Senator Cathy Cook, R-Mystic, today voted in favor of sweeping ethics reform legislation that she believes marks the beginning of a new era in state government.

"Governor Rell made ethics reform a hallmark of her administration. By passing this legislation, we are standing with her at the dawn of a new era in state government. This is important legislation and I am proud to support it," said Senator Cook.

The bill, SB 1 An Act Creating The Office of State Ethics And The Citizens' Ethics Advisory Board , was passed by the Senate today and is subject to further action by the House of Representatives.

"On opening day of the legislature in January," said Senator Cook, "Governor Rell challenged the General Assembly to put a real reform bill on her desk our the first order of business. It has taken longer than I would have liked, but I am delighted that the Senate has overwhelmingly approved real reform, setting up a clean slate for ethical behavior in state government."

The bill calls for replacing the nine member State Ethics Commission with a nine-member Citizens' Ethics Advisory Board and Office of State Ethics (OSE). Under this legislation, the ethics enforcement officer of the OSE may bring an alleged ethics violation before a judge trial referee to hold a hearing to determine if probable cause exists to believe that an ethics violation was committed. If probable cause is found, the board must initiate a hearing by a different judge trial referee to determine whether there has been a violation of the Ethics Code. The Chief Court Administrator must select at least ten judge trial referees to fulfill the new ethics duties and responsibilities.