Conflicts & Disclosure Statements
Effective January 1, 2006, members of a municipal governing body are required to file a conflict disclosure statement with their City Records Administrator (City Secretary). A member of the governing body must file a conflict disclosure statement within seven days of becoming aware of the following circumstances:
- A city officer, or a member of the city officer's family, has an employment or other business relationship with any person who does business with the city or is being considered by the city for a business relationship, and that relationship results in income for the elected official or the family member; or
- A city officer, or member of the city officer's family, have received certain gifts valued at more than $250.00 in the preceding 12 months from any person who does business with the city or is being considered by the city for a business relationship.
The bill also requires a vendor who wishes to conduct business or be considered for business with a city to file a "conflict of interest questionnaire (see section below)." The conflicts disclosure statement (Form CIS) and the conflict of interest questionnaire (Form CIQ) were created by the Texas Ethics Commission and are available online. Failure to complete and file a statement shall be a Class C misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine up to $500.
At its June 29, 2007, meeting the commission adopted updated Forms CIS and CIQ as required by H.B. 1491, 80th Leg., Regular Session, which became effective May 25, 2007.
[Please note that the commission does NOT have jurisdiction to interpret or enforce Chapter 176 of the Local Government Code.]
Prior to H.B. 1491, the Office of the Attorney General issued the following advisory opinion and publication regarding Chapter 176 of the Local Government Code: Opinion No. GA-0446 and 2010 Texas Conflicts of Interest Laws Made Easy.
Also, please note that these forms are NOT filed with the Texas Ethics Commission. Both the Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statements are filed with the City Secretary's Office and posted to the City's website for public viewing.
- FORM CIS: Local Government Officer Conflicts Disclosure Statement (Adopted 06/29/2007)
City Officials
If a Conflicts Disclosure Statement is filed with the City Secretary, it can be seen by clicking on the name of the official.
Vendors
FORM CIQ: Conflict of Interest Questionnaire with Instructions
List of Vendor Questionnaires on File
Completed conflict of interest questionnaires submitted by vendors (pdf) - 7/16/07 and prior
