House committee agrees to shore up ethics rules

BOISE (AP) - The Idaho House has taken steps to toughen up its ethics rules.

The House Judiciary Committee approved a resolution Thursday to add a standing ethics committee and other revisions. The proposal now moves to the full House.

The new ethics committee will include five members - three from the majority party and two from the minority. Rules call for a four-fifths vote to pass any measure and members would be elected by each party caucus.

The resolution also adds more specific categories for potential ethical misconduct and clarifies that sanctions could include reprimand, censure and expulsion.

It also calls for having the committee meet behind closed doors to review an ethics complaint. That complaint would become a public document if the committee found probable cause.