The Best Practices Report is BEGA’s annual assessment of the District’s public integrity and open government laws. Beginning with the 2018 Best Practices Report, BEGA has provided the Mayor and Council with its recommendations on improving the District's government ethics and open government and transparency laws, including: (l) An assessment of ethical guidelines and requirements for employees and public officials; (2) A review of national and state best practices in open government and transparency; and (3) Amendments to the Code of Conduct, the Open Meetings Act, and the Freedom of Information Act of 1976.
Prior to 2018, the BEGA was required to address seven specific questions in its annual assessment. Those questions were whether the District should: 1) adopt local laws similar in nature to federal ethics laws; 2) adopt post-employment restrictions; 3) adopt ethics laws pertaining to contracting and procurement; 4) adopt nepotism and cronyism prohibitions; 5) criminalize violations of ethics laws; 6) expel a member of the Council for certain violations of the Code of Conduct; and 7) regulate campaign contributions from affiliated or subsidiary corporations.
2024 Best Practices Report (PDF)
Past Best Practices Reports
2023 Best Practices Report (PDF)
2022 Best Practices Report (PDF)
2021 Best Practices Report (PDF)
2018 Best Practices Report (PDF)
2016 Best Practices Report (PDF)
2015 Best Practices Report (PDF)
2014 Best Practices Report (PDF)