§ Ethics Rule 4.9Gifts from Successful Vendors

No state officer or state employee shall accept any gift for
himself or herself or his or her family member from any vendor or
vendor’s agent at any time the vendor is doing business with the
state officer or state employee’s agency through a contract involving
property or services, subject to the following exceptions:
1. A state officer or employee may accept meals having an
aggregate market value of Twenty Dollars ($20.00) or less per
occasion, provided that the aggregate market value of individual
gifts received from any individual or other entity does not exceed
Fifty Dollars ($50.00) during any calendar year. Where the market
value of a meal exceeds Twenty Dollars ($20.00) on a single occasion,
the state officer or employee may not pay the excess value over
Twenty Dollars ($20.00) in order to accept that portion of the gift
worth Twenty Dollars ($20.00). The value of a meal shall include its
price, plus any applicable tax but shall not include a gratuity.
2. A state officer or employee may accept a gift given under
circumstances that make it clear that the gift is motivated by a
family relationship or a personal relationship rather than the state
officer or employee’s status as a state officer or employee.
Relevant factors in making such a determination include, but are not
limited to, the history and nature of the relationship and whether
the family member or friend personally pays for the gift.
3. A state officer or employee may accept a gift given to all
state employees or to all employees of his or her agency provided the
gifts are customary within the industry and the costs of the gifts do
not significantly exceed amounts that are customary within the
industry.
4. A state officer or employee may accept a book, written
materials, audio tapes, videotapes and other informational or
promotional material related to the performance of the state officer
or employee’s official duties.
5. A state officer or employee may accept opportunities and
benefits available to the public generally and on the same terms
available to the public.