About Us

The State Ethics Commission was created by No. 79 of the Acts of the 2017 Vermont General Assembly and is codified in Chapter 31 of Title 3 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated.

The State Ethics Commission is composed of the following five members:

1. one member appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;

2. one member appointed by the League of Women Voters of Vermont, who is a member of the League;

3. one member appointed by the Board of Directors of the Vermont Society of Certified Public Accountants, who is a member of the Society;

4. one member appointed by the Board of Managers of the Vermont Bar Association, who is a member of the Association; and

5. one member appointed by the Vermont State Council of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), who is a member of the Association.

The State Ethics Commission is required to:

1. Receive and post required financial disclosure forms for all Executive Officers, Sheriffs, State Ethics Commission members, and the Executive Director of the State Ethics Commission.

2. Administer the State Code of Ethics and the statewide Municipal Code of Ethics.

3. Accept, review, refer, and track complaints of alleged violations of the State Code of Ethics; the statewide Municipal Code of Ethics; the Department of Human Resources Personnel Policy and Procedure Manual; governmental conduct regulated by law; and the State's finance law as set forth in 17 V.S.A Chapter 61.

4. Provide governmental ethics training to State of Vermont public servants and municipal officers.

5. Issue guidance and advisory opinions regarding ethical conduct in state and municipal government.

6. Report to the Vermont General Assembly regarding complaints received, guidance issued, and recommendations for legislative action.