an employee, or a former employee. Nothing herein shall bar proceedings against a person who by fraud or other device, prevents discovery of a violation of this Chapter. A proceeding shall be deemed commenced by the signing of a charge by four

(4)or more members of the Commission. CH. 15 STANDARD OF CONDUCT

(7)It shall distribute its publications without cost to the public and shall initiate and maintain programs with the purpose of educating the citizenry and employees on matters of ethics in government employment.

(8)It may retain one ( 1) or more attorneys, who shall be admitted to practice before the courts of Guam, who shall advise the Commission and its Executive Director on all legal matters pertaining to the Commission. The designated counsel shall represent the Commission in litigation in which the Commission is interested or involved. The terms, conditions, and compensation of employment of any such attorney shall be determined by the Commission, and the attorney(s) shall serve at the pleasure of the Commission. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commission is authorized to pay for billable hours performed under the legal contract issued in Fiscal Year 2021 utilizing funds appropriated to the Guam Ethics Commission by the Guam Legislature in Fiscal Year 2022.

(b)Charges concerning the violation of this Chapter shall be in writing, signed by the person making the charge under oath, except that any charge initiated by the Commission must be signed by four

(4)or more members of the Commission. The Commission shall notify in writing every person against whom a charge is received and afford him or her an opportunity to explain the conduct alleged to be in violation of this Chapter. The Commission may investigate, after compliance with this Section, such charges and render an informal advisory opinion to the alleged violator. The Commission shall investigate all charges on a confidential basis, having available all the powers herein provided, and proceedings at this stage shall not be public. If the informal advisory opinion indicates a probable violation, the person charged shall request a formal opinion or within a reasonable time comply with the informal advisory opinion. If the person charged fails to comply with such informal advisory opinion or if a majority of the members of the Commission determine that there is a probable cause for belief that a violation of this Chapter might have occurred, a copy of the charge and a further statement of the alleged violation shall be personally served upon the alleged violator in accordance with the rules for CH. 15 STANDARD OF CONDUCT personal service found in Guam Rules of Civil Procedure. The person so charged shall have twenty

(20)days after service thereof to respond in writing to the charge and statement.

(c)Any Commission member or any individual, including the individual making the charge, who without permission of the Commission, divulges information obtained from the Commission or who reveals confidential actions of or what happened in closed proceedings before the Commission concerning the charge prior to the issuance of the complaint or other final action by the Commission, except as permitted by this Chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(d)If after twenty

(20)days following personal service, a majority of the members of the Commission conclude that there is reason to believe that a violation of this Chapter has been committed, then the Commission shall set a time and place for a hearing, giving notice to the complainant and the alleged violator. All parties shall have an opportunity

(1)to be heard,

(2)to subpoena witnesses and require the production of any books, papers, records, or electronic recordings relative to the proceedings,

(3)to be represented by counsel, and

(4)to have the right of cross-examination. All witnesses shall testify under oath and the hearings shall be closed to the public unless the party complained against requests an open hearing. The Commission shall not be bound by the strict rules of evidence but the Commission’s findings must be based upon competent and substantial evidence. All testimony and other evidence taken at the hearing shall be recorded.

(e)The Commission shall make its findings and render its decision based on a preponderance of the evidence. A decision of the Commission pertaining to the conduct of any employee shall be in writing and signed by four

(4)or more of the members of the Commission. Deliberations of the Commission shall be closed to the public and to all parties. CH. 15 STANDARD OF CONDUCT

(f)The Commission shall cause to be published yearly summaries of decisions, advisory opinions, and informal advisory opinions. The Commission shall make sufficient deletions in the summaries to prevent disclosing the identify of persons involved in the decisions or opinions.