Ethics Advisory Opinion No. Whether an employee or official of a state agency who delivers a speech to a nonprofit organization may accept lunch from the organization in connection with the event. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked whether chapter 36 of the Penal Code prohibits an employee of a state agency from accepting lunch from a nonprofit organization. The state agency employee has been asked to speak about the agency's position on certain public issues.
Lunch is to be provided during the speaking engagement.
The requestor indicates that the nonprofit organization is not regulated by the agency. See Ethics Advisory Opinions Nos. In various circumstances, public servants are prohibited from accepting benefits. Penal Code 36.08. See Ethics Advisory Opinion No. 12.