SANCTIONS.
Austin City Code § 2-7-48
in effect§ 2-7-48 - SANCTIONS.
(A) This section applies only to violations other than violations of Chapter 2-2 (Campaign Finance) and Article III, Section 8, of the City Charter (Limits on Campaign Contributions and Expenditures).
(B) If the Ethics Review Commission determines that a violation of Sections 2-7-62 (Standards of Conduct), 2-7-63 (Prohibition on Conflict of Interest), 2-7-64 (Disclosure of Conflict of Interest), and 2-7-65 (Substantial Interest of Relative) occurred, it shall proceed directly to determination of the appropriate sanction(s). A violation of Sections 2-7-62 (Standards of Conduct), 2-7-63 (Prohibition on Conflict of Interest), 2-7-64 (Disclosure of Conflict of Interest), 2-7-65 (Substantial Interest of Relative), 2-7-46 (Oaths and Requests for Information), and subsection (D) of Section 2-7-41 (Complaints) shall not be subject to criminal penalties under the City Code. The commission may receive additional testimony or statements before considering sanctions but is not required to do so. If the respondent acted in reliance upon a public written opinion of the city attorney, the commission shall consider that fact.
(C) If the commission determines that a violation has occurred, the commission may impose or recommend the following sanctions:
(1) A letter of notification is the appropriate sanction when the violation is clearly unintentional, or when the respondent's conduct complained of was made in reliance on a public written opinion of the city attorney. A letter of notification must advise the respondent of any steps to be taken to avoid future violations. The commission may direct a letter of notification to any official or employee covered by this chapter.
(2) A letter of admonition is the appropriate sanction if the commission finds that the violation is minor or may have been unintentional, but calls for a more substantial response than a letter of notification. The commission may admonish any official or employee covered by this chapter.
(3) A reprimand is the appropriate sanction when the commission finds that a violation has been committed intentionally or through disregard of this chapter. The commission may reprimand any official or employee covered by this chapter. A reprimand directed to a City official shall also be sent to the city council. A reprimand directed to an employee shall be sent to the city manager and included in said employee's personnel file.
(4) A recommendation of removal from office or a recommendation of suspension from office, including a recommendation for the length of a suspension, is the appropriate sanction when the commission finds that a serious or repeated violation of this chapter has been committed intentionally or through culpable disregard of this chapter. A recommendation regarding an unsalaried City official or a salaried official appointed by the city council shall be transmitted by the commission to the city council. The final authority to carry out a recommendation regarding an unsalaried City official or of a salaried official appointed by the city council is the city council. A recommendation regarding a City employee shall be directed by the commission to the city manager. The final authority to carry out a recommendation regarding a city employee is the city manager.
(5) A letter of censure or a recommendation of recall is the appropriate sanction when the commission finds that a serious or repeated violation of this chapter has been committed intentionally or through culpable disregard of this chapter by an elected City official. A letter of censure or a recommendation of recall directed to an elected City official shall be transmitted by the commission to the city clerk, published by the city clerk in a local newspaper of the largest general circulation, and shall be sent by the commission to the city council.
Source: 1992 Code Section 2-3-48; Ord. 031204-9; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. 20120426-084; Ord. No. 20180510-014, Pt. 4, 5-21-18.
Source: City of Austin, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT2AD_CH2-7ETFIDI_ART3VICOHEPR_S2-7-48SAFetched: 10/27/2026