3-24-1      State Government Accountability Board established .
3-24-2      Terms of office .
3-24-3      Review and investigation of allegations of misconduct.
3-24-4      Information, reports, and complaints to board--Confidentiality of records .
3-24-5      Referral to Division of Criminal Investigation--Referral to state's attorney or attorney general.
3-24-6      Immunity of person acting in good faith--Civil actions .
3-24-7      Contested case hearing .
3-24-8      Determination of misconduct .
3-24-9      Status update from board.
3-24-10      Annual report by board.
3-24-11      Administrative and budgetary support--Staff.

3-24-1. State Government Accountability Board established.

There is hereby created a State Government Accountability Board to be composed of four members appointed by the Governor. Each member to be appointed shall be a former or retired circuit court judge or Supreme Court Justice. No more than two of the appointed members may be of the same political party. All appointees are subject to confirmation by the Senate and no appointee may be a member of the Legislature during the member's term on the board. The term for a board member is five years and a board member may only be removed for good cause. Good cause to remove a member is conduct such as: malfeasance or misfeasance in office, neglect of duty, corrupt conduct, gross incompetency, or active partisanship. A vacancy in the board's membership shall be filled by the Governor within thirty days of the event causing the vacancy. If a vacancy occurs before a term expires, the new member shall serve for the remaining portion of the unexpired term. If the Senate is not in session at the time the appointment is made, the appointee may serve until the Senate has the opportunity to consider the appointment. The per diem and expenses of the board are the same as the per diem and expenses for members of interim committees of the Legislature. The Governor may appoint a temporary board member if a member is recused or otherwise unavailable to participate. A temporary appointment is not subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Source: SL 2017, ch 32, § 1; SL 2019, ch 26, § 1.

3-24-2. Terms of office.

The initial appointments for the members of the board are temporary and staggered with one member serving two years, one member serving three years, one member serving four years, and one member serving five years. Each member's initial term is to be determined by the Governor.

Source: SL 2017, ch 32, § 2.

3-24-3. Review and investigation of allegations of misconduct.

The State Government Accountability Board may review and investigate any person holding a statewide office, as defined in § 12-27-1, and employees of the executive branch of the state regarding:

(1)    Allegations of impropriety related to any contract, grant, or loan with any public entity that provides the authority to any other entity to expend public funds;

(2)    Documents filed under chapter 3-23 or alleged violations relating to conflicts of interest;

(3)    Allegations of a direct or indirect interest in a contract in violation of the constitution or law;

(4)    Allegations of malfeasance;

(5)    Allegations of misappropriation of public funds;

(6)    Allegations of use of false instruments to obtain public funds;

(7)    Allegations of theft or embezzlement of public funds;

(8)    Allegations of bribery; or

(9)    Allegations of use of public money not authorized by law or in violation of the constitution.

The board may establish its own procedures, issue subpoenas, administer oaths, and take sworn testimony.

Source: SL 2017, ch 32, § 3.

3-24-4. Information, reports, and complaints to board--Confidentiality of records.

Any person acting in good faith may:

(1)    Furnish information to the board relating to suspected, anticipated, or completed violations of a corrupt act relating to any subdivision in § 3-24-3;

(2)    File a report with the board; or

(3)    File a complaint with the board alleging a violation of any subdivision of § 3-24-3.

The information, reports, or complaints and the investigative records and files of the board are confidential and not a public record according to chapter 1-27 until the board votes in favor of conducting a contested case hearing.

Source: SL 2017, ch 32, § 4.

3-24-5. Referral to Division of Criminal Investigation--Referral to state's attorney or attorney general.

The board may refer any information, report, or complaint it receives to the Division of Criminal Investigation for investigation. If, based on the information, report, or complaint, the board has reasonable cause to believe that a crime has been committed, the matter shall be referred to the Division of Criminal Investigation. If the Division of Criminal Investigation has cause to believe that a law has been violated, the division shall refer the matter to a state's attorney or the attorney general for prosecution. If an investigation does not reveal sufficient facts to support a criminal prosecution, the Division of Criminal Investigation shall refer the matter back to the board for the board's consideration. If the Division of Criminal Investigation determines that the information, report, or complaint is frivolous, it shall communicate this determination to the board in writing and the board may close the matter.

Source: SL 2017, ch 32, § 5.

3-24-6. Immunity of person acting in good faith--Civil actions.

A person acting in good faith is immune from civil liability for furnishing information, filing a report, or making a complaint. If a civil action is commenced against a person for damages related to furnishing information, filing a report, or making a complaint and the court determines that the person acted in good faith, the person may recover costs or disbursements under chapter 15-17 including reasonable attorney's fees. However, if the court determines that the person furnishing information, filing a report, or making a complaint did not act in good faith, the person who commenced the civil action may recover costs or disbursements under chapter 15-17, including reasonable attorney's fees, from the person who did not act in good faith.

Source: SL 2017, ch 32, § 6.

3-24-7. Contested case hearing.

If a majority of the members of the board vote that there is sufficient information to believe that a statewide office holder or executive branch employee has engaged in misconduct related to any subdivision of § 3-24-3, the board shall conduct a contested case hearing according to chapter 1-26 to afford the accused person the opportunity to respond to the allegation.

Source: SL 2017, ch 32, § 7.

3-24-8. Determination of misconduct.

At the conclusion of the contested case hearing before the board, if the board determines by a majority vote of the board that a violation has occurred, the board may:

(1)    Issue a public or private reprimand;

(2)    Direct a person to engage in coursework or community service; or

(3)    Make a specific recommendation to the Governor.

Source: SL 2017, ch 32, § 8.

3-24-9. Status update from board.

A person who has submitted information, a report, or complaint to the board pursuant to § 3-24-4 may request a status update from the board. The board shall respond in writing.

Source: SL 2017, ch 32, § 9.

3-24-10. Annual report by board.

The board shall annually report to the people, the Governor, and the Legislature on its activities. The report shall include data regarding any allegations of violations of subdivisions of § 3-24-3, including the number of reports filed, complaints received, number of unique persons filing complaints or reports, and hearings conducted by the board. The board may not disclose information that is not subject to disclosure under chapter 1-27 or pursuant to § 3-24-4.

Source: SL 2017, ch 32, § 10.

3-24-11. Administrative and budgetary support--Staff.

The State Government Accountability Board is attached to the Office of the Attorney General for administrative and budgetary support. In order to review and investigate any alleged violation of the subdivisions listed in § 3-24-3, the board may employ staff as it deems necessary.

Source: SL 2017, ch 32, § 11.