Sec 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.