§84-43  Ethics training courses; live and online.  (a)  The state ethics commission shall establish, design, supervise, and conduct live and online ethics training courses for all persons required to complete training under section 84-42.

     (b)  The live ethics training course may be conducted in person or via videoconference and shall include:

     (1)  Explanations and discussions of the ethics laws, administrative rules, and relevant internal policies;

     (2)  Specific technical and legal requirements;

     (3)  The underlying purposes and principles of ethics laws;

     (4)  Examples of practical application of the laws and principles; and

     (5)  A question-and-answer participatory segment regarding common problems and situations.

The state ethics commission shall develop the methods and prepare any materials necessary to implement the live ethics training course.

     (c)  The online ethics training course shall include explanations, discussions, and examples of the practical application of ethics laws and principles as the state ethics commission deems appropriate.  The state ethics commission shall develop the methods and prepare any materials necessary to implement the online ethics training course, which may include previously recorded ethics training courses originally conducted either in person or via videoconference and any other prerecorded material authorized by the state ethics commission.

     (d)  The state ethics commission shall:

     (1)  Design and administer the live ethics training courses;

     (2)  Designate those of its legal staff who are to conduct the live ethics training course;

     (3)  Notify each legislator or employee, either directly or via the employee's employing agency, that their attendance or participation in an applicable ethics training course is mandatory; provided that a legislator's or employee's non-receipt of notice shall not be a defense to a charge concerning a violation of this chapter; and

     (4)  Design and administer the online ethics training course.

     (e)  The state ethics commission may repeat the live course as necessary to accommodate all persons who are required to attend.

     (f)  Each state agency shall provide to the state ethics commission in a timely manner the names and electronic mail addresses of those persons required to take the applicable course and shall assist the commission by providing adequate meeting facilities, equipment, and technical support as needed for the ethics training courses. [L 2004, c 198, pt of §1; am L 2019, c 120, §5; am L 2022, c 165, §3]