Who is covered under the law?

The ethics education requirement applies to the governing board members of all North Carolina cities, counties, local school boards, sanitary districts, unified governments, and consolidated city-counties.  The requirement applies regardless of whether the board member was elected or appointed to office. 

The ethics education requirement does not apply to other local government board members, such as local boards of health, social services, elections, planning, etc.  However, the code of ethics adopted by a local governing board may impose ethics education requirements and other ethical standards on local board members.

The ethics education requirement does not apply to local government employees.  However, the code of ethics adopted by a local governing board may impose ethics education requirements and other ethical standards on its own employees.