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Wis. Stat. § 19.46

Conflict of interest prohibited; exception

Showing this section's text as in effect on January 1, 2003 (in force January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2007). View current text →

(1) Except in accordance with the board's advice under sub. (2) and except as otherwise provided in sub. (3) , no state public official may:

(a) Take any official action substantially affecting a matter in which the official, a member of his or her immediate family, or an organization with which the official is associated has a substantial financial interest.

(b) Use his or her office or position in a way that produces or assists in the production of a substantial benefit, direct or indirect, for the official, one or more members of the official's immediate family either separately or together, or an organization with which the official is associated.

(2) Any individual, either personally or on behalf of an organization or governmental body, may request of the board an advisory opinion regarding the propriety of any matter to which the person is or may become a party; and any appointing officer, with the consent of a prospective appointee, may request of the board an advisory opinion regarding the propriety of any matter to which the prospective appointee is or may become a party. The board shall review a request for an advisory opinion and may advise the person making the request. Advisory opinions and requests therefor shall be in writing. The board's deliberations and actions upon such requests shall be in meetings not open to the public. It is prima facie evidence of intent to comply with this subchapter or subch. III of ch. 13 when a person refers a matter to the board and abides by the board's advisory opinion, if the material facts are as stated in the opinion request. The board may authorize the executive director to act in its stead in instances where delay is of substantial inconvenience or detriment to the requesting party. No member or employee of the board may make public the identity of the individual requesting an advisory opinion or of individuals or organizations mentioned in the opinion.

(3) This section does not prohibit a state public official from taking any action concerning the lawful payment of salaries or employee benefits or reimbursement of actual and necessary expenses, or prohibit a state public official from taking official action with respect to any proposal to modify state law or the state administrative code.

Official source: Wisconsin State Legislature. Reproduced from public-domain Wisconsin statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.