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<DIV><SPAN class=859105816-22102007><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>I recently had to
do a little homework to prove to the financial officer here at the OSU School
of Music that it is legal for a piano dealer to pay for my
attendance of a seminar. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=859105816-22102007><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=859105816-22102007><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>I am curious
to know if other states have law codes similar to Ohio regarding public
employees. Since I don't have a lot of time to spend writing letters
I'll just copy the relevant portion of the letter that I
sent.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=859105816-22102007><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=859105816-22102007><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>*******************************************************************************************************************</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=859105816-22102007><FONT size=2>
<P><SPAN class=859105816-22102007>... s</SPAN>o I did a little homework to
make sure it would jive with Ohio ethics law - and it does. </P>
<P>-<SPAN class=859105816-22102007>snip-</SPAN></P>
<P>Section 102.03 I - addresses this type of thing directly:</P>
<P>http://ethics.ohio.gov/ethicslawrevisedcode.html</P>
<P>(I) A public official or employee may accept travel, meals, and lodging or
expenses or reimbursement of expenses for travel, meals, and lodging in
connection with conferences, seminars, and similar events related to official
duties if the travel, meals, and lodging, expenses, or reimbursement is not of
such a character as to manifest a substantial and improper influence upon the
public official or employee with respect to that person's duties. The house of
representatives and senate, in their code of ethics, and the Ohio ethics
commission, under section 111.15 of the Revised Code, may adopt rules setting
standards and conditions for the furnishing and acceptance of such travel,
meals, and lodging, expenses, or reimbursement.</P>
<P>A person who acts in compliance with this division and any applicable rules
adopted under it, or any applicable, similar rules adopted by the supreme
court governing judicial officers and employees, does not violate division
(D), (E), or (F) of this section. This division does not preclude any person
from seeking an advisory opinion from the appropriate ethics commission under
section 102.08 of the Revised Code.</P>
<P>-snip-</P>
<P>Not only is it legal but I think it is in <SPAN
class=859105816-22102007>xxxxxxxxx's</SPAN> legitimate self interest to see
that <SPAN class=859105816-22102007>t</SPAN>he piano technician is
properly educated and equipped to care for the hundreds of thousands of
dollars <SPAN class=859105816-22102007>worth in</SPAN> pianos that
he has <SPAN class=859105816-22102007>loaned</SPAN> to the school of
music.<SPAN class=859105816-22102007>..</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN
class=859105816-22102007>*******************************************************************************************************************</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=859105816-22102007>Have any other CAUTs had to look into these
laws? And are the laws similar in every state?</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=859105816-22102007>Mitch Staples - Ohio State
University</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=859105816-22102007></SPAN> </P>
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size=2></FONT></SPAN> </P></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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