Both Sycamore and DeKalb municipalities are taking steps to comply with a state law requiring an ethics code for city employees.

The DeKalb City Council reviewed a consideration at Monday’s meeting to amend the municipal code to update the ordinance required by the state’s Gift Ban Act.

On April 19, the Sycamore City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting city employees from participating in political campaigns while on the clock with the city, said Bill Nicklas, Sycamore city manager. He said the ordinance it passed is in the form of a model ordinance drawn up by the Illinois Municipal League.

The state legislation, called the State Officials and Employee Ethics Act, was passed in December by the Illinois General Assembly. The law covers the regulation of ethics among state employees.

Certain provisions in the act apply specifically to local municipalities. They include what gifts can be received, whom employees can receive gifts from and political activity while on the clock, said Roger Huedner, general consul for the Illinois Municipal League.

Huedner said the act is an update of the state Gift Ban Act and is similar to the original law. The act prohibits people who are trying to influence government officials from giving them gifts. Huedner said that, for instance, registered lobbyists couldn’t give gifts to officials.

The model ordinance results from work done by the Municipal League and a committee of attorneys after they studied the state statute.

The ordinance will go into effect 10 days after it is passed, said Mark Biernacki, DeKalb city manager. Prohibited political activities include any political meetings, political rallies, political demonstrations, other political events and soliciting contributions, he said.

Biernacki said the ordinance may be passed at the May 10 meeting. Municipalities in the state have a May 15 deadline to pass an ordinance.

Both Sycamore and DeKalb are basing their ordinances on the model ordinance provided by the Municipal League.