Lawmakers heading back to the Capitol will soon have to take a course on public-sector ethics under a measure approved earlier this year.

A memorial by Rep. Nate Cote, D-Las Cruces, led to the development of the course in collaboration with New Mexico State University.

A task force is currently putting together a syllabus for the class.

"This task force will design and implement an ethics education/training program for public officials to adhere to the public trust and stewardship of the common good of the community," Cote said in a statement.

"Ethics training should clarify and reinforce the understanding of a person's ethical compass," he said. "Those of us in public service should always understand and be prepared to do what is right and what is expected of us regardless of the situation we find ourselves in."

Task Force member Raymon Bruce said the idea is to teach elected officials that public-sector ethics often are different from those in the private sector.

"Our hope is that this course will eliminate a lot of mistakes and teach new officials that they are stewards of the public trust," Bruce said in a release.

The state in past years has seen several scandals involving public officials, including former state Senate President Pro Tem Manny Aragon, who was sentenced to prison for his role in a courthouse scandal.

It's not just legislators getting more education on ethical behavior. The Public Regulation Commission also is working on new ethics training for its employees.

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog at www.greenchilechatter.com.