PERAC Memo #13 - 2010: Ethics Training Reminder –Training must be Completed by April 2, 2010

Ethics Training Reminder –Training must be Completed by April 2, 2010

Summary

PERAC Memo #13/2010 reminds retirement boards that all board members and staff, as municipal employees under G.L. c. 268A, must complete the state Ethics Commission's online ethics training by April 2, 2010, and recertify every two years, with new members/employees completing it within 30 days of appointment or hire. Boards must retain completion certificates for six years, forward copies to appointing authorities (for non-elected members), file certificates with the appropriate municipal/district clerk or retain them if the system covers multiple governmental units, and—if the board itself holds the records—designate a senior liaison to the Ethics Commission and notify the Commission of that designation (and any subsequent changes).

Full Text

MEMORANDUM #13, 2010 M E M O R A N D U M TO: All Retirement Boards FROM: Joseph E. Connarton, Executive Director RE: Ethics Training Reminder –Training must be Completed by April 2, 2010 DATE: March 10, 2010 Members of Retirement Boards and Retirement Board staff are municipal employees within the meaning of G.L. c. 268A and as a result Board Members and Board staff must comply with the provisions of the new reform law (See PERAC Memo #45/2009). The State and Teachers’ Retirement Boards and other Boards whose members are employed by State agencies must comply with the instructions issued by the Ethics Commission for State Agencies.
Each person subject to the new requirements must complete the ethics training program on the Ethics Commission’s website on or before April 2, 2010 and every two years thereafter. New Board Members and new employees must complete the training within 30 days of becoming a Board Member or being employed by the Board. A certificate is issued upon successful completion of the training program, and must be retained in a file maintained by the Board for 6 years. A copy of the certificate should also be provided to the appointing authority of those members of the Board other than the elected members. Board members and Board employees should print out a copy of the certificate for their own records. When you have gathered all of the certificates, please advise the Commission. The certificates discussed above must also be filed with the municipal clerk if all of the members of the System are employed by same municipality. Thus if the municipality is the only governmental unit in your System, the filing is to be with the Municipal Clerk. In Retirement Systems for authorities or districts, the Clerk of the authority or district would be the holder. If your System is made up of more than one governmental unit, the Retirement Board is the keeper of the record for the certificates. Please note, if the Retirement Board is the keeper of the records for the certificates, the Board should designate a senior level employee to be a liaison to the Ethics Commission for the purpose of implementing the mandatory education requirements. The Board is to advise the Ethics Commission of the person so designated and advise the Ethics Commission when a change in the designation is made (See G.L. c. 268A, § 29). Thank you for your continued cooperation in this regard.