§ 1001. Personal interest of county officers and employees in county business.

(a)

Prohibitions.

1.

Except for any legally authorized compensation as an officer or employee of the county, whether elected or appointed, no such officer or employee shall in any manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, have any interest in or receive any further economic benefit from any contract, job, decision, work or service for, from, by or with the county.

2.

Except for any legally authorized compensation, no officer or employee of the county, whether elected or appointed, shall upon more favorable terms than those granted to the public generally, accept any service or thing of value, directly or indirectly, from any person, firm or corporation having dealings with the county.

(b)

Rules of construction; exceptions by resolution of county council. The provisions of this article X shall be broadly construed and strictly enforced for the purpose of preventing those persons in public service from securing any economic advantages, however indirect, from their public service other than the compensation provided for them by law. However, the county council may, by resolution, specifically authorize any county officer or employee to do business directly with the county or to own stock in any corporation or to maintain a business connection with any person, entity, firm or corporation doing business with the county if, on full public disclosure of all pertinent facts to the county council by such officer or employee, the council shall determine that such stock ownership or business connection is not inconsistent with the public interest.

(c)

Penalties. The county council shall from time to time enact whatever criminal or civil statutes in its judgment may be necessary to enforce this article X. The county council shall establish offenses which shall be criminal misdemeanors, punishing elected or appointed officers or employees of the county who violate the provisions of this article X and may also establish misdemeanors punishing other persons, corporation or entities, who knowingly engage in prohibited activities with any elected or appointed county officer or employee. The county council may also include in such criminal statutes a provision for the granting of immunity from criminal prosecution to witnesses in any such criminal case. Violations of such criminal statutes shall be prosecuted as other criminal misdemeanors pursuant to applicable law. Penalties for such criminal offenses may include imprisonment, fines, forfeitures to the county of the illegal economic benefits or the value thereof received by any person in violation of this section whether by an elected or appointed county official or employee or by any other person or persons, corporation or partnership or other entities dealing with such elected or appointed officer or employee in violation of this article X.

(Bill No. 88, 1978, § 1; approved by voters Nov. 7, 1978; effective Dec. 8, 1978; Bill No. 133, 1990, § 2; approved by voters Nov. 6, 1990; effective Dec. 7, 1990)