reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
TN Code § 3-1-205 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 3 - Legislature|Chapter 1 - General Assembly|Part 2 - Tennessee General Assembly Uniform Nepotism Policy Act of 2006|§ 3-1-205. Prospective Application of Part

 The prohibition established by this part shall not be applied retroactively, but shall be adhered to by the general assembly in all hiring and employee transactions subsequent to February 15, 2006.
TN Code § 3-6-101 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 3 - Legislature|Chapter 6 - Ethics and Lobbying|Part 1 - Tennessee Ethics Commission Act of 2006 — Ethics Commission|§ 3-6-101. Short Title

 Parts 1 and 2 of this chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Tennessee Ethics Commission Act of 2006.”
TN Code § 3-6-102 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 3 - Legislature|Chapter 6 - Ethics and Lobbying|Part 1 - Tennessee Ethics Commission Act of 2006 — Ethics Commission|§ 3-6-102. Legislative Intent

 It is the intent of the general assembly that the integrity of the processes of government be secured and protected from abuse. The general assembly recognizes that a public office is a public trust and that the citizens of Tennessee are entitled to a responsive, accountable, and incorruptible government. The Tennessee ethics commission is established to sustain the public's confidence in government by increasing the integrity and transparency of state and local government through regulation of lobbying activities, financial disclosure requirements, and ethical conduct. A determination of the intent of the general assembly shall be based on the operative statutory provisions, as well as the legislative history pertaining to such statutory provisions, as evidenced by legislative committee and floor actions, discussions and debates.
TN Code § 3-6-105 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 3 - Legislature|Chapter 6 - Ethics and Lobbying|Part 1 - Tennessee Ethics Commission Act of 2006 — Ethics Commission|§ 3-6-105. Jurisdiction of Commission — Referral of Complaints

  The Tennessee ethics commission is vested with jurisdiction to administer and enforce this chapter, §§ 2-10-115 and 2-10-122 — 2-10-130, and title 8, chapter 50, part 5.   In addition to the jurisdiction vested in subsection (a), with respect to members of the general assembly, the commission also has jurisdiction to investigate, in accordance with § 3-6-203, complaints alleging acts by a member of the general assembly that constitute misuse of office for personal financial gain; provided, however, that, if a member of the general assembly makes the declaration required by § 2-10-127(d), then the member shall not be deemed to have misused the member's office for personal financial gain based solely upon the member's relationship to a sibling, spouse or child who lobbied for or against the legislative action.   The ethics committee in each house is authorized to refer to the commission for investigation, in accordance with § 3-6-203, any complaint it receives alleging a violation of this chapter, §§ 2-10-115 and 2-10-122 — 2-10-130, title 8, chapter 50, part 5, or misuse of legislative office for personal financial gain.   The governor is authorized to refer to the commission for investigation, in accordance with § 3-6-203, any allegation the governor receives concerning a violation by an officer or staff member of the executive branch subject to the jurisdiction of the commission, pursuant to this chapter, §§ 2-10-115 and 2-10-122 — 2-10-130, title 8, chapter 50, part 5, an executive order related to ethics, or misuse of office for personal financial gain.   The commission shall refer to the registry of election finance for investigation and appropriate action any complaint filed with the commission that is within the jurisdiction of the registry.   The commission is vested with jurisdiction over any violation of the laws administered and enforced by the commission, or any alleged violation referred to the commission pursuant to this section, that occurs within five (5) years prior to the filing of a complaint alleging a violation.
TN Code § 3-6-106 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 3 - Legislature|Chapter 6 - Ethics and Lobbying|Part 1 - Tennessee Ethics Commission Act of 2006 — Ethics Commission|§ 3-6-106. Duties of the Commission and the Attorney General and Reporter

