Authorizing City Council's Legislative Oversight Committee to hold public hearings on implementing department-specific computerized ethics training programs designed to equip all City officials, employees and appointees with the ethics knowledge needed to make better decisions and take appropriate actions.

WHEREAS, Proper ethics training designed specifically for each City department, agency and board would effectively

educate employees and appointees on the legal and ethical issues they face; and

WHEREAS, The City’s ethics training must effectively communicate the various federal, state and local laws, in addition to local regulations, that create a comprehensive code of conduct; and

WHEREAS, Computerized ethics training programs

provide a consistent, proactive method for managing this code and the procedures thereof, and are customizable

for each individual taking the training based on their specific role and department; and

WHEREAS, Providing the training in an electronic format offers flexibility for the user and also ensures that the information being communicated is clear and consistent. This type of training is also more interactive, which may lead to a better understanding and appreciation of the code of conduct; and

WHEREAS, Both the State of Illinois and New York City Council, among numerous corporations nationwide, have hired consultants to design customized, electronic ethics training programs to incorporate their respective ethics and values into their employees’ decisions and actions; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Board of Ethics, which dates back to 1962, has evolved into an independent board tasked with providing clear guidance regarding standards of conduct and ethics and under section 20-606 of the Philadelphia Code is responsible for training and educating all City officers and employees of these standards; and

WHEREAS, These trainings are routine and mandatory for all City officers and employees; and

WHEREAS, Implementing an electronic training program would help ensure that all officers and employees are up-to-date on their ethics training, which in turn will build trust, protect reputations and allow for more transparency; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That authority be given to the Legislative Oversight Committee to hold public hearings on implementing department-specific electronic ethics training programs designed to equip all City officials, employees and appointees with the ethics knowledge needed to make better decisions and take appropriate actions.

End