This bill seeks to amend West Virginia Code §61-5A-6 to strengthen the prohibitions against public servants accepting gifts or gratuities. The new language explicitly states that these prohibitions apply under all circumstances, including instances where the gratuity is presented after an official action has been taken or an interaction has concluded, and regardless of whether the gift was anticipated. This change aims to eliminate any ambiguity regarding the timing and expectation of gifts, reinforcing the integrity of public service.

Additionally, the bill modifies existing exceptions to the prohibitions on accepting gifts. It removes the previous subsection (b) and renumbers the subsequent sections, while maintaining certain exceptions for gifts based on kinship or trivial gifts that do not pose a substantial risk of affecting official impartiality. However, the bill emphasizes that the prohibitions apply universally, thereby tightening the regulations surrounding the acceptance of gifts by public officials in West Virginia.

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