Chapter 2

Gifts

City officials or employees are not permitted to accept a gift, gratuity, or favor from any person or entity: (1) that would tend improperly to influence a reasonable person in the person's position to depart from the faithful and impartial discharge of the person's public duties; (2) that the person knows or that a reasonable person in that position should know under the circumstances is primarily for the purpose of rewarding the person for official action taken; or (3) has a value of $100.00 or more for an individual.

Gifts that are valued between $25 and $100 may be accepted so long as the gift is provided incidental to and in conjunction with a public event where the official or employee’s attendance is in fulfillment with their official duties, and so long as the gift is not for influencing or rewarding as described in (1) and (2) above.  However, the employee or official accepting this gift must file a public disclosure statement with the Board of Ethics that indicates the gift, its estimated value, the person or entity making the gift, the relationship to the employee or official and the date of the gift.

Gifts valued at less that $25 may be accepted so long as the gift is not for influencing or rewarding as described in (1) and (2) above. 

The following are not considered gifts and may be accepted under the city’s ethics code:  (a) items or services provided to an employee or official in their private capacity and without relationship to their employment or official position; (b) a prize received upon a random drawing at an event where the official or employee attends in their capacity as an employee or official, the drawing is open to all attendees, and receipt of the prize does not place the official or employee under obligation; (c) an award publically presented to an employee or official in recognition of public service; and (d) compensation for officiating at a ceremony.

City officials and employees are also subject to the separate Montana state law on gifts. 

Quick Links:
City of Bozeman Ethics Handbook, version 4
City of Bozeman Code of Ethics
Montana Code Annotated, Code of Ethics