5-806. Gift ban; principals and lobbyists;
exemptions


A. A principal or lobbyist or any other person acting on behalf of a principal or
lobbyist shall not give a gift to any board member or employee of the board and a board
member or employee of the board shall not accept a gift from a principal or lobbyist.


B. For the purpose of this section, a gift does not include any of the following:


1. Salary, compensation or employer reimbursed expenses lawfully paid to a board
member or employee.


2. A family gift.


3. An award or prize that is given to competitors in a contest or event that is
open to the public including a random drawing.


4. Any discount or other benefit that is offered to a board member or employee on
the same conditions as to the public, to a class consisting of all board members and
employees or to a group or class in which membership is unrelated to being a board member
or employee.


5. An educational event or speaking engagement.


6. Expenses relating to a special event or function to which all members of the
board are invited and that are properly reported.


7. Flowers.


8. Food and beverage.


9. Informational material, including a book, calendar, pamphlet, periodical, report
or video.


10. An item that is not used and that is returned within fifteen days of receipt to
the donor or that is delivered within fifteen days of receipt to a charitable
organization and that is not claimed as a charitable contribution for state or federal
income tax purposes.


11. An item that is given to a board member or employee if the board member or
employee gives an item of approximately the same value to the giver of the item at the
same time that the item is given or on a similar occasion as the one that prompted the
original item to be given.


12. An item of a personal nature that was customarily received by an individual from
the donor before the individual became a board member or employee.


13. An item that is given to the general public at an event.


14. An item of nominal value such as a greeting card, baseball cap, t-shirt, mug or
pen.


15. Nonrecreational travel or lodging, or both.


16. Personal hospitality.


17. A plaque or other form of recognition similar to a plaque to a board member or
employee to signify the honorary recognition of a service or other notable
accomplishment.


18. Professional or consulting services rendered on matters directly related to
holding a position on the board or employee of the board and that are not rendered to
obtain a benefit for any registered principal, public body, lobbyist, designated public
lobbyist or authorized public lobbyist or the clients of a principal or lobbyist.