HARRY HUGHES, Governor

3031

children living with him] THE LEGISLATOR AND A MEMBER OF THE
LEGISLATOR'S IMMEDIATE FAMILY (SPOUSE AND CHILDREN LIVING WITH
THE LEGISLATOR), together or separately, own more than 10 percent
of the invested capital or capital stock.

(4)  Details of any contractual relationship with the
State or a State agency, including the subject matter and the
consideration.

(5)  Details of any transaction with the State
involving a monetary consideration, excluding those enumerated by
the Committee in the guidelines established pursuant to this
title.

(g) All reports filed under subsection (f) shall be a
matter of public record.

(h) (1) A legislator in doubt as to the propriety of any
action proposed to be taken by [him] THE LEGISLATOR and involving
a possible [conflict of interest under this title] VIOLATION OF
APPLICABLE STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR LEGISLATORS
ESTABLISHED BY LAW OR RULE may request IN WRITING THAT the
Committee [to] render an advisory opinion on the facts. The
advisory opinion, with deletions and changes necessary to protect
the legislator's identity, shall be filed with the presiding
officer of the legislator's branch of the legislature for
recordation with the Clerk of the House of Delegates or Secretary
of the Senate[; and the]. IN ADDITION, THE COMMITTEE ON ITS OWN
MOTION MAY RENDER ADVISORY OPINIONS AS IT DEEMS NECESSARY. EACH
advisory opinion shall be kept and indexed in relation to the
subject matter for the purpose of building a body of case law.

(2) EITHER PRESIDING OFFICER MAY REFER ANY QUESTION
OF PROPRIETY RELATING TO THE USE OF EXPENSE FUNDS GOVERNED BY
DULY ADOPTED GUIDELINES TO THE COMMITTEE FOR RECOMMENDATION.

(i) Any person may file with the Committee a written
statement, accompanied by an affidavit[, charging a violation of
the provisions of this title. The Committee on its own may file
a complaint alleging a violation of the provisions of this
section. The statement is confidential, and neither its contents
nor the fact that it has been filed may be made public, unless a
report thereon is made pursuant to subsection (1)] SETTING FORTH
THE FACTS UPON WHICH THE STATEMENT IS BASED, OR THE COMMITTEE ON
ITS OWN MAY PREPARE A STATEMENT, ALLEGING THAT A MEMBER MAY HAVE
VIOLATED STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR LEGISLATORS ESTABLISHED
BY LAW OR RULE.

[(j) The Committee shall make a preliminary investigation
of the charges in the statement.

(k) (1) If the Committee determines after the preliminary
investigation that there has been no violation of this title the
matter is closed, and the proceedings may not be made public
unless the legislator, in writing, so requests.