CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE TEXT
1998

The Conflict of Interest Code Filing Officer for all matters dealing with this Code, except for the Academic Regulation, is Coordinator Ross Smith, 300 Lakeside Drive, 21st Floor, Oakland, 94612-3550. For the Academic Regulation the Filing Officer is Provost and Senior Vice President-Academic Affairs C. Judson King, 300 Lakeside Drive, 22nd Floor, Oakland, 94612-3550.

If after reading this Code and the 1997-98 Instructions for Statements of Economic Interests for Designated Employees, you have any questions concerning any sections of the Code, other than the Academic Decisions Regulation, or your obligations under it, you should contact the Code Coordinator at your location.

The University of California adopted a Conflict of Interest Code with an effective date of April 1,1980,pursuant to the requirements of the Political Reform Act of 1974 (Government Code Sections 81000, et seq.). In the interest of keeping the Code current with amendments to the Act and to regulations as they occur, the Fair Political Practices ComMission has adopted a standard Conflict of Interest Code. This standard Code follows.

The Political Reform Act, Government Code Section 81000, et seq., requires state and local government agencies to adopt and promulgate Conflict of Interest Codes. The Fair Political Practices ComMission has adopted a regulation, 2 Cal. Code of Regs. Section 18730, which contains the terms of a standard Conflict of Interest Code, which can be incorporated by reference, and which may be amended by the Fair Political Practices ComMission to conform to amendments in the Political Reform Act after public notice and hearings. Therefore, the terms of 2 Cal. Code of Regs. Section 18730 and any amendments to it duly adopted by the Fair Political Practices ComMission, along with the attached Appendix in which officials and employees are designated and disclosure categories are set forth, are hereby incorporated by reference and constitute the Conflict of Interest Code of the University of California.

Pursuant to Section 4 of the standard Code, designated employees shall file statements of economic interests (Form 700) with the University who will make the statements available for public inspection and reproduction. (Government Code Section 81008). Upon receipt of the statements (Form 700) filed by members of the Board of Regents, except ex-officio members who serve as such due to their elected state offices and are excluded by Government Code Section 87302(b), and upon receipt of the statements (Form 700) filed by the President and the Treasurer, the University shall make and retain a copy and forward the original of these statements to the Fair Political Practices ComMission.

Pursuant to 2 Cal. Code of Regs. Section 18705, principal investigators who become designated employees because their research is funded in whole or in part by nongovernmental entities shall file statements of economic interests with the University (Form 730-U).

18730 Provisions of Conflict of Interest Codes (Gov. Code Sections 87300 - 87302, 89501, 89502, 89503 and 89504)

Incorporation by reference of the terms of this regulation along with the designation of employees and the formulation of disclosure categories in the Appendix referred to below constitute the adoption and promulgation of a Conflict of Interest Code within the meaning of Government Code Section 87300 or the amendment of a Conflict of Interest Code within the meaning of Government Code Section 87306 if the terms of this regulation are substituted for terms of a Conflict of Interest Code already in effect. A code so amended or adopted and promulgated requires the reporting of reportable items in a manner substantially equivalent to the requirements of Article 2 of Chapter 7 of the Political Reform Act, Government Code Sections 81000, et seq. The requirements of a Conflict of Interest Code are in addition to other requirements of the Political Reform Act, such as the general prohibition against conflicts of interest contained in Government Code Section 87100, and to other state or local laws pertaining to conflicts of interest.

The terms of a Conflict of Interest Code amended or adopted and promulgated pursuant to this regulation are as follows:

(1) SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

The definitions contained in the Political Reform Act of 1974, regulations of the Fair Political Practices ComMission (2 Cal. Code of Regs. Sections 18100 et seq.), and any amendments to the Act or regulations, are incorporated by reference into this Conflict of Interest Code.

(2) SECTION 2. DESIGNATED EMPLOYEES.

