The D.C. Board of Ethics and Government Accountability will hold its annual symposium on government ethics best practices Oct. 3, 2013, from 6 ti 8:00 p.m. in the BEGA Hearing Room, 441 4th Street, N.W., Suite 540 South. This year’s theme: “So You Want to Have a Universal Code of Conduct?” and “Policies on Transparency in Government.”
Members of the public, academia and government may offer views in writing or orally on amendments to the District’s ethics laws and rules reflecting best practices, needed improvements to government transparency, and on BEGA's first year of operations and how it can improve in the future.
The BEGA must prepare an annual assessment of ethical guidelines and requirements for employees and public officials with recommendations to the Council concerning whether to: 1) adopt local laws that are similar in nature to federal ethics laws; 2) adopt post-employment restrictions; 3) adopt ethics laws pertaining to contracting and procurement; 4) adopt nepotism and cronyism prohibitions; 5) criminalize violations of ethics laws; 6) expel a member of the Council for certain violations of the Code of Conduct; and 7) regulate campaign contributions from affiliated or subsidiary corporations. BEGA's Office of Open Government also ensures compliance with the Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act.
If you wish speak, call 202-481-3411 or send an email to bega@dc.gov, so that sufficient time may be set aside. Written testimony will be accepted in lieu of a personal appearance. For more information, please visit our website at www.bega.dc.gov.