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Use Of State ResourcesThe quiz consists of 39 ethics scenarios based on actual situations in public government. Apply the basic principles of public service and your knowledge of the state's ethics laws to each situation. In each case there is one correct response or approach that will resolve the ethical problem.

1. You work in the finance department. Another employee is blamed for your error involving significant dollars. You know that the employee will eventually be able to clear himself, but it will be impossible to trace the error back to you. What should you do?

A. Do nothing. The employee will be able to clear himself.

B. Own up to the error immediately.

C. Help the employee to resolve the error without mentioning your involvement.

D. Wait and see if the matter is investigated, then admit your mistake.

2. You learn that one of your employees may have filed a complaint with the ethics office. How do you handle this information?

A. Call a staff meeting and demand to know who went and why.

B. Do nothing.

C. Tell employees that anyone filing a complaint must notify a supervisor at once.

D. Let your employees know your door is open to problems and concerns.

3. You supervise a crew of employees that removes dangerous trees from public property. At the end of the day, you ask them to stop by your house to remove some limbs from a tree damaged during a recent storm. Your house is on the way back to the agency. Select the correct response.

A. The crew can do the job because they finished their assigned work early.

B. It's ok as long as I pay them for the work.

C. Using the crew to remove the limbs from my yard is wrong.

D. As a supervisor I can tell the crew to do anything I want.

4. A coworker performs desktop publishing services for your agency. She also has a number of personal services contracts with other agencies. She uses her work computer during the lunch hour to perform her personal contract work. Are her activities an ethics violation?

A. No. It doesn't matter what people do on their own time.

B. Yes. She should do her personal contract work outside the office.

C. No. Everyone needs to do outside work because the salaries are so low.

D. Yes. She is personally benefitting through her use of public resources.

5. The State Controlled Area Network (SCAN) reduces phone charges for government agencies. A high volume of calls are being made to places where your agency does not do business. What action should be taken?

A. The agency should develop a policy that limits telephone or SCAN use to official business.

B. The agency head should hold a meeting to discuss the problem.

C. The agency should develop a policy that seeks reimbursement for personal calls.

D. The agency head should do nothing. The calls are a small part of the agency's budget.

6. An employee sells Avon products on the side to coworkers. The employee hands out catalogues in the workplace, and takes and distributes orders during the lunch hour and at break times. What should the employee do?

A. Stop the activity.

B. Continue the activity. The employee is not disrupting the workplace.

C. Continue handing out the catalogs but only take and distribute the orders after work.

D. Get management approval before selling products.

7. A state employee requests reimbursement for travel expenses he said he incurred in attending a conference. Although the employee attended the conference, he did not incur the full expenses listed on his request. Identify the ethics problem.

A. There is no problem because the per diem rate is too low.

B. There is no problem because he estimated expenses and made an honest mistake.

C. The employee misused his state position to secure a special benefit or exemption.

D. The employee improperly used state resources for his personal benefit.

8. An employee in the Department of Revenue uses her office computer after working hours to set up a database for her sister's accounting business. Is this an ethics violation?

A. Yes. The employee is using state resources to benefit a family member.

B. No. Personal use is allowed after working hours.

C. No. She saved the database to a floppy disk.

D. No. Her supervisor approved the use in advance.

9. An employee brings a petition to work opposing a controversial ballot proposition. After spending the morning gathering signatures she reaches your desk. She asks you to sign the petition, arguing that state workers will lose their jobs if the measure passes. What do you do?

A. Sign the petition to keep your job.

B. Sign and offer to assist in the workplace campaign.

C. Avoid the issue by leaving to attend an important meeting.

D. Inform her that circulating the petition in the workplace violates the ethics act.

10. You are responsible for your agency's audiovisual equipment. On Friday night you take home an agency-owned public address system to use at a friend's wedding on Saturday. She saves $300 in rental costs. Identify the correct response.

A. There's no problem. I only borrowed the system this one time.

B. I'm just doing my friend a favor and no one will know.

C. Even though I'd like to help a friend, I can't use the agency's equipment.

D. I'll explain the situation to my supervisor. She'll understand.

11. A state employee also has a private real estate business. He is using a government vehicle during his lunch hour from his state position to check out homes for his private real estate clients. Is this a problem?

