Title 3, PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

No board member, business manager, chief financial officer, superintendent, chief executive officer, or other person with the authority to enter into a contract or spend money in an amount greater than five thousand dollars of a school district, cooperative education service unit…

A person described in § 3-23-6 derives a direct benefit from a contract if the person, the person's spouse, or any other person with whom the person lives and commingles assets: (1) Is a party to or intended beneficiary of any contract held by the school district or cooperative e…

A person described in § 3-23-6 has an interest in a contract if the person, the person's spouse, or any other person with whom the person lives and commingles assets: (1) Is employed by a party to any contract with the school district or cooperative education service unit; or (2)…

A person described in § 3-23-6 does not derive a direct benefit from or have an interest in a contract: (1) Based solely on the value associated with the person's publicly-traded investments or holdings, or the investments or holdings of any other person with whom the board membe…

A school district or cooperative education service unit may authorize a person described in § 3-23-6 to derive a direct benefit from a contract if: (1) The person has provided full written disclosure to the agency, district, or unit governing board of all parties to the contract,…

Each school district or cooperative education service unit shall develop a written conflict of interest policy, including any disclosure and authorization form that includes the list of any disclosable interest in contracts or direct benefits covered by this chapter. Source: SL 2…

Any person who knowingly violates §§ 3-23-6 to 3-23-8 , inclusive, shall be removed from office or employment and is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Any person who knowingly violates §§ 3-23-6 to 3-23-8 , inclusive, and is also guilty of theft under chapter 22-30A , shall be pen…

There is hereby created a State Government Accountability Board to be composed of four members appointed by the Governor. Each member to be appointed shall be a former or retired circuit court judge or Supreme Court Justice. No more than two of the appointed members may be of the…

The board shall annually report to the people, the Governor, and the Legislature on its activities. The report shall include data regarding any allegations of violations of subdivisions of § 3-24-3 , including the number of reports filed, complaints received, number of unique per…

The State Government Accountability Board is attached to the Office of the Attorney General for administrative and budgetary support. In order to review and investigate any alleged violation of the subdivisions listed in § 3-24-3 , the board may employ staff as it deems necessary…

The initial appointments for the members of the board are temporary and staggered with one member serving two years, one member serving three years, one member serving four years, and one member serving five years. Each member's initial term is to be determined by the Governor. S…

The State Government Accountability Board may review and investigate any person holding a statewide office, as defined in § 12-27-1 , and employees of the executive branch of the state regarding: (1) Allegations of impropriety related to any contract, grant, or loan with any publ…

Any person acting in good faith may: (1) Furnish information to the board relating to suspected, anticipated, or completed violations of a corrupt act relating to any subdivision in § 3-24-3 ; (2) File a report with the board; or (3) File a complaint with the board alleging a vio…

The board may refer any information, report, or complaint it receives to the Division of Criminal Investigation for investigation. If, based on the information, report, or complaint, the board has reasonable cause to believe that a crime has been committed, the matter shall be re…

A person acting in good faith is immune from civil liability for furnishing information, filing a report, or making a complaint. If a civil action is commenced against a person for damages related to furnishing information, filing a report, or making a complaint and the court det…

If a majority of the members of the board vote that there is sufficient information to believe that a statewide office holder or executive branch employee has engaged in misconduct related to any subdivision of § 3-24-3 , the board shall conduct a contested case hearing according…

At the conclusion of the contested case hearing before the board, if the board determines by a majority vote of the board that a violation has occurred, the board may: (1) Issue a public or private reprimand; (2) Direct a person to engage in coursework or community service; or (3…

A person who has submitted information, a report, or complaint to the board pursuant to § 3-24-4 may request a status update from the board. The board shall respond in writing. Source: SL 2017, ch 32 , § 9.