(1) Upon receipt of a complaint that complies with Section 25-4-19, the commission shall authorize a confidential investigation of the complaint. Upon completion of the investigation, the commission shall proceed as follows:

(a) If the complaint concerns a public official in the legislative branch, the commission shall refer the complaint, confidentially, to the public official and to the appropriate committee of the House of Representatives or the Senate having jurisdiction over the ethical conduct of its members and employees.

(b) If the complaint concerns a public official in the judicial branch, the commission shall refer the complaint, confidentially, to the public official and to the Commission on Judicial Performance or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

(c) If the complaint concerns a public official in the executive branch or persons not covered in paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection, then the commission shall refer the complaint, confidentially, to the public official and to the head of the department or agency, if the person is in the executive branch, or, for other public officials, to the person about whom the complaint is filed.

(d) The persons, committees or commission receiving complaints referred in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) shall have thirty (30) days within which to respond to the complaint.

(e) After receiving the response to the complaint or, if no response is received after thirty (30) days from the notice of referral, the commission may, in its discretion, terminate the matter or proceed with an investigation as follows:

(i) The commission may terminate any and all proceedings at any stage of its procedure upon a determination that an appropriate disposition of the matter has occurred.

(ii) If the investigation indicates probable cause for belief that a violation of law has occurred, the commission may set a hearing of the matter to be held in accordance with the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure and the Mississippi Rules of Evidence. After the hearing, the commission may order penalties as prescribed in this chapter. The commission may enroll its order as a civil judgment with the circuit clerk in the county of residence of the judgment debtor. The commission may enforce the judgment on behalf of the State General Fund in the same manner as prescribed for other civil judgments, after complying with subsection (2) of this section.

(iii) The commission may refer the complaint with any evidence gathered during the investigation to the Attorney General and to the district attorney having jurisdiction, with a recommendation that it be considered for presentation to the grand jury. The Attorney General and the district attorney shall report back to the commission within ninety (90) days as to what action was taken following receipt of the complaint and recommendations of the commission, including the intent of the Attorney General to seek further civil remedies and the intent of the district attorney to present such matter to the grand jury.

(2) Any person aggrieved by a decision of the commission made pursuant to its hearing procedures may appeal de novo to the Circuit Court for Hinds County and execution of the commission’s decision shall be stayed upon the filing of a notice of appeal.

(3) Civil actions taken by the commission shall not bar prosecutions for violations of the criminal law.