A. No, since he is conducting his private business during is lunch hour.

B. No. Most of the homes are located in areas where he conducts official business.

C. Not as long as he pays for the gas used for his personal business.

D. Yes, he is using state resources for his personal benefit.

12. A college faculty member will be attending a literary conference followed by a brief personal vacation with his wife and daughter. He asks the department secretary to get the airline tickets for his wife and daughter at the state contract fare. Should the secretary agree to the request?

A. No. The state contract fare is reserved for official business.

B. Yes, the difference in cost is not enough to be concerned about.

C. Yes, because the faculty member is paying for their tickets.

D. Yes, because this has been the practice for years.

13. You bring in personal software that includes games from home and install it on your state computer. Is there an ethics problem?

A. No, my software is better than anything the state has.

B. No, I use it because I don't have time to learn the state's programs.

C. Yes, I know the agency does not allow personal software.

D. No, the games give me something to do when I don't have enough work.

14. An employee has access to confidential records. The employee also serves on the board of directors of a non-profit organization that could benefit from the information contained in these records. What should the employee do?

A. The employee should resign from the non-profit organization.

B. The employee may provide the information to the organization since the employee is not a paid member of the board and the organization is non-profit.

C. The employee should seek guidance from the ethics office.

D. The employee should not use or provide the confidential information to the non-profit organization.

15. A state employee reviews trade secret formulae of the ABC Company when performing cancer research. A competing drug company asked her for information concerning the ABC Company's formula. What action can she take?

A. Ask her supervisor for permission to disclose the formula.

B. Let the competitor see the formula. Everyone finds out about these secrets eventually.

C. Call the ethics office and ask for advice.

D. Tell the company no, they cannot have information about the formula.

16. You know that some computer equipment from your agency is likely to be made surplus next month. A friend has asked you to let him know when this equipment will become available for bid. Can you provide this information?

A. Sure, your friend has done a lot of favors for you.

B. Yes. Selling the equipment benefits the agency.

C. No. In fairness to prospective bidders, I can't provide advance notice.

D. No. This information can only be made available through the surplus office.

17. You are a public records officer and receive a request for the director's payroll records. You determine these records are disclosable. You decide, though, not to release the records because the director's salary was subject to a garnishment last year. Have you made the right decision?

A. Yes, the director would be furious if I released those records.

B. Yes, no one will challenge the exemption I've chosen to use.

C. No, I am obligated to release the information.

D. Yes, if the director agrees with me

18. Prior to taking your new position, you were a complaints investigator for another state agency. One day a complainant from a previous case contacts you and asks for help in appealing an unfavorable decision by your former agency. Should you assist in the appeal?

A. Yes. The agency made a mistake.

B. Yes, provided I take vacation time.

C. No, but I can offer to call and find out what happened.

D. No. I am no longer responsible for the complaint.

19. An employee serves on the board of directors for a nonprofit organization. This organization has applied for a grant from the employee's agency. The employee serves on the review panel that will select grant recipients. Identify the ethics problem.

A. There is no problem. The organization has a strong proposal.

B. There is no conflict because everyone knows the employee is on the board.

C. The employee has a conflict of interest and should not serve on the panel.

D. There is no conflict if the employee doesn't vote for her organization.

20. While reviewing a permit for a controversial development, the developer offers you a position with his company. Can you continue to work on the review?

A. Yes, and I'd like to speed up the review so I can begin salary negotiations.

B. No and I will immediately notify my supervisor.

C. Yes. The job offer won't influence my review.

D. Yes, because I am not interested in leaving my position.

21. You are a health inspector with a partnership interest in a local restaurant. You have not informed your agency of this relationship. You are assigned to perform an inspection of your restaurant. Do you perform the inspection?

A. No. I'll give the assignment to one of my staff.

B. Yes. A clean bill of health will reassure customers.

C. No and I'll inform my supervisor about my partnership interest.

D. Yes, and I'll review the books while I'm there.

22. You enforce business license requirements. You discover that a local business, with which you have a private legal dispute, is overdue paying its taxes. What action should you take?

