Conflicts
of Interest
In accordance with HB 914
HB 914 is a new
law that requires all local governments including school districts to
have their officers file conflict of interest disclosure statements
about gifts received from or business relationships with any vendor
that is currently doing business or soliciting business with the school
district.
Gifts
received from vendors are cumulative over a 12-month period and are
reported if they exceed $250 for an officer and their family
members. The Texas Ethics Commission indicates on its Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Statement (form CIS), offers of gifts
exceeding $250 are reported even if they are not taken. Business
relationships include any business in which a district official or
family member has employment, an interest or ownership.
Vendors are
required to report business relationships at the time they begin
contract negotiations or are solicited for bids or proposals. A
vendor must disclose any business relationship with a district officer
that might cause a conflict of interest. Vendors have 7 business
days to file Ethics Commission's Conflict
of Interest Questionnaire (form CIQ) or face the
possibility of a Class C Misdemeanor. Vendors can file a form CIQ
annually by September 1 of each year and need only update it by the
seventh business day following an event limit of $250.
The above links are in pdf format. Adobe Acrobat Reader is
required
to read these files. This program may be downloaded free by
clicking
the following icon:
