This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Since the Independent Legislative Ethics Commission was created two years ago, it has not received any ethics complaints nor spent even a dime of its budget. But it now has an executive director.

The Legislative Management Committee — consisting of the top party leaders in the Legislature — approved Tuesday hiring attorney Kim Bouck for $4,000 a year for part-time administrative work.

Bouck, who formerly worked for the Utah Attorney General's Office and Lieutenant Governor's Office, will handle such things as creating a website for the committee, fielding complaints and organizing committee meetings.

If a complaint is filed, she will also head investigations — including issuing subpoenas, interviewing witnesses and making reports to the committee, said Ric Cantrell, Senate chief of staff. If complicated investigations arise that require significant extra work, legislators said they would approve extra money as needed.

Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, made a motion that the $50,000 set apart years ago for the committee — but not used to this point — be used to set up an office and website.

"It would be in helping the commission to fulfill its duties," Waddoups said, "not to solicit complaints or trying to bring work to the commission."

Lee Davidson