Advisory Opinions

The Arkansas Ethics Commission is authorized to issue advisory opinions and guidelines on the requirements of Ark. Code Ann. § 7-1-103(a)(1)-(4), (6), and (7);Ark. Code Ann. § 7-6-201 et seq.; the Disclosure Act for Public Initiatives, Referenda, and Measures Referred to Voters, § 7-9-401 et seq.; § 19-11-718; § 21-8-301 et seq.; the Disclosure Act for Lobbyists and State and Local Officials, § 21-8-401 et seq., § 21-8-601 et seq., § 21-8-701 et seq., and § 21-8-801 et seq.; § 21-8-901 et seq.; § 21-8-1001 et seq.; and Arkansas Constitution, Article 19, §§ 28-30 pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 7-6-217(g)(2).

Opinion # Issuance Date Short Title

2022 Opinions

22-EC-002 08/19/2022 Using campaign funds to provide security

22-EC-001 05/20/2022 Use of general election contributions for primary runoff election

2020 Opinions

20-EC-003 12/17/2020 Payment of Legal Fees for Legislators

20-EC-002 11/20/2020 Payment of Performance Bonus to Employee Who Now Work for the State

20-EC-001 11/20/2020 Special State Employee Prohibited Conduct and Conflicts of Interest

2019 Opinions

19-EC-003 08/16/2019 Conflict of Interest-Board Member

19-EC-002 04/19/2019 Special Benefits Provided to Library Employees

19-EC-001 02/19/2019 “Readily available free of charge to the general public” exception to a “gift” under Ark. Const. Art. 19, § 30

2018 Opinions

18-EC-003 10/19/2018 Lobbyist Registration and Reporting

18-EC-002 10/19/2018 Issue Speech

18-EC-001 07/27/2018 Campaign Funds for Candidate’s Childcare Expenses

2017 Opinions

17-EC-003 10/20/2017 Local Limitations on Campaign Contributions

17-EC-002 09/22/2017 Triggering PAC Registration by making in-kind contribution to CPPC

17-EC-001 06/23/2017 Prohibited Lobbyist Compensation

2016 Opinion

16-EC-001 08/19/2016 $10,000 / 2% test of Ark. Code Ann. §7-9-402(2)(B)

2015 Opinions

15-EC-005 10/16/2015 Conflicts of Interest (Insurance Commissioner)

15-EC-004 07/24/2015 Waiver of Mandatory Seating Contributions and Sale of Parking Passes

15-EC-003 06/19/2015 Persons Subject to Amendment 94 Prohibition on Gifts from Lobbyists

15-EC-002 05/15/2015 Waiver of Mandatory Seating Contributions and Sale of Parking Passes

15-EC-001 05/15/2015 Applicability of Amendment 94, Gift Laws, and Lobbying Laws to Activities of a Political Party

2014 Opinions

14-EC-002 05/23/2014 Contributions made through the internet

14-EC-001 02/21/2014 Marriage ceremonies performed by Justices of the Peace

2013 Opinions

13-EC-002 09/20/2013 Contributions to candidate from his or her corporation

13-EC-001 04/19/2013 Using Cashier’s Check to Make Contribution

2012 Opinions

12-EC-004 07/13/2012 Using Campaign Fund to Attend National Convention

12-EC-003 04/20/2012 City Employment of Off-Duty Sheriff’s Deputy

12-EC-002 01/20/2012 Filing of SFI by Chair of Academic Department of University

12-EC-001 01/20/2012 Donation from county official to county served

2011 Opinions

11-EC-004 06/24/2011 Receipt of Retirement Gifts by Public Servants

11-EC-003 05/20/2011 Participation by commission member in decision-making process

11-EC-002 01/21/2011 Employment of Legislator in ADFA programs

11-EC-001 01/21/2011 Employment of Legislator by entity which participates in ADFA programs

2010 Opinions

10-EC-004 11/19/2010 Donation of Public Relations Service to State Commission

10-EC-003 09/17/2010 Transfer of Funds by a Candidate to a Political Party

10-EC-002 06/18/2010 Legal Defense Fund

10-EC-001 03/19/2010 Disposal of Campaign Funds by Withdrawn Candidate

2009 Opinions

09-EC-003 09/18/2009 Special Event Reporting

09-EC-002 09/18/2009 PAC Itemization Threshold

09-EC-001 02/11/2009 Persons Required to File SFI

2008 Opinions

08-EC-011 12/19/2008 Permissible PAC Activities

08-EC-010 09/19/2008 Use of Public Property for Campaign Purposes

08-EC-009 08/15/2008 Member of Ethics Commission prohibited from simultaneously serving on another state board or commission

