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Sample Notice of AB 1234 Compliance Options (See Government Code Section 53235(f))

Post

[On Agency Letterhead]

Memorandum


To: Council Members, Planning Commissioners [list additional covered officials]

From: ___________________________________, City Attorney/County Counsel /Special District General Counsel

Subject: AB 1234 Mandatory Ethics Training Requirements; Notice of Options

Date:


State law requires specified local officials to receive two hours of ethics training. The requirement applies to local officials who either receive compensation for their service to the city or are reimbursed for their expenses.

For newly elected and appointed officials, the requirement is to receive this training within one year of assuming office. For everyone else, the requirement is to receive this training within two years of receiving one’s first training.

The training must cover both ethics laws and ethics principles. There are a number of options for complying with this requirement.

  • The city/county/special district will be offering training on ________________ from _____ to ______ at _______.
  • Self-study materials are available at www.ca-ilg.org/ab1234compliance. The materials require that you read two articles on public service ethics laws and principles, take a self-assessment test and then submit it to the Institute for Local Government with a processing fee for each test. The Institute will review your test(s), provide you the correct answers to the questions and a proof of participation certificate.
  • The Fair Political Practices Commission offers free online training at http://localethics.fppc.ca.gov/login.aspx. This option requires you to log onto the FPPC’s website, review various screens of materials, take periodic tests to assure retention of the information and then print out a certificate.
  • The Institute for Local Government also offers onsite training to local officials at conferences, regional meetings and at individual local agencies on a fee basis. For more information see www.ca-ilg.org/ab1234compliance.

Once you receive your proof of participation in the required AB 1234 training, please make a copy of the certificate for your records and provide the original to the city/county clerk’s [or district secretary’s] office. These records will be retained as public records for at least five years.

As with all ethics laws, AB 1234 creates a minimum for ethics education—not a maximum. We encourage you to take advantage of additional training in ethics-related topics and document those efforts as well.

If you have any questions regarding these requirements, please contact my office. Note that general information about AB 1234 is also available at www.ca-ilg.org/ab1234compliance, including a frequently-asked-questions sheet.

Cc: City Clerk/County Clerk/District Secretary
City Manager/County Administrator/Special District General Manager

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