Rhode Island House majority leader Gordon Fox has submitted legislation that would restore the state Ethics Commission's ability to investigate members of the general assembly for possible violations in votes and actions.

The bill would carve out an exclusion to the state constitution's protection for legislators, whose speech on the floor is generally protected. A Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling last June interpreted Article VI Sec. 5 to exempt legislators from the purview of the Ethics Commission, a situation Fox hopes to correct.

“There was never any discussion in 1986 about leaving the General Assembly out of the Ethics Commission’s jurisdiction," said Fox in a statement. "This legislation will allow voters to reaffirm that they mean for the Ethics Commission to have the same jurisdiction over members of the legislature that they have over all other public officials, and I’m confident that they’ll approve it and set the record straight.”

The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, and as a change to the state constitution, would need to be approved by voters.

The legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Chris Fierro (D-51), Joy Hearn (D-66), Michael Marcello (D-4), Donna Walsh (D-36) and Douglas Gablinske (D-68) and others.

Editorial note: Written from GA press release.