Title 40Public Buildings, Property, and WorksRelease 119-73

§14309 Personal financial interests

Title 40 › Subtitle SUBTITLE IV— - APPALACHIAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT › Chapter CHAPTER 143— - APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION › § 14309

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

You must not take part in any specific Commission matter if you, your spouse, minor child, partner, an organization where you hold a leadership or staff role, or anyone you work with or are negotiating employment with has a financial interest in that matter. You can only join the matter if you first tell the Commission about the situation, fully disclose the financial interest, and get a written decision beforehand saying the interest is not likely to affect your work. Breaking this rule can lead to a fine and up to two years in prison. State members and alternates may get pay only from their State. People detailed to the Commission may get pay only from their original government employer or the Commission. Violating this pay rule can lead to a fine and up to one year in prison. The Federal Cochairman, that alternate, and federal detailees are not covered by these rules but remain subject to federal criminal laws (18 U.S.C. 202–209). The Commission may cancel contracts, loans, or grants if it finds violations.

Full Legal Text

Title 40, §14309

Public Buildings, Property, and Works — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Except as permitted by paragraph (2), an individual who is a state member or alternate, or an officer or employee of the Appalachian Regional Commission, shall not participate personally and substantially as a member, alternate, officer, or employee in any way in any particular matter in which, to the individual’s knowledge, any of the following has a financial interest:
(A)the individual.
(B)the individual’s spouse, minor child, or partner.
(C)an organization (except a State or political subdivision of a State) in which the individual is serving as an officer, director, trustee, partner, or employee.
(D)any person or organization with whom the individual—
(i)is serving as an officer, director, trustee, partner, or employee; or
(ii)is negotiating or has any arrangement concerning prospective employment.
(2)Paragraph (1) does not apply if the individual first advises the Commission of the nature and circumstances of the particular matter and makes full disclosure of the financial interest and receives in advance a written decision of the Commission that the interest is not so substantial as to be considered likely to affect the integrity of the services which the Commission may expect from the individual.
(3)An individual violating this subsection shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than two years, or both.
(b)(1)A state member or alternate may not receive any salary, or any contribution to, or supplementation of, salary, for services on the Commission from a source other than the State of the member or alternate.
(2)An individual detailed to serve the Commission under section 14306(a)(4) of this title may not receive any salary, or any contribution to, or supplementation of, salary, for services on the Commission from a source other than the state, local, or intergovernmental department or agency from which the individual was detailed or from the Commission.
(3)An individual violating this subsection shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
(c)The Federal Cochairman, the alternate to the Federal Cochairman, and any federal officer or employee detailed to duty with the Commission under section 14306(a)(3) of this title are not subject to this section but remain subject to section 202–209 of title 18.
(d)The Commission may declare void and rescind any contract, loan, or grant of or by the Commission in relation to which it finds that there has been a violation of subsection (a)(1) or (b) of this section or any of the provisions of section 202–209 of title 18.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 14309(a)(1)40 App.:108(a) (1st sentence).Pub. L. 89–4, title I, § 108, Mar. 9, 1965, 79 Stat. 9. 14309(a)(2)40 App.:108(b). 14309(a)(3)40 App.:108(a) (last sentence). 14309(b)40 App.:108(c). 14309(c)40 App.:108(d). 14309(d)40 App.:108(e). In subsection (a), the words “proceeding, application, request for a ruling or other determination, contract, claim, controversy, or other” are omitted as unnecessary. In subsection (a)(1), before clause (A), the words “in any way” are substituted for “through decision, approval, disapproval, recommendation, the rendering of advice, investigation, or otherwise” to eliminate unnecessary words. In subsection (a)(3), the words “fined under title 18” are substituted for “fined not more than $10,000” for consistency with chapter 227 of title 18. In subsection (b)(3), the words “fined under title 18” are substituted for “fined not more than $5,000” for consistency with chapter 227 of title 18. In subsection (c), the words “Notwithstanding any other subsection of this section” are omitted as unnecessary. The words “this section” are substituted for “any such subsection” to correct an apparent error in the source provision. In subsection (d), the words “in its discretion” are omitted as unnecessary.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

40 U.S.C. § 14309

Title 40Public Buildings, Property, and Works

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73