The persons holding positions listed in the Appendix are designated employees. It has been determined that these persons make or participate in the making of decisions which may foreseeably have a material effect on financial interests.

(3) SECTION 3. DISCLOSURE CATEGORIES.

This Code does not establish any disclosure obligation for those designated employees who are also specified in Government Code Section 87200 if they are designated in this Code in that same capacity or if the geographical jurisdiction of this agency is the same as or is wholly included within the jurisdiction in which those persons must report their financial interests pursuant to Article 2 of Chapter 7 of the Political Reform Act, Government Code Sections 87200. et seq.

In addition, this Code does not establish any disclosure obligation for any designated employees who are designated in a Conflict of Interest Code for another agency, if all of the following apply:

(A) The geographical jurisdiction of this agency is the same as or is wholly included within the jurisdiction of the other agency;

(B) The disclosure assigned in the Code of the other agency is the same as that required under Article 2 of Chapter 7 of the Political Reform Act, Government Code Section 87200; and

(C) The filing officer is the same for both agencies (see footnote 1).

Such persons are covered by this Code for disqualification purposes only. With respect to all other designated employees, the disclosure categories set forth in the Appendix specify which kinds of financial interests are reportable. Such a designated employee shall disclose in his or her statement of economic interests those financial interests he or she has which are of the kind described in the disclosure categories to which he or she is assigned in the Appendix. It has been determined that the financial interests set forth in a designated employee's disclosure categories are the kinds of financial interests which he or she foreseeably can affect materially through the conduct of his or her office.

(4) SECTION 4. STATEMENTS OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS: PLACE OF FILING.

The Code reviewing body shall instruct all designated employees within its code to file statements of economic interests with the agency or with the code reviewing body, as provided by the code reviewing body in the agency's conflict of interest code (see footnote 2).

(5) SECTION 5. STATEMENTS OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS: TIME OF FILING.

(A) Initial Statements. All designated employees employed by the agency on the effective date of this Code, as originally adopted, promulgated and approved by the code reviewing body, shall file statements within thirty days after the effective date of this Code. Thereafter, each person already in a position when it is designated by an amendment to this Code shall file an initial statement within thirty days after the effective date of the amendment.

(B) Assuming Office Statements. All persons assuming designated positions after the effective date of this code shall file statements within thirty days after assuming the designated positions, or if subject to State Senate confirmation, thirty days after being nominated or appointed.

(C) Annual Statements. All designated employees shall file statements no later than April 1.

(D) Leaving Office Statements. All persons who leave designated positions shall file statements within thirty days after leaving office.

(5.5) SECTION 5.5. STATEMENTS FOR PERSONS WHO RESIGN PRIOR TO ASSUMING OFFICE.

Any person who resigns within 12 months of initial appointment, or within 30 days of the date of notice provided by the filing officer to file an assuming office statement, is not deemed to have assumed office or left office, provided he or she did not make or participate in the making of, or use his or her position to influence any decision and did not receive or become entitled to receive any form of payment as a result of his or her appointment. Such persons shall not file either an assuming or leaving office statement.

Any person who resigns a position within 30 days of the date of a notice from the filing officer shall do both of the following:

(1) File a written resignation with the appointing power; and

(2) File a written statement with the filing officer declaring under penalty of perjury that during the period between appointment and resignation he or she did not make, participate in the making, or use the position to influence any decision of the agency or receive, or become entitled to receive, any form of payment by virtue of being appointed to the position.

(6) SECTION 6. CONTENTS OF AND PERIOD COVERED BY STATEMENTS OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS

(A) Contents of Initial Statements. Initial statements shall disclose any reportable investments, interests in real property and business positions held on the effective date of the Code and income received during the 12 months prior to the effective date of the Code.

(B) Contents of Assuming Office Statements. Assuming office statements shall disclose any reportable investments, interests in real property and business positions held on the date of assuming office or, if subject to State Senate confirmation or appointment, on the date of nomination, and income received during the 12 months prior to the date of assuming office or the date of being appointed or nominated, respectively.

