Ethics Reform Act of 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Termination of Committee on Standards of Official

Conduct in the House of Representatives

Title II: Establishment of Commission

Title III: General Provisions

Ethics Reform Act of 1997 - Title I: Termination of Committee on Standards of Official Conduct in the House of Representatives - Amends: (1) rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to terminate the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct; (2) the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 to repeal provisions regarding that Committee; and (3) specified Rules and laws to replace references to the Committee with references to the Independent Commission on House Ethics established in title II.

Title II: Establishment of Commission - Establishes within the legislative branch the Independent Commission on House Ethics. Prescribes as duties of the Commission: (1) recommending to the House appropriate administrative actions to establish or enforce standards of official conduct for Members, officers, and employees of the House; (2) investigating alleged violations of such standards and reporting its findings and recommendations to the House; (3) reporting to appropriate Federal or State authorities, with House approval, any substantial evidence of violations of law applicable to the performance of duties or the discharge of responsibilities by such persons; (4) considering requests of such persons for, and publishing, advisory opinions; and (5) providing information and guidance to such persons regarding standards of conduct. Sets forth procedural requirements for undertaking an investigation and disclosing results.

Directs the Commission to establish an Office on Advice and Education to: (1) provide information and guidance to, and to conduct educational briefings for, such persons regarding standards of conduct; and (2) recommend to the Commission advisory opinions of general applicability.

Title III: General Provisions - Requires investigations pending before the Committee on the day before the enactment of this Act to be continued by the Commission.

Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) publication in the Congressional Record of the Commission's reports to the House; and (2) House consideration of Commission recommendations for action.