The board must create a conflicts disclosure form for directors and employees. Directors and employees must disclose vendor relationships that generate taxable income, gifts over $250 in a 12-month period, and file the statement promptly when they learn of a relevant relationship. Employees cannot accept vendor gifts over $250 in a year unless the presiding officer gives written approval.
Sec. 335.108. DISCLOSURE OF VENDOR RELATIONSHIP BY DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES. (a) The board by rule shall design a conflicts disclosure statement for directors and employees that includes: (1) a requirement that each director and employee disclose: (A) an employment or other business relationship with a vendor that results in the director's or employee's receiving taxable income, including the nature and extent of the relationship; and (B) any gifts received in a 12-month period by that director or employee from a vendor that have a total value of more than $250; (2) an acknowledgment from the director or employee that: (A) the disclosure applies to a person related to that director or employee within the first degree by consanguinity or by affinity, as defined by Subchapter B, Chapter 573, Government Code; and (B) the statement covers the preceding 12 months; and (3) a signature by the director or employee acknowledging execution of the statement under penalty of perjury. (b) The disclosure requirement applies to a director or employee and requires disclosure for a person related to that director or employee within the first degree by consanguinity or by affinity, as defined by Subchapter B, Chapter 573, Government Code. (c) A director or employee shall file a conflicts disclosure statement with the board secretary not later than the end of the first business day on which the director or employee became aware of the relationship between the district and the vendor if: (1) the vendor has contracted with the district; (2) the district is considering conducting business with the vendor; or (3) a vendor offered one or more gifts to that director or employee in the previous 12-month period that have a total value of more than $250. (d) If a director has knowledge that another director has not made a disclosure required by this section, the director may notify the presiding officer of the board of this fact, or may notify the board secretary if the presiding officer is the person who failed to make the disclosure. The presiding officer or secretary, as appropriate, may make a preliminary inquiry regarding the disclosure and may notify in writing the official who appointed the director of the alleged failure to disclose and the reasons for believing that a failure to disclose occurred. (e) An employee may not receive during a 12-month period any gifts from a vendor that have a total value of more than $250 unless the employee receives written approval from the presiding officer. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1076, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.