(C) Contents of Annual Statements. Annual statements shall disclose any reportable investments, interests in real property, income and business positions held or received during the previous calendar year provided, however, that the period covered by an employee's first annual statement shall begin on the effective date of the Code or the date of assuming office whichever is later.

(D) Contents of Leaving Office Statements. Leaving office statements shall disclose reportable investments, interests in real property, income and business positions held or received during the period between the closing date of the last statement filed and the date of leaving office.

(7) SECTION 7. MANNER OF REPORTING.

Statements of economic interests shall be made on forms prescribed by the Fair Political Practices ComMission and supplied by the agency, and shall contain the following information:

(A) Investments and Real Property Disclosure. When an investment or an interest in real property (see footnote 3) is required to be reported , the statement shall contain the following:(see footnote 4).

(1) A statement of the nature of the investment or interest;

(2) The name of the business entity in which each investment is held, and a general description of the business activity in which the business entity is engaged;

(3) The address or other precise location of the real property;

(4) A statement whether the fair market value of the investment or interest in real property exceeds one thousand dollars ($1,000), exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).

(B) Personal Income Disclosure. When personal income is required to be reported (see footnote 5) , the statement shall contain:

(1) The name and address of each source of income aggregating two hundred fifty dollars ($250) or more in value, or fifty dollars ($50) or more in value if the income was a gift, and a general description of the business activity, if any, of each source;

(2) A statement whether the aggregate value of income from each source, or in the case of a loan, the highest amount owed to each source, was one thousand dollars ($1,000) or less, greater than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or greater than ten thousand dollars ($10,000);

(3) A description of the consideration, if any, for which the income was received;

(4) In the case of a gift, the name, address and business activity of the donor and any intermediary through which the gift was made; a description of the gift; the amount or value of the gift; and the date on which the gift was received;

(5) In the case of a loan, the annual interest rate and the security, if any, given for the loan.

(C) Business Entity Income Disclosure. When income of a business entity, including income of a sole proprietorship, is required to be reported(see footnote 6), the statement shall contain:

(1) The name, address, and a general description of the business activity of the business entity;

(2) The name of every person from whom the business entity received payments if the filer's pro rata share of gross receipts from such person was equal to or greater than ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

(D) Business Position Disclosure. When business positions are required to be reported, a designated employee shall list the name and address of each business entity in which he or she is a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or in which he or she holds any position of management, a description of the business activity in which the business entity is engaged, and the designated employee's position with the business entity.

(E) Acquisition or Disposal During Reporting Period. In the case of an annual or leaving office statement, if an investment or an interest in real property was partially or wholly acquired or disposed of during the period covered by the statement, the statement shall contain the date of acquisition or disposal.

(8) SECTION 8. PROHIBITION ON RECEIPT OF HONORARIA.

(A) No member of a state board or comMission, and no designated employee of a state agency, shall accept any honorarium from any source, if the member or employee would be required to report the receipt of income or gifts from that source on his or her statement of economic interests. This section shall not apply to any part-time member of the governing board of any public institution of higher education, unless the member is also an elected official.

Subdivisions (b), (c), (d), and (e) of Government Code Section 89502 shall apply to the prohibitions in this section.

(B) No member of the governing board of a special district or designated employee of a local government agency shall accept any honorarium.

Subdivisions (b), (c), and (e) of Government Code Section 89502 shall apply to the prohibitions in this section. This section shall not limit or prohibit payments, advances, or reimbursements for travel and related lodging and subsistence authorized by Government Code Section 89506.

(8.1) SECTION 8.1. PROHIBITION ON RECEIPT OF GIFTS IN EXCESS OF $290.

