Ohio School Facilities Commission

GENERAL STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT

Commission employees must, at all times, abide by Ohio’s ethics laws, as found in Chapters 102 and 2921 of the Ohio Revised Code and related statutes, and as interpreted by the Ohio Ethics Commission, Ohio courts, or any other investigative body authorized to interpret such laws. Employees also must conduct themselves, at all times, in a manner that avoids the appearance of impropriety, favoritism, or bias. Restraints upon an employee’s conduct include, but are not limited to, the following:

• No employee may solicit or accept anything of value, including, but not limited to the following: gifts, food or beverages, social event tickets or expenses, travel expenses, or consulting fees, from any person regulated by, doing business with, or seeking to do business with, the Commission. For these purposes, the term “value” means a worth greater than minimal or de minimis.

• No employee may use his or her position to obtain improper benefits for him or herself, or for his or her family or business associates.

• No employee may accept compensation, other than from the Commission, for the performance of his or her Commission duties or responsibilities.

• No employee may accept compensation for personal services rendered on a matter before any state agency, unless he or she is eligible for a specific legal exemption and files the statement required by law.

• No employee may be a party to or beneficiary of a contract with, authorized by, or approved by, the Commission.

• No employee may vote on, authorize, or in any way use his or her position to secure approval of a state or school district contract in which his or her family members, or his or her business associates, have an interest.

• No employee may use, or authorize the use of, his or her name, the name “Ohio School Facilities Commission” or “OSFC,” or the Commission’s logo in a manner that suggests impropriety, favoritism, or bias by the employee or the Commission. • No employee may solicit or accept honoraria for the performance of his or her Commission duties or responsibilities.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES

The Executive Director, Chief of Planning, Chief of Projects, Chief of Policy, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Legal Counsel (the Commission’s Executive Staff) must each file a financial disclosure statement with the Ohio Ethics Commission. These individuals must annually file a statement for the previous year on or before the fifteenth day of April. If hired to fill one of these positions subsequent to the filing deadline, the employee must file a statement within ninety days after employment.

ETHICS TRAINING

The Executive Director, Chief of Planning, Chief of Projects, Chief of Policy & Legislation, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Legal Counsel, Project Administrators, Planning Directors, and Planning Managers must participate in the ethics training offered through the Governor’s Office or through comparable training offered through comparable sources. Such training shall be four hours every two years.

PENALTIES

Failure of any Commission employee to abide by this Ethics Policy, or to meet the ethics standards provided by law, will result in discipline, which may include dismissal.

CHANGES

The Ethics Policy may only be changed by a majority vote of the Commission

OUTSIDE AND SECONDARY EMPLOYMENT

The Commission recognizes that some employees may elect to engage in various types of employment or business interests to supplement their income. Such employment is not inappropriate; however, the Commission must be aware of any secondary or outside employment in which employees may be engaged so that it can address any possible conflict of interest or conflict with normal work hours required for an individual’s employment with the Ohio School Facilities Commission. Outside or secondary employment is any work done in return for wages or anything of value, in the form of self-employment or with a company, organization, or agency other than the Commission. Guidelines to follow:

• Prior notification to the respective supervisor of intent to engage in outside or secondary employment is required.

• Employees are to regularly review the conditions of their secondary employment to ensure that no conflict exists between that employment and their job with the Commission. When in doubt as to whether an activity creates a conflict of interest, employees will request clarification by submitting a letter to the Human Resource Administrator.

• Employees are not to engage in secondary employment to the extent that it impairs performance in their regularly assigned duties. Supervisors are to monitor their employees’ performance to determine whether outside or secondary employment is interfering with their performance, and if so, they are to take appropriate corrective action.

• Secondary employment shall in no way be violative of the Ohio Ethics Law.
• Employees shall not engage in secondary employment during their normal working hours for the Ohio School Facilities Commission, nor shall employees alter their normal working hours to engage in secondary employment.

• Employees are not permitted to use State Equipment for purposes related to their secondary employment.