A. Call the business and tell them you will update their records if they reach a settlement.

B. Take action to revoke their business license.

C. Nothing.

D. Ask your supervisor to remove you from this account.

23. You supervise the operations of a government warehouse. Your spouse owns a company that does business with warehouse vendors. When a new vendor asks whether there are any companies that label products, you recommend your spouse's company. Identify the ethics violation.

A. This is a conflict of interest because I have a financial interest in the company I have recommended.

B. This is a conflict of interest because I oversee the activities of warehouse vendors.

C. There is no conflict because I don't get involved in my spouse's business.

D. There is no conflict because my spouse's prices are competitive.

24. You manage an arts program that gives grants to local artists for public art projects. Because you are also an artist, you submit an application for a grant from the arts commission and receive one for $1000. Can you accept the grant?

A. Of course! It's so hard for artists to find funding.

B. Yes, because public art is a benefit to the public.

C. Yes, because I am also seeking funding from local sources.

D. No, because it conflicts with my official duties.

25. You are a receptionist for your agency's central contract office. A vendor comes into the office and gives you a gym bag valued at $40.00. The vendor's logo is printed on the side. What do you do?

A. Accept the gym bag.

B. Don't accept the gym bag.

C. Ask your supervisor or the ethics office for guidance.

D. Accept the gym bag, but don't bring it to work.

26. You are a securities manager and invest government funds. A representative from a major investment firm invites you to a game of golf. He suggests dinner afterwards to discuss new investment options. Can you accept the invitation?<

A. Sure. I've been a friend of the representative for years.

B. Yes, because this is official business.

C. Yes, if I pay for golf and dinner.

D. No, I really shouldn't accept.

27. You work for the health department and are often in the field conducting inspections. From time to time business owners offer you refreshments and sometimes offer to buy you lunch. What should you do?

A. Decline to accept anything from those you inspect.

B. Accept. What's the big deal?

C. Overlook the minor violations.

D. Accept, but don't tell anyone.

28. Two vendors who have contracts with state agencies are offering to provide discounted calling rates to state employees who purchase cell phones from them. Can state employees accept this offer?

A. Yes, unless the offer is connected to the award of a contract.

B. No, agreeing to the offer would result in a personal benefit to employees.

C. State employees should contact the ethics office for advice.

D. Yes, state employees may accept discounts regardless of whether the offer is connected to the contract award.

29. The owner of a local deli gives you a $75 gift certificate in thanks for the business your agency has brought in during off-site training sessions this year. What should you do with the gift certificate?

A. Invite four close friends from the agency to lunch so that you don't exceed the gift limit under the ethics law.

B. Thank the deli owner for the offer, but tell him you really can't accept.

C. Keep the certificate to buy refreshments for the next training session.

D. Use the certificate to offset catering expenses for a neighborhood party.

30. Your agency sends you to a computer conference. As part of your registration, you receive a ticket that enters you into a door prize drawing at the end of the conference. You win a new multimedia computer and scanner. Can you keep the prizes?

A. Yes, it was a random drawing.

B. Yes, because my agency has allowed me to accept the prize.

C. No. The prize exceeds the gift limitation in the ethics law.

D. Yes, because I attended the conference on the weekend.

31. As a liquor store clerk, you process credit card payments for purchases. A major bank sends you a $50 reward for returning a card that has been revoked. Can you keep the reward?

A. Yes, it's standard bank practice.

B. Yes, it's within the $50 gift limit.

C. No, I was just performing my official duties.

D. Yes, I don't do my personal banking with that bank.

licy. The group invites you to address a statewide meeting of its membership, and gives you a $250 honorarium. Identify the correct response.

A. Accepting the honorarium violates the gift laws.

B. You may accept an honorarium in return for a speech.

C. You may not accept the honorarium unless your agency approves.

D. You can accept the honorarium because the speech is given on your own time.

33. You review proposals to fund research grants to study uses for tree bark. A company with large timber holdings has sought and received grants in the past and offers you a $250 honorarium to speak at a company workshop. Can you accept the honorarium?

A. Yes, because I am not the final decision-maker on the grant awards.

B. Yes, I am clearly an expert in writing successful grant proposals.

C. I participate in the grant awards, so I must decline the honorarium.

D. Yes, the company may not apply for future grants.

34. You manage public contracts with community service providers. One of the providers calls to see if you would be interested in a part-time training position on the weekends. Can you accept the position?