  The duties of the Tennessee ethics commission include the following:  Recommend guiding principles of ethical conduct for consideration and adoption by the legislative or executive branches. The commission shall publish the guiding principles on the commission's web site. Guiding principles of ethical conduct may be recommended for each of the following classifications:  Members of the general assembly;   The governor, secretary of state, treasurer, comptroller of the treasury, members of the governor's cabinet, and cabinet level staff within the governor's office; and   Lobbyists and employers of lobbyists;     Develop filing, coding and cross-indexing systems;   Make as many documents filed available for viewing on the Internet as is reasonable based on the commission's financial resources, and make each document filed available for public inspection and copying during regular office hours at the expense of any person requesting copies of the documents; provided, that this subdivision (a)(3) does not apply to those documents required to be confidential pursuant to § 3-6-202;   Review all filed documents to ensure compliance with the laws administered and enforced by the commission. Statements filed with the commission for more than two (2) years shall be deemed to be sufficient, absent a showing of fraud or the existence of an ongoing investigation related to the statement;   Accept and file any information voluntarily supplied that exceeds the requirements of this chapter;   Prepare and publish on the commission's web site reports as are deemed to be appropriate and in the public interest by the commission, including quarterly reports listing alphabetically all registered lobbyists and employers of lobbyists, as defined in part 3 of this chapter;   Prepare and publish manuals and guides to facilitate compliance with, and enforcement of, the laws administered and enforced by the commission;   Administer ethics training as provided in this part;   Provide an annual report to the governor and the general assembly by February 1 concerning the administration and enforcement of laws under the jurisdiction of the commission, including the necessity, or lack of necessity, for any additional action or additional legislation that will serve to further the purposes of this chapter;   Investigate any alleged violation, upon sworn complaint or upon its own motion, as provided in § 3-6-201; and   Preserve all filed reports or statements for a period of at least five (5) years from the date of receipt, or longer when there is a pending investigation by the commission or any law enforcement agency, or when there is an ongoing administrative or judicial proceeding related to the information.     It is the duty of the attorney general and reporter to render opinions and give counsel to the commission upon the request of the executive director or the commission.
TN Code § 3-6-107 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 3 - Legislature|Chapter 6 - Ethics and Lobbying|Part 1 - Tennessee Ethics Commission Act of 2006 — Ethics Commission|§ 3-6-107. Powers of the Commission

 The Tennessee ethics commission possesses power to:   Subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance and testimony, conduct audits, administer oaths, take evidence and require, by subpoena duces tecum, the production of books, papers, records or other evidence needed for the performance of the commission's duties or exercise of its powers, including its duties and powers of investigation;   Issue written advisory opinions to any person subject to the jurisdiction of the commission in accordance with §§ 3-6-117 and 3-6-308(a)(4). When issuing any advisory opinion or any other interpretive document, the commission shall review and consider all operative statutory provisions, as well as the legislative history pertaining to the statutory provisions, as evidenced by legislative committee and floor actions, discussions and debates;   Request legal and investigative assistance from the office of the attorney general and reporter;   Conduct a hearing to determine if an actual violation has occurred;   Issue an appropriate order following a determination of an actual violation;   Assess and collect late filing fees in amounts provided by statute;   Assess and collect a civil penalty as provided in this chapter, title 8, chapter 50, part 5, and rules promulgated pursuant to this chapter and title 8, chapter 50, part 5; provided, that the commission shall only have the power to assess a civil penalty after notice and opportunity for hearing; and   Seek injunctive relief in the chancery court of Davidson County to prevent continuing violations of this chapter.
TN Code § 3-6-108 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 3 - Legislature|Chapter 6 - Ethics and Lobbying|Part 1 - Tennessee Ethics Commission Act of 2006 — Ethics Commission|§ 3-6-108. Prospective Application of Chapter

 For the purposes of enforcement, this chapter shall be prospective only, and the Tennessee ethics commission shall limit its investigations to acts or omissions that occur on or after October 1, 2006.
TN Code § 3-6-109 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 3 - Legislature|Chapter 6 - Ethics and Lobbying|Part 1 - Tennessee Ethics Commission Act of 2006 — Ethics Commission|§ 3-6-109. Referral of Criminal Violations to Law Enforcement

 Where the results of an investigation indicate a criminal violation has occurred, the commission shall refer the matter to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
TN Code § 3-6-110 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 3 - Legislature|Chapter 6 - Ethics and Lobbying|Part 1 - Tennessee Ethics Commission Act of 2006 — Ethics Commission|§ 3-6-110. Authority to Petition for an Order of Enforcement

 The Tennessee ethics commission has the authority to petition the chancery court, through the attorney general and reporter or its own legal counsel, for enforcement of any order it has issued. The court's order of enforcement has the same force and effect as a civil judgment.
TN Code § 3-6-112 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 3 - Legislature|Chapter 6 - Ethics and Lobbying|Part 1 - Tennessee Ethics Commission Act of 2006 — Ethics Commission|§ 3-6-112. Annual Ethics Course for Supervisory Personnel in the Executive Branch — Manuals and Guides

