Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council; investigative authority.

Authorizes the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council to investigate alleged violations of the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act and the General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act (the Acts). The Council may initiate an investigation upon its own motion or in response to a citizen complaint. Before beginning an investigation in response to a citizen complaint, the Council is required to conduct a preliminary inquiry to determine whether the facts stated in the complaint, when taken as true, are sufficient to show that a violation of the Acts warrants an investigation. The bill details (i) the authority of the Council to issue subpoenas and the rights of the subject of an investigation; (ii) prerequisites for a finding of a violation of the Acts, including the conduct of a public hearing; and (iii) the requirements for referral of a violation of the Acts to appropriate authorities.