Montana Code 2-2-105. Ethical requirements for public officers and public employees
2-2-105. Ethical requirements for public officers and public employees. (1) The requirements in this section are intended as rules of conduct, and violations constitute a breach of the public trust and public duty of office or employment in state or local government.
Terms Used In Montana Code 2-2-105
- Business: includes a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, trust or foundation, or any other individual or organization carrying on a business, whether or not operated for profit. See Montana Code 2-2-102
- Local government: means a county, a consolidated government, an incorporated city or town, a school district, or a special district. See Montana Code 2-2-102
- official action: means a vote, decision, recommendation, approval, disapproval, or other action, including inaction, that involves the use of discretionary authority. See Montana Code 2-2-102
- Private interest: means an interest held by an individual that is:
(a)an ownership interest in a business;
(b)a creditor interest in an insolvent business;
(c)an employment or prospective employment for which negotiations have begun;
(d)an ownership interest in real property;
(e)a loan or other debtor interest; or
(f)a directorship or officership in a business. See Montana Code 2-2-102
- Public employee: means :
(a)any temporary or permanent employee of the state, including an employee of the judicial branch;
(b)any temporary or permanent employee of a local government;
(c)a member of a quasi-judicial board or commission or of a board, commission, or committee with rulemaking authority; and
(d)a person under contract to the state. See Montana Code 2-2-102
- Public officer: includes any state officer and any elected officer of a local government. See Montana Code 2-2-102
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201
(2)Except as provided in subsection (4), a public officer or public employee may not acquire an interest in any business or undertaking that the officer or employee has reason to believe may be directly and substantially affected to its economic benefit by official action to be taken by the officer’s or employee’s agency.
(3)A public officer or public employee may not, within 12 months following the voluntary termination of office or employment, obtain employment in which the officer or employee will take direct advantage, unavailable to others, of matters with which the officer or employee was directly involved during a term of office or during employment. These matters are rules, other than rules of general application, that the officer or employee actively helped to formulate and applications, claims, or contested cases in the consideration of which the officer or employee was an active participant.
(4)When a public employee who is a member of a quasi-judicial board or commission or of a board, commission, or committee with rulemaking authority is required to take official action on a matter as to which the public employee has a conflict created by a personal or private interest that would directly give rise to an appearance of impropriety as to the public employee’s influence, benefit, or detriment in regard to the matter, the public employee shall disclose the interest creating the conflict prior to participating in the official action.
(5)A public officer or public employee may not perform an official act directly and substantially affecting a business or other undertaking to its economic detriment when the officer or employee has a substantial personal interest in a competing firm or undertaking.