A. Yes, I already have a good working relationship with the provider.

B. No, because I administer the contracts with the provider.

C. Yes, because the contracts do not involve training.

D. Yes, because I am not scheduled to work on weekends.

35. You are an agency publications specialist. Another state agency calls to see if you would be interested in a personal contract to develop brochures for a public outreach campaign. You accept the offer and perform the work on your own time. Is there an ethics problem?

A. No. The work is performed on my own time.

B. Yes, unless I received prior approval from the ethics board.

C. Yes, as a state employee I can't contract with a state agency.

D. Yes, because I develop brochures as part of my official duties.

36. A state wetlands biologist is asked to teach a course on preserving endangered habitats at the local community college. The course will be taught two nights per week for eight weeks. Can the employee teach the course?<

A. No, because the subject is related to the employee's official duties.

B. Yes, because it is unlikely this could create a conflict of interest.

C. Yes, because he put in his teaching application before he worked for the state.

D. No, he may one day participate in official action involving a former student.

37. As manager of a government-recycling program, you handle the agency contract with XYZ company. A consultant has offered you a position with XYZ company. What should you do before you accept the offer?

A. Show your appreciation by awarding a major agency contract to the consultant.

B. Demonstrate your future worth by sharing confidential information from competitors.

C. Consult with your supervisor.

D. Find out all you can about the legal restrictions for those who leave state service

38. As an experienced engineer, you have been assigned to supervise a two-year renovation project. After 18 months, you decide to leave and accept a consulting position for a private firm to work on the same project. Would this violate the state's ethics laws?

A. No, because I clearly have the expertise.

B. No, the project is almost over and I need to think about my future.

C. Yes, accepting any employment on this project is a conflict of interest.

D. No, The firm promised to hire me if I recommended its selection for the project.

39. Prior to leaving state employment you processed applications for food stamp benefits. You now work for a non-profit that helps the working poor, and assist clients in completing food stamp benefit applications. Is this a violation of post-state employment restrictions?

