Conflict of Interest

At its November  30, 2015, meeting, the Texas Ethics Commission adopted amendments to  Form  CIQ as required by H.B. 23, 84th Leg., Regular Session, which  became effective September 1, 2015.

A complete copy of Chapter 176 of the Local Government Code may be found on the Texas Constitution and Statutes website. For easy reference, view some of the sections cited on this form.
    FORM CIQ: Conflict of Interest Questionnaire (PDF) (Adopted November 30, 2015)               

Local Government Code § 1761(1-a): "Business relationship" means a connection between two or more parties based on commercial activity of one of the parties. The term does not include a connection based on:
              (A) a transaction that is subject to rate or fee  regulation by a federal, state, or local governmental entity or an  agency of a     federal, state, or local governmental entity;
              (B) a transaction conducted at a price and subject to terms available to the public; or
              (C) a purchase or lease of goods or services from a person that is chartered by a state or federal                      agency and that is subject to regular examination by, and reporting to, that agency.

Local Government Code § 1763(a)(2)(A) and (B):
(a) A local government officer shall file a conflicts disclosure statement with respect to a vendor
                    if:
(2) the vendor:
            (A) has an employment or other business relationship with the local government officer or a family                      member of the officer that results in the officer or family member receiving taxable income, other                      than investment income, that exceeds $2,500 during the 12-month period preceding the date that the                      officer becomes aware that
                  (i) a contract between the local governmental entity and vendor has been executed; or
                  (ii)  the local governmental entity is considering entering into a contract with the vendor;
           (B) has given to the local government officer or a family member of the officer one or more gifts                      that have an aggregate value of more than $100 in the 12-month period preceding the date the                      officer becomes aware that:
                  (i) a contract between the local governmental entity and vendor has been executed; or
                  (ii) the local governmental entity is considering entering into a contract with the vendor.          

Local Government Code § 1766(a) and (a-1)
(a) A vendor shall file a completed conflict of interest questionnaire if the vendor has a business                      relationship with a local governmental entity and:
                  (1) has an employment or other business relationship with a local government officer of that local                      governmental entity, or a family member of the officer, described by Section 1763(a)(2)(A);
                  (2) has given a local government officer of that local governmental entity, or a family member of                      the officer, one or more gifts with the aggregate value specified by Section 1763(a)(2)(B),                      excluding any gift described by Section 1763(a-1); or
                  (3) has a family relationship with a local government officer of that local governmental entity.
                    (a-1) The completed conflict of interest questionnaire must be filed with the appropriate records                      administrator not later than the seventh business day after the later of:
                   (1) the date that the vendor:
                                       (A) begins discussions or  negotiations to enter into a contract with the local governmental  entity;                      or
                                       (B) submits to the local  governmental entity an application, response to a request for proposals  or                      bids, correspondence, or another writing related to a  potential contract with the local
                    governmental entity; or
                   (2) the date the vendor becomes aware:
                                       (A) of an employment or other  business relationship with a local government officer, or a family                      member of the officer, described by Subsection (a);
                                       (B) that the vendor has given one or more gifts described by Subsection (a); or
                                       (C) of a family relationship with a local government officer.