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Ethics 101 for State Employees

Ethics 101 for State Employees. 2011 www.ct.gov/ethics 860-263-2400. Ethics in Government Today.

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Ethics 101 for State Employees

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  1. Ethics 101 for State Employees 2011 www.ct.gov/ethics860-263-2400

  2. Ethics in Government Today No responsibility of Government is more fundamental than the responsibility for maintaining the highest standards of ethical behavior by those who conduct the public business. There can be no dissent from the principle that all officials must act with unwavering integrity, absolute impartiality, and complete devotion to the public interest. This principle must be followed not only in reality but in appearance. For the basis of effective government is public confidence, and that confidence is endangered when ethical standards falter or appear to falter. President John F. Kennedy, April 27, 1961.

  3. Workshop Objectives • Introduce the Office of State Ethics • Identify main points of the Code of Ethics and discuss new developments • Review resources available to help you comply with the Code

  4. Office of State Ethics (OSE) • Public Act 05-183 • Created OSE • Effective July 1, 2005 • Citizen’s Ethics Advisory Board • 9 appointed members • Monthly open meetings • Connecticut General Statutes, Chapter 10, Parts I and II, limited Part IV

  5. Office of State Ethics (OSE) • Educate Regulated Community • Provide Public Information • Interpret and Apply the Codes • Investigate Potential Violations, Prosecute Violations

  6. The Big Picture • Who is covered by the Codes of Ethics? • All state officials and employees (except judges) • Certain provisions also apply to former public officials and employees • Lobbyists • Certain provisions apply to contractors • What’s the point? • The law is intended to prevent individuals from using public position or authority for personal financial benefit.

  7. Voting and Official Action • Prohibited if official expects that he, she, spouse, child, associated business, will derive direct monetary gain (or suffer direct loss) as a result of that action • OK if any resultant gain/loss is equal for any other member of the group affected

  8. Reporting Violations • Mandatory Reporters • Commissioners • Deputy Commissioners • State Agency Heads and Deputy Heads • Quasi-public Agency Heads and Deputy Heads • Persons in charge of state agency procurement and contracting

  9. Ethics at Work On the Job

  10. Gifts - Definition • A gift is: • Anything of value • Directly and personally received • Unless consideration of equal or greater value

  11. Gifts - Sources • Restricted Donors • Registered lobbyists • Regulated by, doing or seeking to do business with agency • DAS “pre-qual” list • Non-restricted, given by virtue of your position • Non-restricted, giving not related to state service

  12. Gifts – From Restricted Donors • Any item of value; < $10 with annual aggregate < $50 • Food and beverage; < $50 and person paying is in attendance • $1,000 limit from registered lobbyist for “major life event” • No limit if gift from family member • Other gift exceptions

  13. Gifts to the State • Goods and services provided to a state agency or quasi-public agency for use on state or quasi-public agency’s property or that support an event, and which facilitate state action or functions

  14. Conferences/Workshops Prohibited • It is no longer permissible for a state agency to accept conference or workshop registration from restricted donors (certain costs for active participation at events may be reimbursed under necessary expenses)

  15. Necessary Expenses • No fees/honorariums for articles or speeches in official capacity • Necessary Expenses • Travel • Lodging • Meals • Related conference expenses

  16. Gifts – From Non-restricted Donors • If given by virtue of one’s state position • Any item of value; < $100 per year • All gift exceptions • If not given by virtue of state service • No limit

  17. Gift Reporting - § 1-84 (o) • Gift giving to public officials or state employees must be reported within 10 days by providing the gift recipient and the head of that individual’s department or agency a written report stating: • name of the donor; • description of item(s) given; • value of such item(s); and • Total cumulative value of all items to date to the recipient during the calendar year

  18. Gifts – Summary Chart DonorsGifts Exceptions Restricted Don’t accept §1-79(e) 1-18(lobbyists, vendors/contractors) Non-restricted, giving motivated Up to $100 from §1-79(e) 1-18by your position each source per year Non-restricted, giving not motivated by your position No ban, no limits N/A

  19. Gifts to Other Employees • Gifts between Subordinates and Supervisors: • $99.99 limit per gift • No pooling for group gifts except when there is a major life event

  20. Ethics After Hours Moonlighting

  21. Outside Employment • Precautions: • Cannot impair public official’s or state employee’s independence of judgment • No disclosure of confidential information • No use of state time, materials or personnel • Translation: employee may not accept outside employment with a business that can benefit from his or her state actions

  22. Outside Employment Note Working for an entity that represents others before 13 agencies below is not permitted: State Insurance and Risk Management Department of Motor Vehicles Board Claims Commissioner Gaming Policy Board Office of Health Care Access Division of Special Revenue Insurance Department Connecticut Real Estate Commission Department of Environmental Protection Connecticut Siting Council Department of Public Utility Control Department of Banking Department of Consumer Protection:Liquor Control

  23. Leaving the State Retirement New Job

  24. Revolving Door • Disclosure of confidential information (lifetime) • Ban on representation concerning matters in which public official or state employee participated (lifetime) _________________________________ • Representing others before former agency (1 yr.) • Contracts over $50,000 (1 yr.)

  25. Additional Provisions Other things to keep in mind…

  26. Contracting with the State • No contracts with the state valued at > $100 • Unless awarded through open, public process • Prohibition for agency heads

  27. Other Considerations • Regulation Updates • Recent Advisory Opinions • Individual state agencies may have more restrictive ethics policies

  28. Enforcement Upon a finding that there has been violation of Code or § 1-101nn, Board may order: • Cease and desist; • File any report or statement as required; and • Pay a civil penalty of no more than $10,000 for each violation

  29. Enforcement • Confidentiality provisions and filing a complaint

  30. OSE Resources • Web Site: www.ct.gov/ethics • Phone: 860-263-2400 • E-Mail: ose@ct.gov • Educational Outreach • Monthly Electronic Newsletter • Regular Monthly and Quarterly Sessions at OSE • Plain-language Guides and Materials • Online Training • DVD and Web-streaming Video

  31. Recap “Whenever you do a thing…ask yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you, and act accordingly.” --Thomas Jefferson

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