Public official disclosure and reporting requirements - 3 of 25
Incorrect answer:
NO. Since the donor is a long-time friend, no one would think anything improper about receiving a gift from that person and therefore there is no need to disclose such gift is INCORRECT.
Regardless of whether or not the donor is a long-time friend, governing legal authority imposes requirements pertaining to the acceptance and disclosure of gifts by public officials. For the most part, these requirements do not contain a special "safe harbor" for the acceptance or disclosure of gifts from friends. In fact, members need to be particularly cognizant of the dangers of accepting gifts from friends as the closeness of those connections may blind them to the ethical implications that may be present that they may be inclined to overlook. In this case, the operative fact is that the gift was not given in connection with the member's public service. Accordingly, under section 24-6-203 (2), C.R.S., the member is not required to disclose it for that reason alone and not because the gift was from a friend.
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