BOARD MEETING DATE: December 1, 2006
AGENDA NO. 13

Clarify Board Requirements on AQMD Advisory Group and Committee Members for AB 1234 Ethics Training

SYNOPSIS:

AB 1234 became law on January 1, 2006.  The Statute specifies that if a local agency such as AQMD provides compensation or reimbursement to members of Brown Act covered committees, ethics training is required for Committee members.  AB 1234 specifies the content of the two-hour course, which must be completed by January 1, 2007.  This action is to clarify that the Board requires ethics training for all AQMD Advisory Group and Committee members who serve on Brown Act covered committees.

COMMITTEE:

Not Applicable

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Staff and the Executive Officer recommend that the Governing Board clarify all AQMD Advisory Group and Committee members who serve on Brown Act covered committees and are eligible to receive compensation or reimbursement must receive ethics training specified by AB 1234.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

AB 1234 became law on January 1, 2006.  The Statute specifies that if a local agency such as AQMD provides for compensation or reimbursement to members of Brown Act covered committees, ethics training is required for committee members.  AB 1234 also required modifications to AQMD’s reimbursement Policy, which were effectuated earlier this year.

The course content is to include:  laws relating to personal financial gain by public servants, government transparency laws and the misuse of public funds.  The training is required to be at least two hours and must be completed by January 1, 2007 for all those who were committee members on January 1, 2007.  New members must complete the training within one year.

AQMD staff has notified the Governing Board, Hearing Board Assistants, and the following Committee members of the ethics training requirement:  Advisory Council; Ethnic Community Advisory Group; Local Government & Small Business Assistance Advisory Group; Scientific, Technical & Modeling Peer Review Advisory Group; AQMP Advisory Group; Technology Advancement Advisory Group; Home Rule Advisory Group; Environmental Justice Task Force; Public Benefits Programs Oversight Committee; Investment Oversight Committee; and Clean Fuels Advisory Group.

  AQMD presented an AB 1234 ethics session on September 8, 2006, and again on October 25, 2006.  Another session is planned for early December 2006.  Staff also informed the members of the training available on-line at the Institute for Local Government’s website and the free training available from the Fair Political Practices Commission at http://www.fppc.ca.gov/.

Proposal

The Board hereby clarifies that all AQMD Advisory Group and Committee members who serve on Brown Act covered committees and who are eligible to receive compensation and reimbursement, must participate in the ethics training course.  The content and frequency of the course will be consistent with the requirements of AB  1234.

Resource Impacts

None.

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