LAKE COUNTY ? New legislation was introduced this week that seeks to extend ethics training required of local government officials and many of their employees to local school districts. Senate Bill 106 seeks to extend the requirement for ethics training to school boards and their designated employees, affecting school districts, community college districts and county boards of education. County superintendents of schools would also be affected by the requirement.
The bill was authored by all five members of the Senate Local Government Committee, which is chaired by Senator Patricia Wiggins. Wiggins represents California”s Second District, which includes Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
Current law requires that the members of local governing bodies, along with certain categories of local government employees, receive at least two hours of ethics training every two years. The trainings must cover relevant ethics principles and ethics laws, such as financial interest disclosure requirements and open government laws.
The training requirement currently applies to cities, counties and special districts. The existing law does not apply to school districts. “Because existing law does not require school district officials to take ethics training courses, those officials may not be fully aware of their responsibilities under the state”s ethic laws,” Wiggins said.
“Our new legislation is in response to concerns that school district officials should be required to adhere to the same ethics training requirements that apply to other local officials,” she said.
Should SB 106 become law, school officials will have the same training options as local agencies including free online courses. School officials will be required to complete their ethics training by Jan. 1, 2011.
According to Clearlake City Clerk Melissa Swanson, there are no legal ramifications for officials who do not meet the ethics training requirements. However, documentation of such training is subject to the Public Records Act and is a matter of Public Record.
The following public officials governing the City of Clearlake are reportedly current on their certification in ethics training: Nathalie Antus, assistant planner; Evelyn Chrisman, Loan Committee member; Gina Fortino-Dickson, planning commissioner; Fred Gaul, planning commissioner; Curt Giambruno, city council member; Michael Hermann, Clearlake Police lieutenant; and Lee Lambert, Code Enforcement officer.
Others current officials include Chuck Leonard, city council member; Janine Lowe, Code Enforcement officer; Allan McClain, Clearlake Chief of Police; Joyce Overton, city council member; Bill Perkins, planning commissioner; Judy Thein, city council member; Michael Vivrette, finance director; Al Bernal, planning commissioner; Craig Clausen, Clearlake Police lieutenant; Roy Simons, city council member; and Carl Webb, planning commissioner.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or contact her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
