State workers to undergo ethics orientation in January

As many as 250,000 people across Louisiana who work in state and local government agencies face new training requirements with the start of the new year to ensure they know their limitations under the state’s ethics code. State Ethics Administrator Kathleen Allen says anyone deemed a “public servant” will be required to receive an hour of education and training on the ethics codes annually. Estimates are the requirement could apply to 250,000 people, such as government employees, appointees to a public board or commission and volunteer firefighters, whether they are paid or not. Similar training already was mandated for elected officials in Louisiana. Lawmakers approved the requirements in 2007, with legislators saying anyone subject to the ethics code should know its provisions and limitations.