State and Local Lobbying Rules
˿Ƶ law prohibits all public officials and employees from receiving, and “interested parties” from providing, any gift or gifts with an aggregate value in excess of $50 in a calendar year from any single source.
There are exceptions for:
- Unsolicited tokens of minimal value (less than $25);
- The cost of food and beverage and admission to a reception, meal, or meeting where the public official or public employee is attending in his/her official capacity on behalf of his/her state or local government body.
- Reasonable food, travel, or lodging expenses are provided to a public official or public employee when representing state or local government on a “fact-finding mission”, where receipt of such expenses is pre-approved. Written approval from district administration that they consider the briefing, meeting, or other event to be a fact-finding mission and the expenses to be permissible is required. A “fact-finding mission” is defined as any activity related to a cultural or educational purpose.
- Informational materials
More information is available on the ˿Ƶ Government Ethics Commission .