Oregon Administrative Rules › Chapter 199 - OREGON GOVERNMENT ETHICS COMMISSION › Division 5 - GIFTS › Section 199-005-0001 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 7, July 1, 2024
The following definitions are provided for words or terms as
				they are used in ORS Chapter 244, especially in the exceptions to the
				definition of a gift in ORS
				244.020(7)(b):
(1) "Entertainment" means amusement or
			 diversion. Entertainment may be provided by others (such as athletes at
			 sporting events) but also includes events where the public official, relative,
			 or member of household personally participates. Examples of entertainment
			 include, but are not limited to concerts, plays, movies, operas, sporting
			 events, participating in sports (golf, skiing, hunting or fishing, etc), comedy
			 shows, and similar events.
(2) A
			 "fact finding mission or trip" is any activity related to a cultural or
			 educational purpose, or any activity aimed at providing intergovernmental
			 assistance, such as for the purpose of international aid or sharing best
			 practices, or developing intergovernmental relationships directly related to
			 the public official's duties. The sponsor of a fact finding mission should be
			 directly and immediately associated with the event or location being
			 visited.
(3) "Incidental" means
			 secondary or minor, but associated to something more important. Anything with
			 financial value provided in conjunction with a primary event but of secondary
			 in importance to the time and attention to the main purpose of the event is
			 incidental.
(4) A "Meeting" is an
			 event that includes multiple attendees who are members of an organization or
			 members of the general public who have been invited to the event. The purpose
			 or agenda for the meeting would be included in any advance notice of the
			 event.
(5) "Official capacity"
			 means that the public official attends an activity while engaged in duties or
			 responsibilities that are customary to their office or position.
(6) "Organization" means any public body,
			 corporation, partnership, proprietorship, firm, enterprise, franchise,
			 association, trust, or other entity other than an individual.
(7) "Representing Government" means that a
			 public official is representing a state or local government or a special
			 government body when the public official attends an event on behalf of the
			 government agency. The following examples are offered to illustrate the meaning
			 of "representing government," but are not meant to be the only circumstances
			 that would define representing government:
(a)
			 A fire chief attends an event to honor protection services representatives and
			 attends on behalf of the station in an official capacity.
(b) A department manager attends a conference
			 being sponsored by a vendor that has in the past sold products to the agency in
			 which the manager is employed. The manager's official duties include the
			 responsibility of attending conferences on behalf of the governing
			 body.
(c) An executive director for
			 a state agency attends ceremonial events; the director's official duties
			 include representing the agency at such events.
(d) A state employee who works in the IT
			 department whose responsibilities include reviewing and recommending software
			 attends a workshop on software applications held by a professional membership
			 organization.
(e) A planning
			 commissioner speaks to a non-profit organization on behalf of the county
			 planning department.
(f) A
			 volunteer for a city park department attends an event representing the
			 department at a meeting to discuss issues surrounding volunteerism.
(g) A legislator attends an event being
			 sponsored by a Native American tribe on behalf of a legislative committee on
			 which the legislator serves.
(h) A
			 city councilor attends the local chamber of commerce breakfast.