(A) No member of a state board or comMission, and no designated employee of a state or local government agency, shall accept gifts with a total value of more than two hundred ninety dollars ($290) in a calendar year from any single source, if the member or employee would be required to report the receipt of income or gifts from that source on his or her statement of economic interests. This section shall not apply to any part-time member of the governing board of any public institution of higher education, unless the member is also an elected official.

Subdivisions (e), (f), and (g) of Government Code Section 89503 shall apply to the prohibitions in this section.

(B) No member of the governing board of a special district, or designated employee of a local government agency shall accept any gifts with a total value of more than two hundred ninety dollars ($290) in a calendar year from any single source.

Subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 89504 shall apply to this section.

(9) SECTION 9. DISQUALIFICATION.

No designated employee shall make, participate in making, or in any way attempt to use his or her official position to influence the making of any governmental decision which he or she knows or has reason to know will have a reasonably foreseeable material financial effect, distinguishable from its effect on the public generally, on the official or a member of his or her immediate family or on:

(A) Any business entity in which the designated employee has a direct or indirect investment worth one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more;

(B) Any real property in which the designated employee has a direct or indirect interest worth one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more;

(C) Any source of income, other than gifts and other than loans by a commercial lending institution in the regular course of business on terms available to the public without regard to official status, aggregating two hundred fifty dollars ($250) or more in value provided to, received by or promised to the designated employee within twelve months prior to the time when the decision is made;

(D) Any business entity in which the designated employee is a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or holds any position of management; or

(E) Any donor of, or any intermediary or agent for a donor of, a gift or gifts aggregating two hundred ninety dollars ($290) or more in value provided to, received by, or promised to the designated employee within 12 months prior to the time when the decision is made.

(9.3) SECTION 9.3. LEGALLY REQUIRED PARTICIPATION .

No designated employee shall be prevented from making or participating in the making of any decision to the extent his or her participation is legally required for the decision to be made. The fact that the vote of a designated employee who is on a voting body is needed to break a tie does not make his or her participation legally required for purposes of this section.

(9.5) SECTION 9.5. DISQUALIFICATION OF STATE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

In addition to the general disqualification provisions of Section 9, no state administrative official shall make, participate in making, or use his or her official position to influence any governmental decision directly relating to any contract where the state administrative official knows or has reason to know that any party to the contract is a person with whom the state administrative official, or any member of his or her immediate family has, within 12 months prior to the time when the official action is to be taken:

(A) Engaged in a business transaction or transactions on terms not available to members of the public, regarding any investment or interest in real property; or

(B) Engaged in a business transaction or transactions on terms not available to members of the public regarding the rendering of goods or services totaling in value one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more.

(10) SECTION 10. MANNER OF DISQUALIFICATION .

When a designated employee determines that he or she should not make a governmental decision because he or she has a disqualifying interest in it, the determination not to act must be accompanied by disclosure of the disqualifying interest. In the case of a voting body, this determination and disclosure shall be made part of the agency's official record; in the case of a designated employee who is the head of an agency, this determination and disclosure shall be made in writing to his or her appointing authority; and in the case of other designated employees, this determination and disclosure shall be made in writing to the designated employee's supervisor.

(11) SECTION 11. ASSISTANCE OF THE COMMission AND COUNSEL .

Any designated employee who is unsure of his or her duties under this Code may request assistance from the Fair Political Practices ComMission pursuant to Government Code Section 83114 or from the attorney for his or her agency, provided that nothing in this section requires the attorney for the agency to issue any formal or informal opinion.

(12) SECTION 12. VIOLATIONS .

This Code has the force and effect of law. Designated employees violating any provision of this Code are subject to the administrative, criminal and civil sanctions provided in the Political Reform Act, Government Code Sections 81000-91014. In addition, a decision in relation to which violation of the disqualification provisions of this Code or of Government Code Section 87100 or 87450 has occurred may be set aside as void pursuant to Government Code Section 91003.