  The Tennessee ethics commission shall provide an annual ethics course concerning compliance with the laws administered and enforced by the commission for supervisory personnel in the executive branch of state government. The commission shall notify administrative departments and divisions in advance of the time and location of the course. The course may be offered on multiple occasions in locations that will make attendance by personnel in the three (3) grand divisions reasonably convenient. The ethics course shall include, but not be limited to, discussion of relevant laws, administrative regulations, advisory opinions, current ethical issues and situations, and development of problem-solving skills.   Administrative departments and divisions shall annually select appropriate supervisory personnel and shall communicate the name, position, and contact information of each individual required to attend the annual course to the commission prior to February 1.   In addition to any other manuals or guides prepared and published by the commission, the commission shall provide a manual for supervisory personnel of the executive branch that includes ethics statutes and administrative regulations relevant to such personnel, explanations of purposes and principles underlying the laws, explanations of technical and specific legal requirements, examples of practical applications of the laws and principles, a question-and-answer section regarding common problems and situations, summaries of advisory opinions, and any other information that would inform supervisory personnel of the executive branch about ethics laws and regulations and assist them in applying those laws and regulations to specific situations. The manual may be distributed to supervisory personnel, and shall be made available to the public, by posting the manual in pdf format on the commission's web site.
TN Code § 3-6-113 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 3 - Legislature|Chapter 6 - Ethics and Lobbying|Part 1 - Tennessee Ethics Commission Act of 2006 — Ethics Commission|§ 3-6-113. Annual Orientation Ethics Course and Current Issues Course for Members of the General Assembly — Manuals and Guides

  The Tennessee ethics commission shall provide an annual orientation ethics course concerning compliance with the laws administered and enforced by the commission for members of the general assembly who have not yet taken the orientation ethics course and shall offer an annual current issues course for members of the general assembly who have taken the orientation course. Such courses shall be offered on a date or dates when the general assembly is in session. The commission shall notify members in advance of the time and location of the courses.  The orientation ethics course shall include, but not be limited to, laws administered and enforced by the commission, administrative regulations, relevant internal policies, specific technical and legal requirements, summaries of advisory opinions, underlying purposes and principles of ethics laws, examples of practical applications of ethics laws, and a question-and-answer participatory segment regarding common problems and situations.   The current issues course shall include, but not be limited to, discussion of changes in relevant laws, administrative regulations, new advisory opinions, current ethical issues and situations, and development of problem-solving skills.     Members of the general assembly shall attend the courses provided by the commission pursuant to subsection (a). However, a member may petition the commission to approve an ethics course other than a course offered by the commission to fulfill the current issues course requirement.   In addition to any other manuals or guides prepared and published by the commission, the commission shall provide a manual for members of the general assembly that includes ethics statutes and administrative regulations relevant to members, explanations of purposes and principles underlying the laws, explanations of technical and specific legal requirements, examples of practical applications of the laws and principles, a question-and-answer section regarding common problems and situations, summaries of advisory opinions, and any other information that would inform members about ethics laws and regulations and assist them in applying those laws and regulations to specific situations. The manual may be distributed to members of the general assembly, and shall be made available to the public, by posting the manual in pdf format on the commission's web site.
TN Code § 3-6-114 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 3 - Legislature|Chapter 6 - Ethics and Lobbying|Part 1 - Tennessee Ethics Commission Act of 2006 — Ethics Commission|§ 3-6-114. Annual Ethics Course for Lobbyists and Employers of Lobbyists — Manuals and Guides

  The Tennessee ethics commission shall provide an annual ethics course on multiple dates, both when the general assembly is in session and when the general assembly is not in session for both lobbyists and employers of lobbyists. The training may be offered electronically. Training shall include, but not be limited to, laws administered and enforced by the commission, administrative regulations, relevant internal policies, specific technical and legal requirements, and summaries of advisory opinions. The commission shall impose a fee for attending the ethics course that will enable participation in the course to be funded from the fee.   Each lobbyist shall attend one (1) ethics course annually. A lobbyist may petition the commission to approve an ethics course other than a course offered by the commission to fulfill the ethics course requirement. A lobbyist may also attend one (1) of the annual ethics courses provided for members of the general assembly pursuant to § 3-6-113 in lieu of the course described in this section.   In addition to any other manuals or guides prepared and published by the commission, the commission shall provide a manual for lobbyists and employers of lobbyists that includes ethics statutes and administrative regulations relevant to lobbyists and employers of lobbyists, explanations of purposes and principles underlying the laws, explanations of technical and specific legal requirements, examples of practical applications of the laws and principles, a question-and-answer section regarding common problems and situations, summaries of advisory opinions, and any other information that would inform lobbyists and employers of lobbyists about ethics laws and regulations and assist them in applying those laws and regulations to specific situations. The manual may be distributed to lobbyists and employers of lobbyists, and shall be made available to the public, by posting the manual in pdf format on the commission's web site.
TN Code § 3-6-116 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 3 - Legislature|Chapter 6 - Ethics and Lobbying|Part 1 - Tennessee Ethics Commission Act of 2006 — Ethics Commission|§ 3-6-116. Training Program for Members of the Commission

