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(a)(1) Any citizen may file a complaint with the Arkansas Ethics Commission against a person
covered by this subchapter, by § 6-24-101 et seq.; § 7-1-103(a)(1)-(4), (6), or (7); § 7-1-114
[repealed]; the Disclosure Act for Public Initiatives, Referenda, and Measures Referred to Voters,
§ 7-9-401 et seq.; § 21-1-401 et seq.; § 21-8-301 et seq.; the Disclosure Act for Lobbyists and
State and Local Officials, § 21-8-401 et seq., § 21-8-601 et seq., § 21-8-701 et seq., and
§ 21-8-801 et seq.; § 21-8-901 et seq.; § 21-8-1001 et seq.; § 21-8-1101 et seq.; § 25-1-125; and
Arkansas Constitution, Article 19, §§ 28-30, for an alleged violation of the subchapters or
sections. For purposes of this subdivision (a)(1), the Arkansas Ethics Commission shall be
considered a citizen.
(2) A complaint must be filed within four (4) years after the alleged violation occurred. If the
alleged violation is the failure to file a report or the filing of an incorrect report, the complaint
shall be filed within four (4) years after the date the report was due.
(3) A citizen complaint shall be timely filed if it is:
(A) Hand-delivered to the Arkansas Ethics Commission on or before the date that the
complaint is due;
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CAMPAIGN PRACTICES
7-6-218
(B) Mailed to the Arkansas Ethics Commission, properly addressed, postage prepaid, and
bearing a postmark indicating that it was received by the post office or common carrier on or
before the date that the complaint is due; or
(C) Received via email or facsimile by the Arkansas Ethics Commission on or before the date
that the complaint is due, provided the original is received by the Arkansas Ethics Commission
within ten (10) days of the transmission.
(4) The Arkansas Ethics Commission shall prepare a citizen complaint form and make it
publicly available on the Arkansas Ethics Commission’s website.
(5) The Arkansas Ethics Commission shall promulgate rules under the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, § 25-15-201 et seq., to develop the complaint submission process under
subdivisions (a)(3) and (a)(4) of this section.
(b)(1)(A) Upon a complaint stating facts constituting an alleged violation signed under penalty
of perjury by any person, the Arkansas Ethics Commission shall investigate the alleged
violation of this subchapter or § 6-24-101 et seq.; § 7-1-103(a)(1)-(4), (6), or (7); § 7-1-114
[repealed]; the Disclosure Act for Public Initiatives, Referenda, and Measures Referred to
Voters, § 7-9-401 et seq.; § 21-1-401 et seq.; § 21-8-301 et seq.; the Disclosure Act for Lobbyists
and State and Local Officials, § 21-8-401 et seq., § 21-8-601 et seq., § 21-8-701 et seq., and
§ 21-8-801 et seq.; § 21-8-901 et seq.; § 21-8-1001 et seq.; § 21-8-1101 et seq.; § 25-1-125; and
Arkansas Constitution, Article 19, §§ 28-30.
(B) The Arkansas Ethics Commission shall immediately notify any person under investigation of the investigation and of the nature of the alleged violation.
(C) The Arkansas Ethics Commission in a document shall advise the complainant and the
respondent of the final action taken, together with the reasons for the action, and such
document shall be a public record.
(D) Filing of a frivolous complaint shall be a violation of this subchapter. For purposes of this
section, “frivolous” means clearly lacking any basis in fact or law. In any case in which the
Arkansas Ethics Commission has dismissed a complaint, the respondent may request in
writing that the Arkansas Ethics Commission make a finding as to whether or not the
complaint filed was frivolous. In the event that the Arkansas Ethics Commission finds that the
complaint was frivolous, the respondent may file a complaint seeking sanctions as provided in
subdivision (b)(4) of this section.
(2) If, after the investigation, the Arkansas Ethics Commission finds that probable cause exists
for a finding of a violation, the respondent may request a hearing. The hearing shall be a public
hearing.
(3)(A) The Arkansas Ethics Commission shall keep a record of its investigations, inquiries, and
proceedings.
(B)(i) Except as provided in subdivision (b)(3)(B)(ii) of this section, all proceedings, records,
and transcripts of any investigations or inquiries shall be kept confidential by the Arkansas
Ethics Commission, unless the respondent requests disclosure of documents relating to
investigation of the case, in case of a hearing under subdivision (b)(2) of this section, or in case
of judicial review of a decision of the Arkansas Ethics Commission pursuant to § 25-15-212.