08-EC-008 08/15/2008 Reporting public funds spent to expressly advocate passage or defeat of ballot measure

08-EC-007 07/18/2008 Acceptance of Honorariums

08-EC-006 06/20/2008 Awards Presented to State Employees

08-EC-005 05/16/2008 Applicability of PAC registration and reporting requirements to entity soliciting funds to make contributions to ballot and legislative question committees

08-EC-004 05/16/2008 Disclosure by legislators of sales of goods or services to state entities

08-EC-003 03/19/2008 Campaign Debt Retirement

08-EC-002 02/15/2008 Filing of financial reports by persons engaging in express advocacy regarding a ballot measure

08-EC-001 01/18/2008 County contracting with employer of quorum court member

2007 Opinions

07-EC-007 11/16/2007 Awarding of longevity bonuses by members of legislative body

07-EC-006 10/19/2007 Elected official receiving additional compensation from governmental entity served

07-EC-005 10/19/2007 Receipt of outside compensation by public servants

07-EC-004 08/17/2007 Decision Making by Members of State Boards/Commissions

07-EC-003 08/17/2007 PAC Contributions by a Group of Related Companies

07-EC-002 03/16/2007 Payment of Expenses of Election Contest

07-EC-001 02/16/2007 Transfer of Carryover Funds to Exploratory Committee

2006 Opinions

06-EC-005 06/16/2006 Guidance regarding paid political advertisements

06-EC-004 04/21/2006 Issue Advocacy

06-EC-003 02/17/2006 Filing of Statement of Financial Interest by state board appointee

06-EC-002 02/17/2006 Lobbyist seeking to influence personnel decision of state agency

06-EC-001 01/08/2006 Filing of SFI by Board Member of Solid Waste Management District

2005 Opinions

05-EC-016 11/18/2005 PAC registration and reporting requirements

05-EC-015 11/18/2005 Acceptance of contribution from out-of-state PAC which is not registered in Arkansas

05-EC-014 11/18/2005 Public servant’s dual participation in municipal league and company with which it does business

05-EC-013 09/16/2005 State Employee Receiving Consulting Fee for Participation in Advisory Board Meeting

05-EC-012 08/19/2005 School Superintendent Potential Conflict of Interest

05-EC-011 07/22/2005 State Employee Potential Conflict of Interest

05-EC-010 06/13/2005 Lobbying by Members of the General Assembly

05-EC-009 06/13/2005 Transfer of Funds from Federal Campaign to State Campaign

05-EC-008 05/20/2005 Registration and reporting by PACs and county political party committees

05-EC-007 04/15/2005 Filing of SFI by members of municipal and county boards and commissions

05-EC-006 04/15/2005 Political party fundraising and making of independent expenditures by political party

05-EC-005 03/18/2005 Sale of Real Property by Water District to Employee

05-EC-004 03/18/2005 Use of Campaign Funds for Political Mailing

05-EC-003 03/18/2005 Dual Filing of SFI

05-EC-002 02/18/2005 Legislator participating in legislative process surrounding matter which may affect his or her financial status

05-EC-001 01/21/2005 Receipt of Stipend for Teacher Preparing and Serving as “In-Service” Trainer

2004 Opinions

04-EC-006 12/17/2004 School board member voting to hire brother

04-EC-005 07/16/2004 Member of General Assembly serving on POA board

04-EC-004 05/21/2004 Receipt by approved PAC of contribution from an out-of-state PAC

04-EC-003 04/16/2004 Voting on ordinance benefiting employer

04-EC-002 01/16/2004 Filing of SFI by board of visitors

04-EC-001 01/16/2004 Hiring of sister-in-law by judge

2003 Opinions

03-EC-004 12/19/2003 Reporting of contributions received by political parties

03-EC-003 07/18/2003 Political party hiring unsuccessful candidate as political consultant

03-EC-002 02/21/2003 Making of Contributions by PACs

03-EC-001 01/17/2003 Filing of SFI by Members of Intermodal Facilities Board

2002 Opinions

02-EC-009 10/18/2002 Sending of campaign related e-mail messages

02-EC-008 08/23/2002 Campaign Contributions from Corporations

02-EC-007 08/23/2002 Expenses Reimbursable from Campaign Account

02-EC-006 06/21/2002 Trips and Entertainment Paid For By Nongovernmental Sources

02-EC-005 05/17/2002 Public servant devoting time or labor during usual office hours towards campaign

