About the Office of Ethics Compliance

The Los Angeles County Office of Ethics Compliance is the professional staff that carries out the day-to-day work of the Ethics Commission. The Office is being established in phases. As its functions become operational, the Office will educate County officials, employees, candidates, lobbyists, and others subject to the laws the Commission enforces; answer requests for advice; receive and publish disclosure filings; review complaints, investigate alleged violations, and conduct audits; and present enforcement matters to the Commission when a Commission decision is required. The Commission sets policy for the Office and adopts the rules under which it operates.

1. Education and training: will provide training for persons subject to the laws the Commission enforces and will develop a manual that summarizes ethics laws and reporting requirements in plain language.
2. Advice: will provide informal oral and written advice. Formal written opinions are issued by vote of the Commission. The recipient of a formal opinion is protected from Commission enforcement for actions taken in good faith in reliance on that opinion, when the material facts match those described in the opinion request.
3. Filings and data: no later than January 1, 2028, the Office becomes the filing officer for County lobbyist registration and reports (County Code Chapter 2.160) and for Statements of Economic Interests (Form 700), Tax Agent Registration (County Code Sections 2.165.040 and 2.165.060) and Forms 801 and 802 filed with the County. The Office will build searchable, sortable and downloadable public data portals for campaign finance, lobbying, conflict of interest and ethics filings.
4. Investigations and audits: will review complaints, investigate alleged violations, conduct audits of disclosure filings, and support enforcement proceedings before the Commission. Records obtained during a preliminary review or investigation are confidential to the extent permitted by law.
5. Policy: will support the Commission in preparing a draft County Ethics Code ordinance for the Board's consideration by December 31, 2027, and in developing regular recommendations to update the County Code. The Office will also assist departments in developing their conflict of interest codes.
6. Public reporting: will publish an annual public report on the Commission’s activities, including complaints received, investigations opened, enforcement actions completed and penalties imposed.