HARRY HUGHES, Governor

3829

[Advisory] (A) [Opinion] OPINIONS. A legislator in doubt as
to the propriety of any action proposed to be taken by [him] THE
LEGISLATOR and involving a possible VIOLATION OF APPLICABLE
STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR LEGISLATORS ESTABLISHED BY LAW
OR RULE [conflict of interests under this subheading] 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 [office] 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.

(B) RECOMMENDATIONS. 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.

108.  [Filing Charge of Conflict of Interests] ALLEGED VIOLATIONS
OF ETHICAL STANDARDS.

Any person may file with the Committee a written statement,
accompanied by an affidavit 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.[,
charging a violation of the Rules in this subheading.]

109.  CONFIDENTIALITY.

[The] EACH statement FILED OR PREPARED PURSUANT TO RULE 108
AND THE FACT THAT IT HAS BEEN FILED OR PREPARED, ANY PRELIMINARY
SUMMARY PREPARED PURSUANT TO RULE 110(C), ALL INFORMATION
RELATING TO ANY PROCEEDINGS UNDER THESE RULES EMANATING FROM THE
STATEMENT INCLUDING PROCEEDINGS OF AN INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
PURSUANT TO RULE 114, AND ANY REPORTS THEREUPON ARE [is]
confidential[,] and [neither its contents nor the fact that it
has been filed may be made public], EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY THESE
RULES OR UPON THE WRITTEN REQUEST OF THE LEGISLATOR INVOLVED,
SHALL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL.[, unless a report thereon is made
pursuant to Rule 111.]

[109. Preliminary Investigation by Committee.

The Committee shall make a preliminary investigation of the
charges in the statement.]

110.  PRELIMINARY REVIEW BY COMMITTEE.

(A) PRELIMINARY REVIEW AND FINDING. FOLLOWING THE FILING
OR PREPARATION OF A STATEMENT PURSUANT TO RULE 108, THE COMMITTEE