Gifts
General Rule: Kansas Statute 46-237(a) prohibits the solicitation or acceptance of gifts, economic opportunities, loans, gratuities or special discounts given because of a person's official position.
Exceptions:
- Value less than $40 AND is given at a ceremony or public function where accepting because of the person's official capacity; or,
- From relatives or personal friends unrelated to official capacity; or
- If received on behalf of the state and becomes property of the state not the person; or,
- Received from state agency as reward or other form of compensation (at KU, withholding occurs for any University reward/compensation of a value of $40.00 or more).
Examples of Prohibited Gifts: Including, but not limited to speaker's gifts, pens, key chains, mugs, and flowers.
Note: This prohibition applies to gifts, discounts, etc even when given by the employing state agency, unless one of the above exceptions applies. (Ethics Commission Opinion No. 2002-08)