Reglas sobre intereses de servidores públicos y su conducta

Explicación Simple

Esta ley protege a los funcionarios públicos que siguen las reglas cuando votan. Si un funcionario tiene un interés personal en un contrato, puede meterse en problemas. Pero si lo declara y sigue las reglas, está a salvo.

Es como cuando un jugador de un equipo de fútbol debe avisar al entrenador si tiene una relación con un patrocinador del equipo. Si lo dice, todo está bien, pero si no lo hace, puede ser expulsado del juego.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Ana es miembro del concejo municipal y vota para que su hermano reciba un contrato para construir un parque. Si Ana no informa sobre esta relación, podría ser acusada de un delito. Pero si lo menciona y el concejo aprueba el contrato por unanimidad, está protegida.

Penalidades

Puede ser culpable de un delito menor de clase A si un servidor público tiene un interés no declarado en un contrato.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

n of the official action. 3. An individual is immune from prosecution under this section if: a. The individual was a member of the legislative assembly at the time the official action was taken; b. The official action was a vote on a measure in the senate or house of representatives or a legislative committee; and c. The individual adhered to legislative conflict of interest rules requiring an individual to disclose a personal or private interest to the member's respective chamber of the legislative assembly, a legislative committee, the president of the senate, or the speaker of the house. 12.1-13-03. Public servant's interest in public contracts. 1. Every public servant authorized to sell or lease any property, or to make any contract in his official capacity, alone or in conjunction with other public servants, who voluntarily becomes interested individually in the sale, lease, or contract, directly or indirectly, is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. 2. Subsection 1 shall not apply to: a. Contracts of purchase or employment between a political subdivision and an officer of that subdivision, if the contracts are first unanimously approved by the other members at a meeting of the governing body of the political subdivision, and a unanimous finding is entered in the official minutes of that body that the contract is necessary because the services or property contracted for are not otherwise obtainable at equal cost. b. Sales, leases, or contracts entered into between school boards and school board members or school officers. 12.1-13-04. Impersonating officials. 1. A person is guilty of an offense if he falsely pretends to be: a. A public servant, other than a law enforcement officer, and acts as if to exercis