A. Yes, because it involves work I did for the state.

B. No, I can provide this type of limited assistance.

C. No, because no one will find out.

D. Yes, others are benefiting from my former state position.

	Ethics Quiz Results
		Use Of State ResourcesThe quiz consists of 39 ethics scenarios based on actual situations in public government. Apply the basic principles of public service and your knowledge of the state's ethics laws to each situation. In each case there is one correct response or approach that will resolve the ethical problem. 1. You work in the finance department. Another employee is blamed for your error involving significant dollars. You know that the employee will eventually be able to clear himself, but it will be impossible to trace the error back to you. What should you do? A. Do nothing. The employee will be able to clear himself. B. Own up to the error immediately. C. Help the employee to resolve the error without mentioning your involvement. D. Wait and see if the matter is investigated, then admit your mistake. 2. You learn that one of your employees may have filed a complaint with the ethics office. How do you handle this information? A. Call a staff meeting and demand to know who went and why. B. Do nothing. C. Tell employees that anyone filing a complaint must notify a supervisor at once. D. Let your employees know your door is open to problems and concerns. 3. You supervise a crew of employees that removes dangerous trees from public property. At the end of the day, you ask them to stop by your house to remove some limbs from a tree damaged during a recent storm. Your house is on the way back to the agency. Select the correct response. A. The crew can do the job because they finished their assigned work early. B. It's ok as long as I pay them for the work. C. Using the crew to remove the limbs from my yard is wrong. D. As a supervisor I can tell the crew to do anything I want. Use Of State Resources 4. A coworker performs desktop publishing services for your agency. She also has a number of personal services contracts with other agencies. She uses her work computer during the lunch hour to perform her personal contract work. Are her activities an ethics violation? A. No. It doesn't matter what people do on their own time. B. Yes. She should do her personal contract work outside the office. C. No. Everyone needs to do outside work because the salaries are so low. D. Yes. She is personally benefitting through her use of public resources. 5. The State Controlled Area Network (SCAN) reduces phone charges for government agencies. A high volume of calls are being made to places where your agency does not do business. What action should be taken? A. The agency should develop a policy that limits telephone or SCAN use to official business. B. The agency head should hold a meeting to discuss the problem. C. The agency should develop a policy that seeks reimbursement for personal calls. D. The agency head should do nothing. The calls are a small part of the agency's budget. 6. An employee sells Avon products on the side to coworkers. The employee hands out catalogues in the workplace, and takes and distributes orders during the lunch hour and at break times. What should the employee do? A. Stop the activity. B. Continue the activity. The employee is not disrupting the workplace. C. Continue handing out the catalogs but only take and distribute the orders after work. D. Get management approval before selling products. 7. A state employee requests reimbursement for travel expenses he said he incurred in attending a conference. Although the employee attended the conference, he did not incur the full expenses listed on his request. Identify the ethics problem. A. There is no problem because the per diem rate is too low. B. There is no problem because he estimated expenses and made an honest mistake. C. The employee misused his state position to secure a special benefit or exemption. D. The employee improperly used state resources for his personal benefit. 8. An employee in the Department of Revenue uses her office computer after working hours to set up a database for her sister's accounting business. Is this an ethics violation? A. Yes. The employee is using state resources to benefit a family member. B. No. Personal use is allowed after working hours. C. No. She saved the database to a floppy disk. D. No. Her supervisor approved the use in advance. 9. An employee brings a petition to work opposing a controversial ballot proposition. After spending the morning gathering signatures she reaches your desk. She asks you to sign the petition, arguing that state workers will lose their jobs if the measure passes. What do you do? A. Sign the petition to keep your job. B. Sign and offer to assist in the workplace campaign. C. Avoid the issue by leaving to attend an important meeting. D. Inform her that circulating the petition in the workplace violates the ethics act. 10. You are responsible for your agency's audiovisual equipment. On Friday night you take home an agency-owned public address system to use at a friend's wedding on Saturday. She saves $300 in rental costs. Identify the correct response. A. There's no problem. I only borrowed the system this one time. B. I'm just doing my friend a favor and no one will know. C. Even though I'd like to help a friend, I can't use the agency's equipment. D. I'll explain the situation to my supervisor. She'll understand. 11. A state employee also has a private real estate business. He is using a government vehicle during his lunch hour from his state position to check out homes for his private real estate clients. Is this a problem? A. No, since he is conducting his private business during is lunch hour. B. No. Most of the homes are located in areas where he conducts official business. C. Not as long as he pays for the gas used for his personal business. D. Yes, he is using state resources for his personal benefit. 12. A college faculty member will be attending a literary conference followed by a brief personal vacation with his wife and daughter. He asks the department secretary to get the airline tickets for his wife and daughter at the state contract fare. Should the secretary agree to the request? A. No. The state contract fare is reserved for official business. B. Yes, the difference in cost is not enough to be concerned about. C. Yes, because the faculty member is paying for their tickets. D. Yes, because this has been the practice for years. 