In November, voters approved a state Constitutional change to create a state ethics commission.
Now, a Fargo lawmaker has introduced a bill to implement it.
Sen. Tim Mathern’s (D-Fargo) bill would take four years to fully implement. The bill creates the five-member commission now, and then calls for an interim study to set out the rules on what government officials and lobbyists can and cannot do.
"An interim study committee is essentially a way of educating legislators," Mathern said. "It's also a way for citizens to have more input outside of the rat-race of a Legislative session."
Mathern said that study takes on added importance, when you consider this measure will affect policy, and raises Constitutional questions for decades to come.
"Any one of us is susceptible of doing things wrong -- including me," Mathern said. "The more I have clarity, the greater the likelihood that I will act in a positive and ethical manner, and in the common good. That's the rationale for this."
Mathern said he has the backing of the group that proposed the initiated Constitutional measure.