Information on the 2010, 2011, and 2012 Amendments to the Ethics Act opens a new website contain rules regarding conflicts of interest, public contracts, lobbying activities, and restrictions on gifts to public employees.
Public employees may not solicit or receive anything for the purpose of corruptly influencing official action, regardless of whether or not the thing solicited or received is a thing of value. Family members of public employees may not receive anything given to them for the purpose of corruptly influencing official action. No public employee shall, other than in the ordinary course of business, solicit a thing of value from a subordinate or person or business with whom he or she directly inspects, regulates, or supervises in his or her official capacity. Excluded from the definition of “thing of value” are meals at educational functions/workshops/widely attended functions or items or services of de minimis value, or meals under $25 (maximum of $50 per year).