Update on New Legislationa
I MEMORANDUM
L�
CITY OF
CHANHASSEN
690 COULTER DRIVE 0 P.O. BOX 147 0 CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317
(612) 937 -1900 • FAX (612) 937 -5739
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Don Ashworth, City Manager
DATE: August 11, 1994
SUBJ: Update on New Legislation
Prior to the August 22 Council meeting, Roger Knutson will be available to discuss new laws
that have recently gone into effect with staff and council members. One new law that I have
received questions about is regarding gifts to public officials. Ramsey County prepared a
summary (copy attached) which provides a good overview of this new law. Roger will meet
with staff members at 6:30 p.m. on August 22 and will be available at 7:00 p.m. to meet with
the Council. The meeting will be in the Courtyard Conference Room.
.. t+MSF
0 UN 1
• 1 / / OFFICE OF THE RAMSEY COUNTY ATTORNEY G E
-� SUITE 315 /� c
I l 50 WEST KELLOGG BOULEVARD ,
' ST PAUL, MINNESOTA 55102 -1657
TOM FOLEY
County Attorwy
MEMORANDUM
1 TO: All Ramsey County Employees►
FROM: Michele L. Timmons ✓( ` ,
Director, Civil Division r<
1 DATE: August 1, 1994
RE: Gifts - Notice of New Law
Effective August 1, 1994, there is a new law relating to
' acceptance of gifts. This law, Minn. Stat. §471.895, prohibits a
"local official" from accepting a gift from an "interested
person." The law defines the term "local official" very broadly,
' so it could apply to any county employee. The law also defines
the term "interested person" broadly, to mean anyone with a
direct financial interest in county business. A violation of
this new law is a misdemeanor.
Based on the new law, the Ramsey County Attorneys office is
advising the following:
1 If you are offered a gift from anyone who does
business with the county, "just say no" to the
' gift, or pay equal value for it.
This advice is consistent with the advice given by the Hennepin,
Anoka and Washington County Attorney's offices.
i The types of gifts prohibited by the new law are very broad
in scope and include:
' * money
* real or personal property
* a service
* food and beverages (example: lunches)
* entertainment (example: sports tickets)
1
Administration / Juvenile - Family Violence/Criminal (612) 266 -3222 • FAX: (612) 266 -3010
' Civil/Human Services(612) 266 -3111 • FAX: (612) 266 -3032
All Ramsey County Employees
August 1, 1994
Page 2
• travel and lodging '
• promises of future employment
There are a number of exceptions to the prohibition:
• Campaign contributions
• Service to assist an official in the performance of '
official duties, including but not limited to
providing advice, consultation, information, and
communication in connection with legislation, and
services to constituents ,
• Service of insignificant monetary value (example:
helping a stranded motorist fix a flat tire) ,
• Plaque or similar momento recognizing individual
services in a field of specialty or to a charitable '
cause
• Informational material or unexceptional value
(examples: newspapers, brochures, pamphlets) '
• Food or beverage given at a reception meal or meeting
away from the recipient's place of work by an ,
organization before whom the recipient appears to make
a speech or answer questions as part of a program
• Gifts to groups of non - officials (example: somebody 1
who does business with the county gives you and others
a gift for your participation in a service
organization, charity, church, or other group not '
related to the county)
* Gifts by family members
It is possible that this new law will be clarified in the
1995 legislative session. In the meantime, our best advice to
you is to take the cautious approach and "just say no" to gifts.