Thursday, January 5, 2017

Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act

http://law.alaska.gov/doclibrary/ethics/EthicsAct.html

Above is a link to the State of Alaska Department of Law's "Alaska Ethics Act."

Here is the Introduction:

Sec. 39.52.010. Declaration of policy.

(a) It is declared that
(1) high moral and ethical standards among public officers in the executive branch are essential to assure the trust, respect, and confidence of the people of this state;
(2) a code of ethics for the guidance of public officers will
(A) discourage those officers from acting upon personal or financial interests in the performance of their public responsibilities;
(B) improve standards of public service; and
(C) promote and strengthen the faith and confidence of the people of this state in their public officers;
(3) holding public office or employment is a public trust and that as one safeguard of that trust, the people require public officers to adhere to a code of ethics;
(4) a fair and open government requires that executive branch public officers conduct the public's business in a manner that preserves the integrity of the governmental process and avoids conflicts of interest;
(5) in order for the rules governing conduct to be respected both during and after leaving public service, the code of ethics must be administered fairly without bias or favoritism;
(6) no code of conduct, however comprehensive, can anticipate all situations in which violations may occur nor can it prescribe behaviors that are appropriate to every situation; in addition, laws and regulations regarding ethical responsibilities cannot legislate morality, eradicate corruption, or eliminate bad judgment; and
(7) compliance with a code of ethics is an individual responsibility; thus all who serve the state have a solemn responsibility to avoid improper conduct and prevent improper behavior by colleagues and subordinates.
(b) The legislature declares that it is the policy of the state, when a public employee is appointed to serve on a state board or commission, that the holding of such offices does not constitute the holding of incompatible offices unless expressly prohibited by the Alaska Constitution, this chapter and any opinions or decisions rendered under it, or another statute.

And here are the related regulations. 



Here are some regulations that may apply to Ms. Bakalar's blogging activities:

9 AAC 52.050.  Use of State Time, Property, Equipment, or other Facilities: 

(a)  Unless the attorney general has issued a general opinion against the use or advised the public officer against the use, a public officer who uses state time, property, equipment, or other facilities to benefit the officer, an immediate family member of the officer, the officer's personal or financial interest, or another person does not violate AS 39.52.120(a) or (b)(3) if the officer's designated supervisor determines that the use is insignificant.


9 AAC 52.090. OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE.
For purposes of AS 39.52.170, a public employee's outside employment or service, including volunteer service, is incompatible or in conflict with the proper discharge of official duties if the employee's designated supervisor reasonably determines that the outside employment or service
(1)  takes time away from the employee's official duties;
(2)  limits the scope of the employee's official duties; or
(3)  is otherwise incompatible or in conflict with the proper discharge of the employee's official duties.
(Eff. 4/24/94, Register 130)
Authority: AS 39.52.170, AS 39.52.950



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