***DRAFT FAQs for TRAINING DRAFT***

TRAINING FAQs

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Who is Required to Take Live Ethics Training?

The following state officials must take a LIVE ethics training course:

  • Elected Officials: Legislators, Governor, Lt. Governor
  • Executive Branch: Department heads (Directors & Deputy Directors), Governor’s Chief of Staff
  • Department of Education (DOE): Superintendent and Deputy Superintendents
  • Judiciary: Administrative Director and Deputy Director
  • Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA): Trustees, CEO, and Executive Administrators
  • State Library: State Librarian and Special Assistant
  • University of Hawai’i (UH): President, Vice Presidents, Assistant Vice Presidents, Provost, and Chancellors

Members of of the following state boards and commissions:

  • Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC)
  • Board of Agriculture (BOA)
  • Board of Education (BOE)
  • Board of Land & Natural Resources (BLNR)
  • Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM)
  • Hawai’i Community Development Authority (HCDA)
  • Hawai’i Housing Finance & Development Corporation (HHFDC)
  • Hawai’i Public Housing Authority (HPHA)
  • Hawai’i Public Utilities Commission (HPUC)
  • Hawai’i State Ethics Commission (HSEC)
  • Hawaiian Homes Commission
  • Land Use Commission (LUC)
  • Legacy Land Conservation Commission
  • Natural Area Reserves System Commission
  • Natural Energy Lab. of Hawai’i Authority (NELHA)
  • Stadium Authority
  • University of Hawai’i Board of Regents
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What types of training are available?

  • General Ethics
  • Ethics for Board & Commission Members
  • Ethics for State Government Attorneys
  • Lobbyist Law
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What training do I need to take?

All state legislators, state employees, and state boards and commission members must take an ethics training course and repeat the course every four years. Certain high-level state officials are required to take a live training course; everyone else can take the self-directed course.

Lobbyists must complete lobbyist training before they register with the Commission and every two years thereafter. They can take the online, self-directed course. As an optional resource, the Commission also offers annual live training in January (before the start of the legislative session).

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Who can take self-directed (online) training?

Only certain high level officials must take the live ethics course; most state employees and board members may take the self directed course.

For Executive Branch, Judiciary, UH, and HHSC employees who are not required to take LIVE training, please complete the training via your department’s learning management portal to ensure your training records are accurately listed on your account.

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When do I have to take training?

  • State officials: Within 90 days of your start date, and once every four years thereafter.
  • Lobbyists: Prior to registering as a state lobbyist, and once every two years thereafter.
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I completed self-directed ethics training two years ago, but was recently appointed as a department head. Do I need to take training again?

Yes, you now need to take a live ethics training course based on your current position.

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I completed training but just transferred to a new department. Do I need to take training again?

Ethics training is valid for four years, even if you transfer to another state job. In some cases, your past training record may not appear on your new department’s learning management system. As long as you have proof of completion, that is usually sufficient, but please check with your personnel officer.

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How do I verify if I took ethics training?

Search and download information using the Commission’s Public Data and the Ethics Training Completion Report.

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What happens if you do not take mandatory ethics or lobbying law training?

If you do not complete the required training, you may be subject to fines and other penalties. State employees may also be subject to disciplinary action by your employing agency for failure to comply with state law.