Principal investigators whose research is funded in whole or in part by nongovernmental entities are designated employees subject to disclosure requirements developed pursuant to 2 Cal. Code of Regs. Section 18705.⁷ Principal investigators shall disclose in accordance with Disclosure Category 27 in Appendix B of this Code. A principal investigator must disclose whether or not he or she has direct or indirect financial interest in the sponsor of research which is funded in whole or in part (a) through a contract or grant with anongovernmental entity or (b) by a gift from a nongovernmental entity which is earmarked by the donor for a specific principal investigator. Disclosure statements must be filed (a) before final acceptance of such a contract, grant, or gift; (b) when funding is renewed; and (c) within 90 days after expiration in the case of a contract or grant, or after funds have been completely expended in the case of a gift.

Footnotes

1. Designated employees who are required to file statements of economic interests under any other agency's Conflict of Interest Code, or under Article 2 for a different jurisdiction, may expand their statement of economic interests to cover reportable interests in both jurisdictions, and file copies of this expanded statement with both entities in lieu of filing separate and distinct statements, provided that each copy of such expanded statement filed in place of an original is signed and verified by the designated employee as if it were an original. See Government Code Section 81004.

2. See Government Code Section 81010 and 2 Cal. Code of Regs. Section 18115 for the duties of filing officer and persons in agencies who make and retain copies of statements and forward the originals to the filing officer.

3. For the purpose of disclosure only (not disqualification), an interest in real property does not include the principal residence of the filer.

4. Investments and interests in real property which have a fair market value of less than $1,000 are not investments and interests in real property within the meaning of the Political Reform Act. However, investments or interests in real property of an individual include those held by the individual's spouse and dependent children as well as a pro rata share of any investment or interest in real property of any business entity or trust in which the individual, spouse and dependent children own, in the aggregate, a direct, indirect or beneficial interest of 10 percent or greater.

5. A designated employee's income includes his or her community property interest in the income of his or her spouse but does not include salary or reimbursement for expenses received from a state, local or federal government agency.

6. Income of a business entity is reportable if the direct, indirect or beneficial interest of the filer and the filer's spouse in the business entity aggregates a 10 percent or greater interest. In addition, the disclosure of persons who are clients or customers of a business entity is required only if the clients or customers are within one of the disclosure categories of the filer.

7. Section 18705 provides:

"(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), neither disclosure of financial interests nor disqualification is required under Government Code Sections 87100, 87302, or any Conflict of Interest Code, in connection with:

(1) Teaching decisions, including the selection by a teacher of books or other educational materials for use within his or her own school or institution, and other decisions incidental to teaching;

(2) Decisions made by a person who has teaching or research responsibilities at an institution of higher education to pursue personally a course of academic study or research, to apply for funds to finance such a project, to allocate financial and material resources for such academic study or research, and all decisions relating to the manner or methodology with which such study or research will be conducted. Provided, however, that the provisions of this subsection (2) shall not apply with respect to any decision made by the person in the exercise of institution- or campus-wide administrative responsibilitiesrespecting the approval or review of any phase of academic research or study conducted at that institution or campus.

(b) Disclosure shall be required under Government Code Section 87302 or any Conflict of Interest Code in connection with a decision made by a person or persons at an institution of higher education with principal responsibility for a research project to undertake such research, if it is to be funded or supported, in whole or in part, by a contract or grant (or other funds earmarked by the donor for a specific research project or for a specific researcher) from a nongovernmental entity, but disqualification may not be required under Government Code Sections 87100, 87302 or any Conflict of Interest Code in connection with any such decision if the decision is substantively reviewed by an independent committee established within the institution."

The Filing Officer is responsible for notifying the principal investigator of the disclosure requirements, providing the principal investigator with the Form 730-U, and receiving the completed form. In addition, the Filing Officer is responsible for ensuring that the disclosure forms are publicly available for inspection and copying pursuant to Government Code 81008 not later than the second business day following the day on which it was received.