§ 700 — City Ethics Commission

Sec. 700. City Ethics Commission.

(a) Establishment. There shall be a City Ethics Commission that shall have the powers, duties and responsibilities set forth in this Article and elsewhere in the Charter. The commission shall have five members, each of whom shall be a part-time commissioner. (b) Appointment. The Mayor, the City Attorney, the Controller, the President of the Council and the President Pro Tempore of the Council shall each appoint one member to the commission. All appointments shall be subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the Council. An appointing authority shall not appoint their relative or the relative of any other elected City officer, a campaign consultant, or a major donor. For purposes of this provision: a relative includes a spouse, domestic partner, child, parent, sibling, or in-law; a campaign consultant includes an individual who has provided compensated advice or services to a political campaign or to a committee controlled by a City officeholder in the prior 12 months; and a major donor includes an individual who has qualified as a major donor under the Political Reform Act in the prior 12 months. A President and Vice President of the commission shall be selected by the commission and shall serve in those capacities as set forth in Section 503. (c) Terms of Office. The members of the commission, including the president, shall serve staggered five-year terms beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30. No member who has served a complete five-year term shall be eligible for reappointment. (d) Qualifications. Each member of the commission shall be a registered voter of the City. Neither a member of the commission nor its Executive Director shall seek election to any City office or Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education office concerning which the commission has made a decision during the term of the commissioner or Executive Director unless the election for that office is to be held at least two years following the expiration of the term of office of the commissioner or Executive Director. During their tenure, neither a member of the commission nor its Executive Director shall: (1) hold any other public office; (2) participate in or contribute to a City election campaign; (3) participate in or contribute to an election campaign for a member of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education; (4) participate in or contribute to a City official or member of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education running for any elective office; (5) employ or be employed as a person required to register as a lobbyist with the City of Los Angeles; (6) have an ownership interest in a business (other than stock in a publicly traded company) that contracts with or seeks discretionary approvals from the City; or personally provide compensated services to the City under a contract; (7) provide compensated advice or services to a political campaign or to a committee controlled by a City officeholder; or (8) contribute to committees such that the individual qualifies as a major donor as provided under the Political Reform Act. (e) Removal. A member of the commission may be removed by the member's appointing authority, with the concurrence of the Council by majority vote, or by a two-thirds vote of the Council for substantial neglect of duty, gross misconduct in office, inability to discharge the powers and duties of office, or violation of this Article, after written notice of the grounds on which removal is sought and an opportunity for a reply. (f) Vacancies. Appointments to fill a vacancy on the commission shall be made within 90 days by the same appointing authority who appointed the prior holder of the position. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired term of the member whom the appointee succeeds. A vacancy or vacancies shall not impair the right of the remaining members to exercise the powers of the Commission. (g) Quorum. Three members shall constitute a quorum, and the concurring vote of at least three members shall be required to take any action. (h) Compensation; Expenses. Members of the commission shall be compensated in the same manner and at the same rate as provided by Section 501. The members of the commission shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. SECTION HISTORY Amended by: Subsec. (d), Charter Amendment L, approved March 6, 2007, effective April 4, 2007; Subsecs. (b), (d), (e) and (f), Charter Amendment ER, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.