El Paso County leaders are considering creating an ethics commission that could investigate complaints and enforce the ethics code.

Right now, the county has a voluntary ethics code that is overseen by an ethics board. But the board has no power to impose penalties, because none exist in state law.

That is why the county may ask Texas lawmakers to pass legislation that would authorize an ethics commission to impose civil and criminal penalties.

The proposal would also allow county commissioners to appoint or hold an election for members of the ethics commission. “I think frankly the general public is fed up with public officials and public employees engaging in conflicts of interest and taking money for their roads," said El Paso County Attorney Jose Rodriguez.

If county commissioners and state lawmakers go along with the proposal, El Paso would get the first ethics commission in Texas backed by state law and could impose fines up to $4,000.