Duties of board and Office of State Ethics. Regulations. Advisory opinions

(a) The Citizen's Ethics Advisory Board shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to carry out the purposes of this part. Such regulations shall not be deemed to govern the conduct of any judge trial referee in the performance of such judge trial referee's duties pursuant to this chapter. Not later than January 1, 1992, the board shall adopt regulations which further clarify the meaning of the terms “directly and personally received” and “major life event”, as used in subdivision (5) of section 1-79 and subdivision (7) of section 1-91. (b) The general counsel and staff of the Office of State Ethics shall compile and maintain an index of all reports and statements filed with the Office of State Ethics under the provisions of this part and advisory opinions and informal staff letters issued by the board with regard to the requirements of this part, to facilitate public access to such reports, statements, letters and advisory opinions promptly upon the filing or issuance thereof. (c) The general counsel and staff of the Office of State Ethics shall prepare quarterly and annual summaries of statements and reports filed with the Office of State Ethics and advisory opinions and informal staff letters issued by the Office of State Ethics. (d) The general counsel and staff of the Office of State Ethics shall preserve advisory opinions and informal staff letters permanently and shall preserve memoranda, statements and reports filed by and with the Office of State Ethics for a period of five years from the date of receipt. (e) Upon the concurring vote of a majority of its members present and voting, the board shall issue advisory opinions with regard to the requirements of this part or part III of this chapter, upon the request of any person, subject to the provisions of this part or part III of this chapter, and publish such advisory opinions in the Connecticut Law Journal. Advisory opinions rendered by the board, until amended or revoked, shall be binding on the board and shall be deemed to be final decisions of the board for purposes of appeal to the Superior Court, in accordance with the provisions of section 4-175 or 4-183. Any advisory opinion concerning any person subject to the provisions of this part or part III of this chapter who requested the opinion and who acted in reliance thereon, in good faith, shall be binding upon the board, and it shall be an absolute defense in any criminal action brought under the provisions of this part that the accused acted in reliance upon such advisory opinion. (f) The Office of State Ethics shall report annually, prior to February fifteenth, to the Governor summarizing the activities of the Office of State Ethics. (g) The Office of State Ethics shall employ necessary staff within available appropriations.