(a) Except as permitted pursuant to subsection (b), neither the director nor any employee in the office of the director shall solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, emolument or employment from any manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler or retailer of alcoholic liquor or from any person who is an applicant for any license or is a licensee under the provisions of this act, or from any officer, agent or employee thereof; or solicit requests from or recommend, directly or indirectly, to any such person, or to any officer, agent or employee thereof, the appointment of any person to any place or position. Any such person, officer, agent or employee thereof, is hereby forbidden to offer to the director, or any employee in the office of the director, any gift, gratuity, emolument or employment, except as permitted pursuant to subsection (b).

(b) The secretary may adopt rules and regulations allowing the acceptance of official hospitality by the director and employees in the office of the director, subject to such limits as prescribed by the secretary.

(c) If any person who is the director or an employee in the office of the director violates any provision of this section, such person shall be removed from such person’s office or employment.

(d) Violation of any provision of this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment of not less than 60 days nor more than six months, or both such fine and imprisonment.

(e) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as preventing the prosecution and punishment of any person for bribery as defined in the Kansas criminal code.