If local governing board members receive ethics training under the State Ethics Act because they serve on a state board, such as a community college boards of trustees, does that satisfy the requirement for training under the local government ethics law?
No, local governing board members who also serve on a state board or in another state position covered under the State Government Ethics Act must take both ethics trainings. Local government officials who are also “public servants” under G.S. Chapter 138A, the State Government Ethics Act ("State Ethics Act"), must participate in mandatory ethics education required by the State Ethics Act in addition to the ethics training required under the Local Government Ethics Act. "Public servants" are certain officials and employees in the Executive Branch of state government, including the members of certain state boards and commissions, who are subject to the requirements and prohibitions of the State Ethics Act.
The local government ethics training taken by persons covered by the State Ethics Act does not count towards the mandatory state ethics act training requirement, nor does the State Ethics Act training count toward the local ethics education requirement. Why is this? Because the laws that must be addressed in each type of training are different. As a result, those local elected officials who are “dual covered” must take both trainings.
Training for the State Ethics Act is available online at the State Ethics Commission website.
