NJ A4162

All elected and appointed local government officers in New Jersey must complete annual ethics training on the Local Government Ethics Law and any applicable municipal or county code of ethics.

Newly elected or appointed officials must complete initial training within six months of taking office, then repeat training by December 1 of each subsequent year.

The Division of Local Government Services will develop standard training programs, which may be delivered online or via video, while local agencies can create supplemental training for their specific ethics codes.

Officials must sign certification statements upon completing training, which municipal attorneys or county counsel must retain for up to two years after the official leaves office.

Failure to complete required training results in personal fines ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 on an escalating schedule, which cannot be reimbursed by the government agency.