13. You bring in personal software that includes games from home and install it on your state computer. Is there an ethics problem? A. No, my software is better than anything the state has. B. No, I use it because I don't have time to learn the state's programs. C. Yes, I know the agency does not allow personal software. D. No, the games give me something to do when I don't have enough work. 14. An employee has access to confidential records. The employee also serves on the board of directors of a non-profit organization that could benefit from the information contained in these records. What should the employee do? A. The employee should resign from the non-profit organization. B. The employee may provide the information to the organization since the employee is not a paid member of the board and the organization is non-profit. C. The employee should seek guidance from the ethics office. D. The employee should not use or provide the confidential information to the non-profit organization. 15. A state employee reviews trade secret formulae of the ABC Company when performing cancer research. A competing drug company asked her for information concerning the ABC Company's formula. What action can she take? A. Ask her supervisor for permission to disclose the formula. B. Let the competitor see the formula. Everyone finds out about these secrets eventually. C. Call the ethics office and ask for advice. D. Tell the company no, they cannot have information about the formula. 16. You know that some computer equipment from your agency is likely to be made surplus next month. A friend has asked you to let him know when this equipment will become available for bid. Can you provide this information? A. Sure, your friend has done a lot of favors for you. B. Yes. Selling the equipment benefits the agency. C. No. In fairness to prospective bidders, I can't provide advance notice. D. No. This information can only be made available through the surplus office. Public Records Disclosure 17. You are a public records officer and receive a request for the director's payroll records. You determine these records are disclosable. You decide, though, not to release the records because the director's salary was subject to a garnishment last year. Have you made the right decision? A. Yes, the director would be furious if I released those records. B. Yes, no one will challenge the exemption I've chosen to use. C. No, I am obligated to release the information. D. Yes, if the director agrees with me Conflict Of Interest 18. Prior to taking your new position, you were a complaints investigator for another state agency. One day a complainant from a previous case contacts you and asks for help in appealing an unfavorable decision by your former agency. Should you assist in the appeal? A. Yes. The agency made a mistake. B. Yes, provided I take vacation time. C. No, but I can offer to call and find out what happened. D. No. I am no longer responsible for the complaint. 19. An employee serves on the board of directors for a nonprofit organization. This organization has applied for a grant from the employee's agency. The employee serves on the review panel that will select grant recipients. Identify the ethics problem. A. There is no problem. The organization has a strong proposal. B. There is no conflict because everyone knows the employee is on the board. C. The employee has a conflict of interest and should not serve on the panel. D. There is no conflict if the employee doesn't vote for her organization. 20. While reviewing a permit for a controversial development, the developer offers you a position with his company. Can you continue to work on the review? A. Yes, and I'd like to speed up the review so I can begin salary negotiations. B. No and I will immediately notify my supervisor. C. Yes. The job offer won't influence my review. D. Yes, because I am not interested in leaving my position. 21. You are a health inspector with a partnership interest in a local restaurant. You have not informed your agency of this relationship. You are assigned to perform an inspection of your restaurant. Do you perform the inspection? A. No. I'll give the assignment to one of my staff. B. Yes. A clean bill of health will reassure customers. C. No and I'll inform my supervisor about my partnership interest. D. Yes, and I'll review the books while I'm there. 22. You enforce business license requirements. You discover that a local business, with which you have a private legal dispute, is overdue paying its taxes. What action should you take? A. Call the business and tell them you will update their records if they reach a settlement. B. Take action to revoke their business license. C. Nothing. D. Ask your supervisor to remove you from this account. 23. You supervise the operations of a government warehouse. Your spouse owns a company that does business with warehouse vendors. When a new vendor asks whether there are any companies that label products, you recommend your spouse's company. Identify the ethics violation. A. This is a conflict of interest because I have a financial interest in the company I have recommended. B. This is a conflict of interest because I oversee the activities of warehouse vendors. C. There is no conflict because I don't get involved in my spouse's business. D. There is no conflict because my spouse's prices are competitive. 24. You manage an arts program that gives grants to local artists for public art projects. Because you are also an artist, you submit an application for a grant from the arts commission and receive one for $1000. Can you accept the grant? A. Of course! It's so hard for artists to find funding. B. Yes, because public art is a benefit to the public. C. Yes, because I am also seeking funding from local sources. D. No, because it conflicts with my official duties. Gifts, Gratuities And Things Of Value 25. You are a receptionist for your agency's central contract office. A vendor comes into the office and gives you a gym bag valued at $40.00. The vendor's logo is printed on the side. What do you do? A. Accept the gym bag. B. Don't accept the gym bag. C. Ask your supervisor or the ethics office for guidance. D. Accept the gym bag, but don't bring it to work. 26. You are a securities manager and invest government funds. A representative from a major investment firm invites you to a game of golf. He suggests dinner afterwards to discuss new investment options. Can you accept the invitation?