  A person who is appointed to the Tennessee ethics commission may not vote, deliberate, or be counted as a member in attendance at a meeting of the commission until the person completes a training program provided by the office of the attorney general and reporter that complies with this section. This section shall not apply to members who are reappointed to the commission for a subsequent term.   The training program shall provide the person with information regarding:  The legislation that created the commission;   The role and function of the commission;   The rules of the commission, with an emphasis on the rules that relate to disciplinary and investigatory authority;   The current budget for the commission;   The results of the most recent formal audit of the commission;   The requirements of the laws administrated and enforced by the commission; and   Any applicable policies adopted by the commission.     A person appointed to the commission is entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred in attending the training program.
TN Code § 3-6-202 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 3 - Legislature|Chapter 6 - Ethics and Lobbying|Part 2 - Tennessee Ethics Commission Act of 2006 — Violations|§ 3-6-202. Confidentiality — Public Disclosure

   The members and staff of the Tennessee ethics commission shall preserve the confidentiality of all commission proceedings, including records relating to a preliminary investigation. Such records shall be exempt from the provisions of title 10, chapter 7 and shall be confidential until:  The alleged violator requests in writing that the investigation and associated records and meetings be made public;   The commission finds that probable cause exists to believe that a violation has occurred. Upon this determination, the records and proceedings shall be made public on:   The date the public hearing to determine whether a violation has occurred commences; or   The date the commission refers a matter based upon a finding of probable cause; or     The commission determines that no probable cause exists to believe that a violation has occurred. Upon such determination, the records and proceedings shall be made public sixty (60) days after:   The date the report of the commission's finding is issued, if the complainant does not request a probable cause hearing pursuant to § 3-6-203(b)(1); or   The date the commission issues its finding of no probable cause from a probable cause hearing.       No personal or professional financial records of the alleged violator shall be disclosed pursuant to this section upon a finding of no probable cause.   A member of the commission or a member of the commission staff may acknowledge receipt of a complaint or may disclose information to the extent necessary to successfully pursue an investigation. In no event shall such information against a candidate in any election, as defined in § 2-10-102, be disclosed during the period from thirty (30) days immediately preceding the commencement of voting for that election through election day, unless the candidate requests in writing the disclosure of the information.     A member of the commission or member of the commission staff who knowingly discloses information in violation of this section commits a Class C misdemeanor. A violation of this section also subjects the person to the civil penalties imposed by § 3-6-205(a)(2). Violation of this section by a member of the commission shall be grounds for removal from office.
TN Code § 3-6-203 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 3 - Legislature|Chapter 6 - Ethics and Lobbying|Part 2 - Tennessee Ethics Commission Act of 2006 — Violations|§ 3-6-203. Preliminary Investigation — Referral of Sufficient Complaint to Attorney General — Presentation of Evidence on Probable Cause — Determination of Probable Cause — Public Hearing

  The commission shall initiate a preliminary investigation of each sworn complaint that complies with § 3-6-201. If the commission determines that the sworn complaint does not comply with §  3-6-201, then the commission shall dismiss the complaint and notify the complainant. In the notification sent to the complainant, the commission shall state with particularity why the complaint does not comply with §  3-6-201. If the commission has referred the complaint to the registry of election finance, then the commission shall also notify the complainant of the referral.   The commission shall refer a factually and legally sufficient complaint to the office of the attorney general and reporter, who shall conduct a preliminary investigation. The commission shall make a probable cause determination after the office of the attorney general and reporter completes its investigation and reports its findings to the commission. Both the alleged violator and the complainant shall be entitled, upon request, to present evidence before the commission prior to the commission's probable cause determination. The commission shall have notice that evidence will be presented to the commission personally served upon, or sent by return receipt requested mail, to the alleged violator and the complainant. The commission has discretion to determine the appropriate procedure for the presenting of evidence.  If the commission determines that no probable cause exists to believe a violation of any law or rule administered and enforced by the commission occurred, the commission shall dismiss the complaint by issuing a report to the complainant and the alleged violator, stating with particularity its reasons for dismissal of the complaint. A complainant may request a hearing upon a determination of no probable cause. If after the hearing the commission determines that there is no probable cause, the commission may order the complainant to reimburse the alleged violator for any reasonable costs and reasonable attorney fees the alleged violator has incurred.   If the commission determines that probable cause exists to believe a violation of any law or rule administered and enforced by the commission occurred, the commission shall conduct a public hearing and, if the alleged violator is a member of the general assembly, shall notify the ethics committee of the appropriate house of the probable cause determination. Both the alleged violator and the complainant shall receive, by personal service or return receipt requested mail, notice of the time, date, and location of the hearing.