CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE Information

For Elected & Appointed Officials

Officers of the City and its boards and commissions (including EDC) must file a “conflicts disclosure statement” (FORM CIS) with the local government records administrator within seven days of becoming aware of:

• The officer or a family member of the officer has an employment or business relationship that results in taxable income with a person who has executed a contract with the City or with whom the City is considering doing business or
• The officer or a family member of the officer has accepted one or more gifts (other than food, lodging, transportation, or entertainment) with an aggregate value of $250 in the preceding 12 months from a person who has executed a contract with the City or who is being considered for business with the City.

A family member is defined a s a person related to another person within the first degree by consanguinity (blood) or affinity (marriage) which includes a spouse, father, mother, son, daughter, father-in-law, mother-in-law, etc.

Questionnaires

Beginning January 1, 2006, a state law (Chapter 176 of the Local Government Code) requires the filing of conflict-of-interest questionnaires by certain individuals and businesses.

The questionnaires require disclosures describing certain business and gift-giving relationships, if any, the filers may have with City Council members, the purchasing manager, and other elected/appointed officials.

The law applies to:

• Businesses and individuals who contract with the City
• Businesses and individuals who seek to contract with the City, (regardless of whether a bidder is awarded the contract)
• Agents who represent such businesses in their business dealings with the City

The vendor is required to update the form no later than the seventh (7th) business day after the date of an event that would make a statement in the previously filed questionnaire incomplete or inaccurate. Also, if the vendor files the initial questionnaire prior to June 1, the vendor must file an updated questionnaire not later than September 1 of each year the vendor has an agreement, or potential agreement pending. See, Section 176.006(d), Local Government Code. A person commits an offense if the person violates Section 176.006; an offense under this Section is a Class C misdemeanor.