La. Admin. Code tit. 52 § I-2405

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section I-2405 - Certification of Trainers

A. In order for an applicant to be an approved certified trainer, he must meet the following requirements.

1. Required Training. Certified trainer applicants are required to undergo a minimum of four hours of training within the past three years that can be verified with attendance records maintained by the ethics administration program prior to submitting an application seeking certified trainer status. Courses that may count toward an applicant's four-hour training requirement include:

a. two-hour training course(s) developed for liaisons pursuant to R.S. 42:1170(C);

b. public servant ethics training offered by an employee of the ethics administration program or any other trainer who has been previously certified to deliver public servant ethics training programs by the ethics administration program; or

c. public servant ethics training offered via the Board of Ethics website; however, no more than one hour will count toward an applicant's four-hour training requirement.

2. Application Submission. All persons who seek approval as a certified trainer to deliver a public servant ethics training program must submit an application for trainer certification following the completion of the required training pursuant to Subsection A of this Section. The application can be found on the board's website.

3. Ongoing Training. A certified trainer who wishes to maintain certified status in subsequent years is required to undergo two hours of continuing education within 90 days of the beginning of each calendar year; this requirement can be met through attendance at any of the courses enumerated in Subsection A of this Section. A certified trainer who does not undergo his two hour continuing education training course to maintain his certified status will be required to attend four hours of training and submit an application for trainer certification, which must be approved by the ethics administrator, or his designee, to renew his certified trainer status.

B. Certified trainer applicants must not have been found to have been in violation of any of the laws within The Code of Governmental Ethics, R.S. 42:1101 et seq., prior to submission of an application for trainer certification unless approval has been obtained by the board in accordance with §2405.B 3

1. Subsection B does not include persons who have been subject to a per day late fee pursuant to the laws under the jurisdiction of the board, if said fee has been paid.

2. Subsection B does not apply to any persons who have been found in violation of any other laws under the board's supervision or jurisdiction including, but not limited to, the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act, R.S. 18:1481 et seq., or the Lobbyist Disclosure Acts, R.S. 24:50 et seq., R.S. 49:71 et seq., and R.S. 33:9661 et seq.

3. A person who has been found in violation of the Code of Governmental Ethics, as set forth in Subsection B, may seek approval from the board to become a certified trainer three years from the date the decision finding the violation is final.

C. Certified trainer applicants who are licensed to practice law may not be approved if currently representing a client in connection with an ongoing investigation, if representing a client in a matter in which charges have been filed by the board, or if an attorney of record in a civil lawsuit in which the board is named as an opposing party.

1. Subsection C shall not prohibit an attorney from becoming a certified trainer if he is representing a client in relation to an advisory opinion request before the board.

2. Subsection C shall only be read to apply to the individual attorney and shall not be read to be imputed upon an attorney's firm.

D. Only upon approval by the ethics administrator, or his designee, will an applicant become a certified trainer. The ethics administrator, or his designee, retains the right to refuse approval of applicants, or suspend or revoke the status of certified trainers as set forth in §2413 H, who do not comply with the requirements or standards of these rules. A person not approved as a certified trainer under this Section may appeal the decision of the ethics administrator, or his designee, to the board.

La. Admin. Code tit. 52, § I-2405

Promulgated by the Department of Civil Service, Board of Ethics, LR 38:1209 (May 2012), Amended LR 47718 (6/1/2021).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 42:1134(A).