Version A final setup - Florida House of Representatives

RULE EIGHTEEN–COMPLAINTS AGAINST MEMBERS AND
OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE, LOBBYISTS, AND OTHER
PERSONS
18.1—Complaints against Members and Officers of the House,
Lobbyists, and Other Persons; Procedure
Rule 18 governs proceedings on all complaints under the jurisdiction of the
House. Such complaints include:
(a) Those alleging violation of law, violation of the House Code of
Conduct, or improper conduct of a member or officer that may reflect upon the
House; or
(b) Violations of Joint Rule One or s. 11.045, s. 112.3148, or s.
112.3149, Florida Statutes, by any lobbyist or person other than a member of
the House.
18.2—Violations; Investigations
(a) Any person may file a sworn complaint with the Chair of the Rules
& Calendar Committee alleging a violation as provided in Rule 18.1. The
complaint shall be based on personal knowledge of the complainant, shall state
detailed facts, shall specify the actions of the named respondent which form the
basis for the complaint, and shall identify each specific rule or law alleged by
the complainant to have been violated.
(b) Upon a determination by the Chair of the Rules & Calendar
Committee that the complaint states facts supporting a finding of probable
cause, the Speaker shall refer the complaint to a special master or to a select
committee. Upon a determination by the Chair of the Rules & Calendar
Committee that the complaint fails to state facts supporting a finding of
probable cause, the complaint shall be dismissed.
(c) Upon referral by the Speaker of a complaint under subsection (b),
the special master or select committee shall conduct an investigation, shall give
reasonable notice to the respondent, and shall grant the respondent an
opportunity to be heard unless the investigation fails to reveal facts supporting a
finding of probable cause. A special master's or select committee's report and
recommendation is advisory only and shall be presented to the Chair of the
Rules & Calendar Committee as soon as practicable after the close of the
investigation. If the report and recommendation conclude that the facts do not
support a finding of probable cause, the complaint shall be dismissed by the
Chair of the Rules & Calendar Committee.
(d) If the complaint is not dismissed by the special master or the select
committee, the Rules & Calendar Committee shall consider the report and
recommendation, shall grant the respondent an opportunity to be heard, and
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