520-RICR-00-00-1
520-RICR-00-00-1. Code of Ethics (version Technical Revision, 01/28/2002 to 05/25/2018)
Regulation 36-14-2001 (Additional Definitions).
(1) Complainant: A person or persons who files a sworn statement with the Commission
against a person subject to the statute containing allegations of prohibited activities.
(2) Respondent: A person against whom a complaint has been filed.
(3) Business subject to direct state or municipal regulation: A business which is directly
regulated by a state or municipal agency as defined herein other than in a de minimus
manner. This includes a business funded with state or municipal funds or federal funds
disbursed by a state or municipal agency. If a specific regulatory body exists to control or
supervise the business, and such body regulates and monitors the business' activities, it is
a business subject to direct regulation. Utilities, insurance companies and regulated
financial institutions are included. A business is not directly regulated because it is
subject to general laws, tax or health laws for example, applicable to all businesses or, the
fact that a business requires a license to operate, or a professional license is obtained.
Businesses regulated by professional boards and occupational boards are excluded.
(4) Cash value interest: Cash value interest is an ownership interest or a financial interest
in the nature of an investment such as bonds, notes, debentures, mortgages and similar
business investment interests. Deposits in any financial institution, savings and checking
accounts, shares in a credit union or a cooperative bank, life insurance policies and
annuities are not included.
(5) Doing business: Engaging in a financial transaction, about which the public official
has actual or constructive knowledge, which transaction constitutes a loan, purchase, sale
or other type of transfer or exchange of money, goods, other property, or services for
value. Doing business does not include the retail purchase of consumer goods bought
primarily for personal, family or household purposes, and financial transactions of a
personal nature, such as personal loans and individual insurance transactions.
(6) Income: Any money or thing of value received or to be received as a claim on future
services whether in form of a fee, salary, expenses, allowance, forbearance, forgiveness,
interest, dividend, royalty, rent, capital gain, or any other form of recompense that
constitutes income under the Federal Internal Revenue Code.
(7) Ownership interest: An interest in stock, assets, net profits, or losses of a business.
The value of an ownership interest is determined at its highest fair market value in the
calendar year.
(8) Persons within the third degree of consanguinity: Persons within the third degree of
consanguinity include any of the following relations: Brothers, sisters, parents, sons,
daughters, grandparents, great grandparents, grandchildren. great grand- children, uncles,
aunts, brothers and sisters-in- law, mothers and fathers-in-law, nieces and nephews,
grandsons and granddaughters-in-law, and sons and daughters-in-law.
(9) State or municipal agency: Shall also include any group of persons, or corporations,
organization, or other entity, however created, which:
(a) exercises governmental functions other than in an advisory nature, and expends public
funds in excess of $10,000 yearly, or;
(b) those entities whose directors or other governing members are appointed by or
through the governing body or highest official of state or municipal government.
(10) Political party officials: Elected or appointed officers in a state, county, town or city
political party organization are not elected or appointed officials subject to this act.