2023 California Code › Government Code - GOV › TITLE 2 - GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA › DIVISION 2 - LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT › PART 1 - LEGISLATURE › CHAPTER 1 - Legislative Organization › ARTICLE 3 - Joint Legislative Ethics Committee › Section 8945.

8945. (a) If the committee determines that the complaint does not allege facts, directly or upon information and belief, sufficient to constitute a violation of any of the provisions of Article 2 (commencing with Section 8920), it shall dismiss the complaint and notify the complainant and respondent thereof. If the committee has sent a copy of the complaint to any other person or entity specified in subdivision (d) of Section 8944, the committee shall also notify that person or entity of its determination under this subdivision.
(b) If the committee determines that the complaint does allege facts, directly or upon information and belief, sufficient to constitute a violation of any of the provisions of Article 2 (commencing with Section 8920), the committee shall promptly investigate the alleged violation and, if after the preliminary investigation, the committee finds that probable cause exists for believing the allegations of the complaint, it shall fix a time for a hearing in the matter, which shall be not more than 30 days after the finding. If, after the preliminary investigation, the committee finds that probable cause does not exist for believing the allegations of the complaint, the committee shall dismiss the complaint. In either event the committee shall notify the complainant and respondent of its determination.
(c) If a result of an investigation initiated pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 8943, determines that probable cause exists for believing that a Member of the Legislature has violated any of the provisions of Article 2 (commencing with Section 8920), the committee shall fix a time for a hearing in the matter, which shall be not more than 30 days after the determination.
(d) The committee shall make its determination under subdivision (a) or (b) not later than 90 days after first receiving a complaint which contains all of the information required by Section 8944. The committee may, however, seek an extension, not to exceed 90 days, which may be granted by a majority vote of the membership of each house. If the committee has requested a law enforcement agency to investigate the complaint or if the committee knows that the complaint is being investigated by a law enforcement agency, the time limits set forth in this subdivision shall be tolled until the investigation is completed.
(e) The committee’s determination under subdivision (b) or (c) shall be stated in writing, with reasons given therefor, and shall be provided to the house in which the respondent serves, the Attorney General, the Fair Political Practices Commission, and the district attorney of the county in which the alleged violation occurred. The written determination provided pursuant to this subdivision is a public record and open to public inspection.
(f) Any deliberations of the committee from the time of receipt of a complaint until it decides to dismiss the complaint or to set a hearing shall not be open to the public unless the respondent requests a public meeting.
(Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 740, Sec. 7.)