3792814 Public Oversight Roundtable Notice on "The Implementation of Act 19-318, the "Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Establishment and Comprehensive Ethics Reform Amendment Act"

Council of the District of Columbia

Committee on Government Operations

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Notice of Public Oversight Roundtable

______________________________________________________________________________

                                                                         

COUNCILMEMBER MURIEL BOWSER, CHAIR

COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

 

Announces a Public Oversight Roundtable

 

On

 

The Implementation of Act 19-0318, the “Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Establishment and Comprehensive Ethics Reform Amendment Act”

 

On

 

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

11:30 A.M.

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Room 412

Washington, D.C. 20004

 

 

Councilmember Muriel Bowser, Chair of the Committee on Government Operations, announces a public oversight roundtable to review the implementation of Act 19-0318, the “Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Establishment and Comprehensive Ethics Reform Amendment Act.” Effective April 27, 2012, the Act sought to respond to ethical lapses of some high ranking public officials by enhancing financial disclosure laws, providing for centralized and professional advice related to the code of conduct, furthering regulation of constituent services funds, requiring ethical training, decreasing opportunities for appearances of undue influence, and enhancing penalties for violations of ethics laws. Most importantly, the Act establishes a new agency charged exclusively with administering and enforcing the new and enhanced laws.

 

Appointed in July of 2012, Chairperson Robert Spagnoletti, and members Deborah Lathen and Laura Richards have spent the summer preparing to launch the new Board of Ethics and Government Accountability, hiring key staff, drafting regulations, developing training materials, establishing a website, and convening Board meetings all in an effort to begin enforcing the District’s ethics laws by the designated October 1^st launch date. To review the agency’s efforts to date, and its plans to enforce the Act and meet its deadlines, the Committee will convene this public oversight roundtable on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 11:30 A.M., in Room 412, of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

 

Individuals and representatives of organizations wishing to testify should contact Kate Kountzman, Legislative Counsel to the Committee on Government Operations, at [phone], or [e-mail] and furnish their name, address, telephone number, and organizational affiliation, if any, by the close of business Tuesday, October 16, 2012.  Persons presenting testimony may be limited to 3 minutes in order to permit each witness an opportunity to be heard.

 

If you are unable to testify at the roundtable, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record.  Copies of written statements should be submitted to the Committee on Government Operations, Council of the District of Columbia, Suite 113 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004.