Ethics Commission: Will STRS be on their minds and tongues?

Press Release

January 6, 2006

For more information, contact:

Ohio Ethics Commission

(614) 466-7090

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ETHICS COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE TO MEET ON JANUARY 13, 2006

The Ohio Ethics Commission will meet on Friday, January 13, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. in the 12th floor conference room at the offices of the Ohio Ethics Commission, 8 East Long Street, Columbus, Ohio.

The Advisory and Investigative Committees of the Commission will meet at 9:00 a.m., also in Commission offices. The Advisory Opinion Committee will review advisory opinion requests and discuss several opinion drafts. The Investigative Committee will discuss the Commission's investigative processes and review several pending investigations and investigation requests. The Advisory Committee meeting is open to the public; the Investigative Committee meeting is closed and confidential, under statutory provision.

The Commission meeting will begin at 10 a.m. with a Call to Order, followed by Executive session, which is statutorily closed to the public. During Executive Session, the Commission will hear a confidential report on complaints and pending investigations concerning alleged violations of the Ethics Law and related statutes, litigation and personnel matters. The Ethics Law prohibits the Commission from disclosing any information concerning pending investigative matters. Following Executive session, the Commission will return to open session to consider drafts of advisory opinions and review financial disclosure reports.

The Ohio Ethics Commission is an independent state agency that applies and administers the Ethics Law for state and local public officials and employees outside of the General Assembly and judiciary. The Commission was created 30 years ago upon the enactment of the Ohio Ethics Law in 1973.