(ii)(a) Through its members or staff, the Arkansas Ethics Commission may disclose
confidential information to proper law enforcement officials, agencies, and bodies, or as may be
required to conduct its investigation.
(b) If an investigation or inquiry concerns an attorney or judge, the Arkansas Ethics
Commission may, through its members or staff, disclose confidential information to the
Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct or the Judicial Discipline and Disability
Commission.
(C) Thirty (30) days after any final adjudication in which the Arkansas Ethics Commission
makes a finding of a violation, all records relevant to the investigation and upon which the
Arkansas Ethics Commission has based its decision, except working papers of the Arkansas
Ethics Commission and its staff, shall be open to public inspection.
(4) If the Arkansas Ethics Commission finds a violation of this subchapter; § 6-24-101 et seq.;
§ 7-1-103(a)(1)-(4), (6), or (7); § 7-1-114 [repealed]; § 21-1-401 et seq.; § 21-8-301 et seq.; the
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7-6-219
ELECTIONS
Disclosure Act for Lobbyists and State and Local Officials, § 21-8-401 et seq., § 21-8-601 et seq.,
§ 21-8-701 et seq., and § 21-8-801 et seq.; § 21-8-901 et seq.; § 21-8-1001 et seq.; § 21-8-1101 et
seq.; § 25-1-125; or Arkansas Constitution, Article 19, §§ 28-30, then the Arkansas Ethics
Commission shall do one (1) or more of the following, unless good cause be shown for the
violation:
(A) Issue a public letter of caution or warning or reprimand;
(B)(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 7-6-202, 7-9-409, 21-8-403, 21-8-903, and
21-8-1105, impose a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than three thousand five
hundred dollars ($3,500) for negligent or intentional violation of this subchapter; § 6-24-101 et
seq.; § 7-1-114 [repealed]; the Disclosure Act for Public Initiatives, Referenda, and Measures
Referred to Voters, § 7-9-401 et seq.; § 21-8-301 et seq.; the Disclosure Act for Lobbyists and
State and Local Officials, § 21-8-401 et seq., § 21-8-601 et seq., § 21-8-701 et seq., and
§ 21-8-801 et seq.; § 21-8-901 et seq.; § 21-8-1001 et seq.; § 21-8-1101 et seq.; § 25-1-125; or
Arkansas Constitution, Article 19, §§ 28-30.
(ii) A fine for violating § 7-1-114 [repealed]; shall not exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150).
(iii) The Arkansas Ethics Commission shall adopt rules governing the imposition of such
fines in accordance with the provisions of the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act,
§ 25-15-201 et seq.
(iv) All moneys received by the Arkansas Ethics Commission in payment of fines shall be
deposited into the State Treasury as general revenues;
(C) Order the respondent to file or amend a statutorily required disclosure form; or
(D)(i) Report its finding, along with such information and documents as it deems appropriate, and make recommendations to the proper law enforcement authorities.
(ii) When exercising the authority provided in this subdivision (b)(4), the Arkansas Ethics
Commission is not required to make a finding of a violation of the laws under its jurisdiction.
(5)(A)(i) Except as provided in subdivision (b)(5)(A)(iii) of this section, the Arkansas Ethics
Commission shall complete its investigation of a complaint filed pursuant to this section and
take final action within two hundred ten (210) days of the filing of the complaint.
(ii) Except as provided in subdivision (b)(5)(A)(iii) of this section, if a hearing under
subdivision (b)(2) of this section or other hearing of adjudication is conducted, all action on the
complaint by the Arkansas Ethics Commission shall be completed within two hundred forty
(240) days.
(iii) If the Arkansas Ethics Commission requires additional time to complete its investigation under subdivision (b)(5)(A)(i) of this section or to complete its hearing or action under
subdivision (b)(5)(A)(ii) of this section and gives written notice to the person who is under
investigation or the subject of the hearing or action, the Arkansas Ethics Commission may
extend the time to complete the investigation, hearing, or action by no more than sixty (60)
days.
(B) However, such time shall be tolled during the pendency of any civil action, civil appeal,
or other judicial proceeding involving those particular Arkansas Ethics Commission proceedings.
(c) Any final action of the Arkansas Ethics Commission under this section shall constitute an
adjudication for purposes of judicial review under § 25-15-212.