HARRY HUGHES, Governor                               3143

in a state prison not exceeding ten years, or by a fine of
not more than five thousand dollars [($5,000.00)], or by
both.

(d) (1) Financial interests. No public official shall
decide or participate in any ruling, decision, or opinion in
which he has a financial interest, as owner, member,
partner, officer, employee, stockholder, or other
participant of or in any private business or professional
enterprise that will be affected by such decision, nor shall
an official participate in any ruling, decision, or opinion
affecting any person related to him as defined in paragraph
(2) of subsection (a). This subsection shall not be
construed to prohibit an official from having or holding
private investment, business, or professional interests, but
shall be construed to apply when such interests are or
reasonably may be in conflict with the proper performance of
his official duties.

(2)  Broker, agent, etc. No public official
shall act as broker, agent, attorney, representative, or
employee for any person or firm, in his business dealings
with the county or its agencies or agencies of the state
operating for the county or represent private interests
before the county or such described agencies; nor shall any
public official decide or participate in a decision on any
matter in which a close business or professional associate
has acted in any of these capacities or represented private
interests before the county or such described agencies.
This shall not be construed, however, to prevent officials,
or any close business or professional associates of such
officials, from participating in matters with the county or
such described agencies, where such participation has no
relationship to the official duties of such official, nor
shall the term "participation" include the preparation of
surveys, architectural or site plans when such are not
prepared for presentation to the board or commission upon
which such member serves.

(3)  Other employment. No public official shall
accept other employment which he may reasonably believe will
impair his independence of judgment in the exercise of his
official duties.

(4)  Confidential information. No public
official shall disclose confidential information acquired by
him in the course of his official duties nor use such
information to further his personal interests.

(5)  Appearance as attorney, etc. No public
official shall voluntarily appear as attorney, counsel, or
otherwise , represent private interests or give opinion
evidence against the interests of the county or its agencies
or agencies of the state operating for the county in any
action or proceedings in which the county or agency or any
official of the county or agency acting in his official duty
is a party, except where the interests of the county or