Overview

The Ethics Department is dedicated to assisting Metro in carrying out its mission in compliance with ethics-related laws and consistent with the highest standards of ethical conduct to maintain the public’s trust that our decisions are made with impartiality and services performed with integrity to provide the safest, most effective and efficient transportation system possible for Los Angeles County.

The Ethics Department was established in 1996 by action of the State legislature and reports to the Metro Board of Directors.

The mission of the Ethics Department is to:

• Provide information and advice to the Board of Directors and assist them in complying with the special ethics-related laws and requirements that apply to them;
• Serve as the filing officer for the Statement of Economic Interest disclosures by Metro Board Members and employees, and update the Metro Conflict of Interest Code biennially as required by law;
• Serve as Metro Filing Officer for lobbyist registration and reporting, and administer the lobbyist program;
• Provide ethics-related materials, education, and advice to Metro employees, contractors, Sector Governance Council members and consultants to promote a high standard of ethics within Metro and assist in compliance with all applicable laws;
• Serve as the Hearing Officers for second level parking citation appeal, reconsideration appeals from contractors that have been determined to have failed in making good faith efforts to achieve the disadvantaged business enterprise goal and other compliance or pre-debarment hearings, and
• Perform such other duties incident to the foregoing or that the Board of Directors may assign or authorize from time to time.

Codes of Conduct

A Code of Conduct is a set of rules outlining the responsibilities of or proper practices for an individual or entity. Metro has Codes of Conduct for its Board of Directors, contractors and employees. The codes of conduct were adopted by the Board as part of our administrative code; a Metro ordinance. The Board code of conduct is also enacted as a state statute.

Metro has also adopted a Customer Code of Conduct that will take effect July 1, 2011.

The Ethics Department is charged with interpretation and maintenance of the codes of conduct. Violations of a code of conduct can lead to sanctions and in some cases termination of employment or contracts.

If you have any questions about whether your conduct is permissible by a code of conduct, you are urged to contact the Ethics Department before you act.

• Board of Directors Code of Conduct
• Employee Code of Conduct
• Contractor Code of Conduct
• Customer Code of Conduct (effective July 1, 2011)

If you are aware of any possible violations of the codes of conduct, these should be reported to the Ethics Department to address.

• Notices and Forms – Form 802 Requirements and Filings

Lobbyist

Pursuant to California Public Utilities Code section 130051.18 and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority ("Metro" also referred to as "MTA" within the legal documents) Administrative Code chapter 5-25, all lobbyists, lobbyist employers, and lobbying firms that attempt to influence Metro action are required to register with Metro and to report their lobbyist activity on a quarterly basis. Registration must be renewed on an annual basis.

Definition of Lobbying

“Lobbying” means any attempt by a lobbyist or lobbying firm to influence a MTA action through direct or indirect communication, other than administrative testimony, with an MTA official.  (Pub. Util. Code § 130051.18(a)(9); MTA Administrative Code section 5-05-130)

What is a Lobbyist?

A lobbyist is any individual who receives any economic consideration, other than reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses, for lobbying. The term “lobbyist” includes consultants and officers or employees of any business entity seeking to enter into a contract with the MTA. (Pub. Util. Code § 130051.18(a)(11); MTA Administrative Code section 5-05-150). Any contact beyond submitting a bid is likely lobbying and thus, the contacting person and/or company making a contact beyond submittal should be a registered lobbyist.

If you have any question on whether or not you should register as a lobbyist, please call the Ethics Department at (213) 922-2900, or email us at ethics@metro.net. 

The Ethics Department has an Online Filing System for the submission of all lobbyist forms.  Please click on the link below to be redirected to our Lobbyist Online Filing System.

Lobbyist Registration (Online Lobbyist Registration System and FAQs)

Hearings

The Ethics Department, as an independent department, is charged with conducting impartial administrative hearings on behalf of Metro involving Metro contractors and the public.

Hearings conducted by the Ethics Department include: good faith reconsiderations, transit related parking violations, debarment proceedings, and other assigned hearings.

Different procedures apply to each type of hearing.  The procedures for some of the hearings are available by clicking on the name of the hearing below.

Good Faith Reconsideration Hearing Procedures

Parking Citation Appeals Hearing Procedures