Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed an ethics law that requires state employees to record the time they spend working on state business.

Steve Brown, press secretary for Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, said people started questioning what employees did while on the clock.

Brown said there are reports of employees doing political work on government time, which is illegal.

With the new law, employees must keep a time sheet and record when they leave or work on other business.

The law also applies to university employees, and the Illinois Board of Higher Education is in charge of enforcement.

“We have to establish a policy consistent with the law, and universities will have to abide by those policies,” said Don Sevener, director of communications for the IBHE.

Sevener said all employees are subject to the law, except those under contracts at some universities.

“The employees must fill out regular time sheets,” he said.

Ken Zehnder, assistant director of State and Federal Relations, said under the system, using time sheets is possible for hourly employees. The process for salaried employees still is under review.

“The attorneys are looking at the statutes to make sure we’re complying with the IBHE requirements,” Zehnder said.

Zehnder said he isn’t sure when the law will be implemented.

It also requires all state employees to go through ethics training.

Rebecca Rausch, spokeswoman for Blagojevich, said state employees are required to take a tutorial, which will go over what is against the rules and clear up any gray areas. State employees have until May to complete it.

The law will strengthen the Gift Act Ban and limit lobbyist spending on food and drinks to $75 per state employee or official per day.

Additionally, state employees will be prohibited from leaving government employment and immediately accepting jobs with companies they were involved with in awarding state contracts for more than $25,000. Lobbyists and individuals with personal financial interest in state contracts would be prohibited from serving on boards and commissions.

Rausch said the new law was established to restore trust in the Illinois government after the scandals were made public. She said the ethics bill was one of Blagojevich’s priorities when he took office.

“We want the taxpayers to be assured that employees are doing state work and that their dollars are protected,” Rausch said.