The Office of Government Ethics Monday released a revised rule approving the use of computer-based distance learning techniques for federal ethics training.
Under the rule, employees who file annual public financial disclosure forms-about 7 percent of the federal workforce-must receive verbal ethics training every year. The rule says instructors can provide such training using distance learning technologies.
Employees who don't have to file public financial disclosure forms only have to receive verbal ethics training every three years. In other years, such employees can receive written training instead.
Computer-based training programs count as both verbal and written training, but agencies have to make instructors available to public disclosure filers so that their questions can be answered.
The ethics office said in the Feb. 14 Federal Register that the revised rule was written in plain English and included minor changes based on comments received from federal agencies.
The rewritten rule takes effect on March 15, but will not be made final until after agencies and individuals have a chance to comment on the proposed changes. Comments are due by May 15.
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