Professional Ethics
Overview
The IGFOA bylaws encourage members of the Association to follow the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada current Code of Professional Ethics.
In November of 2003, the State of Illinois adopted the Illinois State Officials and Employees Ethics Act that required all units to adopt comparable or more restrictive local legislation.
Gift Ban Act and local ethics ordinance compliance at IGFOA sponsored events
In 2005 the Illinois Government Finance Officers Association reviewed program and registration policies and practices to assure consistency with 5ILCS 430/10-10, the Illinois Ethics Act, also referred to as the Gift Ban Act.
Third party payments
In 2003 IGFOA adopted a policy of not accepting third party payments for any type of association fee for state-wide events. The Association extended that policy to include all Chapter events beginning in December 2005.
In reviewing the Gift Ban Act, legal counsel advised that IGFOA continue this policy. While IGFOA may not be held directly liable for Gift Ban violations by public sector members, the Association believes it should educate and support its members in complying with the Gift Ban Act. Counsel advised that one of the oft misunderstood sections of the Gift Ban Act is the 2002 amendment that curbs acceptance of gifts from a prohibited source during any calendar year where those gifts have a cumulative total value of $100 or more.
Raffles, drawings, and prizes
Beginning in 2004, IGFOA has refrained from prize drawings at the Annual Conference and other IGFOA State Association and Chapter events. In addition, IGFOA and the Partners' Forum works with Partners to:
- understand the Gift Ban Act prohibitions;
- respect that members may be further controlled by local ethics ordinances;
- allow participants to opt-in, do not automatically include all registrants in a drawing; and
- minimize social peer pressure to participate in a drawing.