Sec. 602.921. - Duties and powers.

The Jacksonville Ethics Commission (Commission) shall be authorized to exercise such powers and shall be required to perform such duties as are hereinafter provided. The Commission shall be empowered to review, interpret, render advisory opinions and enforce Chapter 602 , Ordinance Code; and, in accordance with Section 1.202 of the Charter, to exercise the following powers and duties: (a) The Commission is authorized to receive, and to investigate and issue findings with regard to any sworn written complaint alleging a violation of this Chapter that is based upon personal knowledge or information other than hearsay or any written referral of a possible violation of this Chapter from the Council Auditor, Employee Services, the Office of Inspector General, or the State Attorney's Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit. The Commission shall not initiate a complaint or investigation regarding a violation of this Chapter. All complaints, referrals, and records shall be confidential as allowed by Section 112.324, Florida Statutes, or any other applicable State law. In support of this power, the Commission is authorized to establish an ethics "hotline." The General Counsel or Inspector General, with the assistance of all appropriate and available offices of the City, shall assist the Commission in the investigation of complaints or referrals, as applicable. The Commission may also refer matters brought to its attention to the State Attorneys' Office or the Florida Commission on Ethics if it determines jurisdiction is vested in, and action is more appropriate if taken by said agencies. (b) Provide assistance and input into the management and coordination of the training and education of local officers and employees in State and local ethics, including the City's Ethics Education Program as set forth in Section 602.1001 , as well as all public records and sunshine law training throughout the government. (c) Recommend changes in legislation to City Council in the areas of ethics laws and administration, conflicts of interests, hotline policies, ethics education, ethics in procurement, campaign ethics, and lobbying. (d) Have jurisdiction to levy those civil fines or penalties authorized in this Chapter 602 for violations of the City's ethics code. (e) Act as the hiring committee, subject to Council confirmation, for the executive director of the Ethics Oversight and Compliance office. (Ord. 2011-167-E, § 2; Ord. 2024-499-E , § 1)