This bill aims to amend West Virginia's Code regarding the acceptance of gifts and gratuities by public servants. It explicitly prohibits public servants from soliciting, accepting, or agreeing to accept any gifts or gratuities from individuals known to be involved in matters that the public servant is regulating, inspecting, or litigating. The bill introduces a new provision that clarifies that these prohibitions apply under all circumstances, including instances where gifts or gratuities are presented after an official action has been taken or an interaction has concluded, regardless of whether the gift was anticipated.

Additionally, the bill modifies existing exceptions to the prohibitions on accepting gifts. It removes the previous subsection (b) and replaces it with a new subsection (c) that outlines specific exceptions, such as gifts conferred due to personal relationships or trivial gifts that do not pose a substantial risk of affecting impartiality. However, it maintains that campaign contributions are exempt from these prohibitions under certain conditions, ensuring that they are reported and do not benefit the public servant financially. Overall, the bill strengthens the ethical standards for public servants in West Virginia by closing loopholes related to the acceptance of gifts and gratuities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 61-5A-6