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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- True or false? Utah lawmakers and lobbyists are required to take an online ethics test before the end of the 2010 legislative session.
True, although most of the 104 legislators haven't done it yet and many of Utah's 500 registered lobbyists don't know about it. The legislative session ends March 11.
"There's a test?" said Dave Spatafore, who has represented various clients over his 36 years as a lobbyist. "Where? When?"
No reason to get nervous, the test -- mandated by a 2009 law -- is easy, says Michael Christensen, head of the Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.
There are several possible answers for each question, he said, and for the wrong answer the electronic exam allows a second chance to get it right.
The test's content was borrowed heavily from other states' ethics training courses and is divided into ethics, campaign finance and lobbyist disclosures -- that final section contains 33 questions about ethics.
Lawmakers and lobbyists must complete all three sections.
Some of the test questions are obvious. For example: Should a legislator call a state administrator to help a neighbor get a state job? Answer: no.
But other scenarios are more nuanced, such as whether to accept a job offer with a company if told by executives that the lawmaker will be expected to "look out for our interests" on Capitol hill. Under current rules a Utah legislator is prohibited from taking a job under that obligation.
Many questions verge on technical, asking about deadlines for various reports.
"I think I got them right," Rep. Mike Morley, R-Spanish Fork, said of his effort.
Rep. Chris Johnson, D-Salt Lake City, said she thought the test was "good -- a bit basic -- but informative."
Anybody can take the test online.
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Information from: Deseret News
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