< A. Sure. I've been a friend of the representative for years. B. Yes, because this is official business. C. Yes, if I pay for golf and dinner. D. No, I really shouldn't accept. 27. You work for the health department and are often in the field conducting inspections. From time to time business owners offer you refreshments and sometimes offer to buy you lunch. What should you do? A. Decline to accept anything from those you inspect. B. Accept. What's the big deal? C. Overlook the minor violations. D. Accept, but don't tell anyone. 28. Two vendors who have contracts with state agencies are offering to provide discounted calling rates to state employees who purchase cell phones from them. Can state employees accept this offer? A. Yes, unless the offer is connected to the award of a contract. B. No, agreeing to the offer would result in a personal benefit to employees. C. State employees should contact the ethics office for advice. D. Yes, state employees may accept discounts regardless of whether the offer is connected to the contract award. 29. The owner of a local deli gives you a $75 gift certificate in thanks for the business your agency has brought in during off-site training sessions this year. What should you do with the gift certificate? A. Invite four close friends from the agency to lunch so that you don't exceed the gift limit under the ethics law. B. Thank the deli owner for the offer, but tell him you really can't accept. C. Keep the certificate to buy refreshments for the next training session. D. Use the certificate to offset catering expenses for a neighborhood party. 30. Your agency sends you to a computer conference. As part of your registration, you receive a ticket that enters you into a door prize drawing at the end of the conference. You win a new multimedia computer and scanner. Can you keep the prizes? A. Yes, it was a random drawing. B. Yes, because my agency has allowed me to accept the prize. C. No. The prize exceeds the gift limitation in the ethics law. D. Yes, because I attended the conference on the weekend. 31. As a liquor store clerk, you process credit card payments for purchases. A major bank sends you a $50 reward for returning a card that has been revoked. Can you keep the reward? A. Yes, it's standard bank practice. B. Yes, it's within the $50 gift limit. C. No, I was just performing my official duties. D. Yes, I don't do my personal banking with that bank. Honoraria licy. The group invites you to address a statewide meeting of its membership, and gives you a $250 honorarium. Identify the correct response. A. Accepting the honorarium violates the gift laws. B. You may accept an honorarium in return for a speech. C. You may not accept the honorarium unless your agency approves. D. You can accept the honorarium because the speech is given on your own time. 33. You review proposals to fund research grants to study uses for tree bark. A company with large timber holdings has sought and received grants in the past and offers you a $250 honorarium to speak at a company workshop. Can you accept the honorarium? A. Yes, because I am not the final decision-maker on the grant awards. B. Yes, I am clearly an expert in writing successful grant proposals. C. I participate in the grant awards, so I must decline the honorarium. D. Yes, the company may not apply for future grants. Outside Employment 34. You manage public contracts with community service providers. One of the providers calls to see if you would be interested in a part-time training position on the weekends. Can you accept the position? A. Yes, I already have a good working relationship with the provider. B. No, because I administer the contracts with the provider. C. Yes, because the contracts do not involve training. D. Yes, because I am not scheduled to work on weekends. 35. You are an agency publications specialist. Another state agency calls to see if you would be interested in a personal contract to develop brochures for a public outreach campaign. You accept the offer and perform the work on your own time. Is there an ethics problem? A. No. The work is performed on my own time. B. Yes, unless I received prior approval from the ethics board. C. Yes, as a state employee I can't contract with a state agency. D. Yes, because I develop brochures as part of my official duties. 36. A state wetlands biologist is asked to teach a course on preserving endangered habitats at the local community college. The course will be taught two nights per week for eight weeks. Can the employee teach the course?< A. No, because the subject is related to the employee's official duties. B. Yes, because it is unlikely this could create a conflict of interest. C. Yes, because he put in his teaching application before he worked for the state. D. No, he may one day participate in official action involving a former student. Post State Employment 37. As manager of a government-recycling program, you handle the agency contract with XYZ company. A consultant has offered you a position with XYZ company. What should you do before you accept the offer? A. Show your appreciation by awarding a major agency contract to the consultant. B. Demonstrate your future worth by sharing confidential information from competitors. C. Consult with your supervisor. D. Find out all you can about the legal restrictions for those who leave state service 38. As an experienced engineer, you have been assigned to supervise a two-year renovation project. After 18 months, you decide to leave and accept a consulting position for a private firm to work on the same project. Would this violate the state's ethics laws? A. No, because I clearly have the expertise. B. No, the project is almost over and I need to think about my future. C. Yes, accepting any employment on this project is a conflict of interest. D. No, The firm promised to hire me if I recommended its selection for the project. 39. Prior to leaving state employment you processed applications for food stamp benefits. You now work for a non-profit that helps the working poor, and assist clients in completing food stamp benefit applications. Is this a violation of post-state employment restrictions? A. Yes, because it involves work I did for the state. B. No, I can provide this type of limited assistance. C. No, because no one will find out. D. Yes, others are benefiting from my former state position.
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