Except as permitted by law or these Rules, a state officer or employee shall not use his or her State office (1) for his or her own private gain, (2) for the endorsement of any product, service or enterprise, (3) for the private gain of a family member or persons with whom the state officer or employee is affiliated in a nongovernmental capacity, including nonprofit organizations of which the state officer or employee is an officer or member, or (4) for the private gain of persons with whom the state officer or employee seeks employment or business relations. These prohibitions shall not apply to any act or endorsement if the act or endorsement is customary for the state officer or employee’s position or is authorized or permitted by the state officer or employee’s contract of employment or if otherwise permitted or authorized by the Constitution or statutes or by these Rules. A state officer or employee may promote or solicit funds for civic, community or charitable organizations, including those promoting businesses or industries, or civic, community or charitable fund-raising events provided the state officer or state employee receives nothing for doing so except the costs associated with the state officer or state employee’s participation in a fund-raising promotion or event paid for from funds of a charitable organization. No individual or other entity may pay for, or reimburse the charitable organization for, any such costs and gratuities; provided, however, nothing shall prevent individuals or other entities from making customary donations or paying sponsorship fees to the charitable organization.

Promulgated by Ethics Commission January 10, 2014; effective upon Legislature’s sine die adjournment May 23, 2014; operative January 1, 2015.