60,000 state employees in final phase
of ethics training    

[SEPT. 13, 2004]  CHICAGO -- A new group of Illinois state employees will begin participation in annual ethics training as required by the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act signed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich last December. This group of about 60,000 individuals includes employees of nine state universities, members of more than 300 state boards and commissions, and contract employees of the state.

"I am pleased with the progress that we've made to ensure that every state of Illinois employee that serves under this administration is well-versed on what is and what is not acceptable ethical behavior," said Gov. Blagojevich. "By completing this training that presents real-life scenarios that apply to everyday work situations, we hope that state workers can address any misunderstandings so that past mistakes are not repeated."

The group will join the more than 62,000 state employees from 43 agencies under the governor's authority who have already successfully completed training on the important ethics-related laws and rules that govern the work that they do on behalf of the state. The training, which covers subjects such as conflicts of interest and limitations on political and fund-raising activities, is provided by means of an interactive, Internet-based education program that is managed by the Office of Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor.

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"We firmly believe that educating state employees regarding ethics-related issues is an important part of our mission, and thus we are pleased that by year-end our initial ethics training efforts will have reached more than 120,000 employees," said Z. Scott, the executive inspector general appointed by the governor in April of 2003 to serve as an independent watchdog for the administration.

The training that began Thursday is a continuation of the first mandatory ethics training effort in Illinois state government history and represents one of the most comprehensive ethics education initiatives undertaken by any state government.

[News release from the governor's office]