2023 Texas Statutes › Government Code › Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics › Subtitle B - Ethics › Chapter 571 - Texas Ethics Commission › Subchapter E. Complaint Procedures and Hearings › Section 571.122. Filing of Complaint; Contents

Sec. 571.122.  FILING OF COMPLAINT;  CONTENTS.  (a)  An individual may file with the commission a sworn complaint alleging that a person subject to a law administered and enforced by the commission has violated a rule adopted by or a law administered and enforced by the commission.  A sworn complaint must be filed on a form prescribed by the commission.  The commission shall make the complaint form available on the Internet.  The form prescribed by the commission must require the complainant to provide the following information for both the complainant and the respondent:
(1)  the person's name;
(2)  the person's telephone number;
(3)  the person's electronic mail address, if known; and
(4)  the physical address of the person's home or business.
(b)  A complaint filed under this section must be in writing and under oath and must set forth in simple, concise, and direct statements:
(1)  the name of the complainant;
(2)  the street or mailing address of the complainant;
(3)  the name of each respondent;
(4)  the position or title of each respondent;
(5)  the nature of the alleged violation, including if possible the specific rule or provision of law alleged to have been violated;
(6)  a statement of the facts constituting the alleged violation and the dates on which or period of time in which the alleged violation occurred;  and
(7)  all documents or other material available to the complainant that are relevant to the allegation, a list of all documents or other material within the knowledge of the complainant and available to the complainant that are relevant to the allegation but that are not in the possession of the complainant, including the location of the documents, if known, and a list of all documents or other material within the knowledge of the complainant that are unavailable to the complainant and that are relevant to the complaint, including the location of the documents, if known.
Text of subsection as added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1166 (H.B. 3218), Sec. 1
(b-1)  An individual must be a resident of this state to be eligible to file a sworn complaint with the commission.  A copy of one of the following documents must be attached to the complaint:
(1)  the complainant's driver's license or personal identification certificate issued under Chapter 521, Transportation Code, or commercial driver's license issued under Chapter 522, Transportation Code; or
(2)  a utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that:
(A)  shows the name and address of the complainant; and
(B)  is dated not more than 30 days before the date on which the complaint is filed.
Text of subsection as added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 604 (H.B. 677), Sec. 2
(b-1)  To be eligible to file a sworn complaint with the commission, an individual must be a resident of this state or must own real property in this state.  A copy of one of the following documents must be attached to the complaint:
(1)  the complainant's driver's license or personal identification certificate issued under Chapter 521, Transportation Code, or commercial driver's license issued under Chapter 522, Transportation Code;
(2)  a utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that:
(A)  shows the name and address of the complainant; and
(B)  is dated not more than 30 days before the date on which the complaint is filed; or
(3)  a property tax bill, notice of appraised value, or other government document that:
(A)  shows the name of the complainant;
(B)  shows the address of real property in this state; and
(C)  identifies the complainant as the owner of the real property.
(c)  The complaint must be accompanied by an affidavit stating that the information contained in the complaint is either correct or that the complainant has good reason to believe and does believe that the violation occurred.  If the complaint is based on information and belief, the complaint shall state the source and basis of the information and belief.  The complainant may swear to the facts by oath before a notary public or other authorized official.
(d)  The complaint must state on its face an allegation that, if true, constitutes a violation of a rule adopted by or a law administered and enforced by the commission.
(e)  It is not a valid basis of a complaint to allege that a report required under Chapter 254, Election Code, contains the improper name or address of a person from whom a political contribution was received if the name or address in the report is the same as the name or address that appears on the check for the political contribution.
Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.  Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 249, Sec. 1.16, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 604 (H.B. 677), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2009.
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1166 (H.B. 3218), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 4 (S.B. 1), Sec. 76.04, eff. September 28, 2011.