GIFTS

Gifts
The Code of Ethics does not permit officials or employees to accept personal gifts from prohibited sources.  There are a limited number of exceptions for gifts to the City, food, travel, and public service awards.

Prohibited Gifts

• Personal gifts from contractors, vendors, lobbyists, or persons seeking official action 
• Private meals
• Free or reduced-price tickets to athletic events, musical concerts, and other entertainment events
• Personal honoraria from prohibited sources  
• Gift cards to individual employees or officials

Gift Exceptions

• Gifts to the City of Atlanta (City Gift Report required)
• Awards, plaques, certificates, mementos, novelties, or similar items given for public service
• Nominal gifts from other governments and their officials
• Family gifts
• Holiday gift rule
  • Must be nominal market value
  • Perishable
  • Impractical to return
  • Shared with the public or within the office

Food Exceptions 

• Reasonable meals or refreshments provided at a public, civic, charitable, or non-profit ceremony or event when attending in an official capacity
• Hospitality or meals for a social, charitable, or business purpose unrelated to official city business
• Reimbursements for meals when attending a conference in an official capacity (Expense Reimbursement Report required)

Travel Exceptions

• Reimbursements from prohibited sources of travel, meals, lodging, and registration fees in connection with speaking, teaching, participating on a civil or professional panel, or attending a conference (Expense Reimbursement Report required)
• Travel in an official capacity that is paid by a non-city source (Expense Reimbursement Report required)

Other Exceptions

• Salaries
• Campaign contributions*
• Inheritances
• Commerical reasonable loans

*Governed by state law