One of state government's most scandal-ridden agencies recently asked employees to fill out an ethics survey as part of an "ongoing self examination as an agency."

The survey distributed to Public Regulation Commission workers posed 32 questions about ethics and appropriate work behavior, including whether it's ethical for a commissioner to ask an employee to do a special favor for an entity that is regulated by the commission.

Other questions included whether it's OK for a supervisor to ask an employee to look the other way while another worker leaves early every day without recording that on a time sheet.

The elected commission, which regulates industries such as insurance, utilities and transportation, has seen its share of scandal. Commissioner Jerome Block Jr. in April was indicted on election-related charges. Commissioner Carol Sloan faces charges of battery, burglary and damage to property after allegedly attacking another woman in July. Commissioner Sandy Jones caught heat recently for hiring a felon. A sexual harassment lawsuit against Commissioner David King was settled for $850,000. And past commissioners and employees have also been the subject of unfavorable headlines.

The survey, on which employees were told they didn't have to put their names, is an effort by the agency to address such publicity, commission Chairman Sandy Jones said.

"Our agency has certainly been the brunt of a number of concerns in the paper, we know that," Jones said. "Our hope was ... to ask, 'Is there a clear road map for ethical behavior here?' ... to ask the really hard questions, knowing we were going to get some answers we probably didn't like."

While the PRC hasn't made the survey results public, it appears the agency really didn't like some of the answers that came in response to a section asking for comments about the agency.

Jones said "there were certain things written down that may or may not be proper to release." He said he couldn't elaborate but said the PRC's general counsel was studying the situation.

"The results are going to be out shortly," he said. "The one kink we hadn't anticipated was the (Office of General Counsel) thinks things need to be redacted, so we'll look at that," Jones said.

The PRC's attorney couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday.

The survey, completed by about 140 employees, asked whether workers think they could "spot potential problems in this agency," whether they have seen any ethical violations at the agency within the past year and whether there is a different standard for ethical conduct for employees and commissioners.

In addition, employees were asked to rank the concerns they have about the agency on a scale of one to five. Those include personal use of state time, political partisanship, expense reporting, and hiring and promotion practices.

Jones said the agency plans to use the answers to improve itself.

"While the results could be a little tough to live with, we have to do it to go forward," he said.

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

Take the PRC ethics challenge

Among the questions asked of PRC employees in a survey on ethics:

• A regulated entity tells you that they will buy you dinner if you fast track their paperwork.

_____ethical _____unethical _____I don't know

• An employee of a regulated entity asks you out on a date.

_____ethical _____unethical _____I don't know

• A member of a regulated entity asks you to pass on confidential case information.

_____ethical _____unethical _____I don't know

• A commissioner asks you to do a special favor for a regulated entity.

_____ethical _____unethical _____I don't know

• A fellow employee is working for a regulated entity as a second job.

_____ethical _____unethical _____I don't know

• An employee of a regulated entity gives you a kitten.

_____ethical _____unethical _____I don't know

• Volunteering to work on a Commissioner's campaign.

_____ethical _____unethical _____I don't know

• How do you think the PRC is perceived by the public?

______1 _____2 _____3 _____4 _____5

Ethical Unethical