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House Approves Bill For State Ethics Commission

 The House has approved a proposal to establish an independent commission to investigate alleged ethical violations by state workers, legislators, elected state officials, lobbyists and governmental contractors.

The measure would establish an 11-member Ethics Commission appointed by legislative leaders, the governor and the chief justice of the state Supreme Court.

The commission would administer New Mexico laws governing campaign fundraising, lobbyist spending and ethics standards for governmental officials.

If the commission finds an ethics violation, it would issue a report and that could include a public reprimand or censure of a state official or state employee.

The bill passed the House on a 64-1 vote on Thursday and goes to the Senate.

Similar proposals for an ethics commission have died in the Legislature in the past