02-EC-004 05/17/2002 Use of “mailboxes” in courthouse for campaign purposes

02-EC-003 04/19/2002 Filing of SFI by members of suburban improvement district

02-EC-002 03/15/2002 Receipt of Free Parking Passes

02-EC-001 02/15/2002 Valuation of Skybox Tickets

2001 Opinions

01-EC-008 12/14/2001 Restrictions Applicable to Members of State Boards

01-EC-007 11/16/2001 Reporting of Campaign Contributions

01-EC-006 08/17/2001 Receipt of non-money contributions by PAC to be used as golf tournament awards

01-EC-005 08/17/2001 Permissibility of member of state board accepting a position of employment in state government.

01-EC-004 07/20/2001 Receipt of expense reimbursements by members of advisory panel formed by non-profit organization

01-EC-003 06/15/2001 Hiring of Family Member by Mayor

01-EC-002 03/16/2001 Tokens of appreciation presented to public servants

01-EC-001 01/19/2001 Use of item of public property for campaign purposes

2000 Opinions

00-EC-014 12/15/2000 Required Contents of a SFI

00-EC-013 11/09/2000 Receipt of judicial robe by person elected to judicial position

00-EC-012 11/09/2000 Use of campaign funds to make contributions to a political party

00-EC-011 11/09/2000 Valuation of food and beverages provided to public servant and guest

00-EC-010 10/13/2000 Exception to definition of gift for food, lodging and travel

00-EC-009 09/15/2000 Contract between constitutional officer and school district

00-EC-008 08/18/2000 Receipt of monetary awards by teachers

00-EC-007 05/19/2000 Hosting of recognition dinner for public official

00-EC-006 05/19/2000 ASEA state employee of the year award

00-EC-005 05/19/2000 Sale of season football tickets to public servants

00-EC-004 04/21/2000 Filing of SFI by improvement district board members

00-EC-003 03/17/2000 Receipt of Compensation by Members of General Assembly

00-EC-002 01/21/2000 City Court Judges

00-EC-001 01/21/2000 Receipt of Outside Compensation by Coaches

1999 Opinions

99-EC-022 12/17/1999 Splitting of PAC Contributions

99-EC-021 12/17/1999 Oaklawn Season Passes

99-EC-020 11/19/1999 Who Files a Statement of Financial Interest

99-EC-019 11/19/1999 PAC to PAC Contributions

99-EC-018 10/22/1999 Acceptance of Complimentary Registration

99-EC-017 10/22/1999 Contributions to a PAC

99-EC-016 09/17/1999 Corporate Sponsorship of Conference

9 9-EC-015 09/17/1999 Providing Complimentary Registration and Booth Space

99-EC-014 09/17/1999 ASU Legislative Day

99-EC-013 08/27/1999 Conversion of Small Donor PAC

99-EC-012 08/27/1999 Cash Award for Public Servant

99-EC-011 08/27/1999 Food & Lodging for Conference Attendants

99-EC-010 08/27/1999 Suburban Improvement Districts

99-EC-009 07/30/1999 Group Discounts

99-EC-008 07/30/1999 Special Event Exception

99-EC-007 07/30/1999 Analysis of Gift Prohibition Statute

99-EC-006 05/21/1999 Stacking and Splitting

99-EC-005 05/21/1999 Act 553 of 1999

99-EC-004 04/16/1999 Political Advertisement

99-EC-003 04/16/1999 Independent Expenditures

9 9-EC-002 01/22/1999 Statement of Financial Interest

99-EC-001 01/22/1999 Governor’s Inauguration

1998 Opinions

98-EC-021 12/18/1998 Campaign Finance Law

98-EC-020 11/20/1998 Inaugural Event

98-EC-019 09/24/1998 Nonpartisan Political Rally

98-EC-018 08/27/1998 Ballot Question Committee Contributions

98-EC-017 08/27/1998 Limits on Contributions to PACs

98-EC-016 07/22/1998 Campaign Contribution

98-EC-015 07/22/1998 Ten-day Preelection Report

98-EC-014 07/17/1998 Unopposed Candidate

98-EC-013 Request Withdrawn

98-EC-012 07/17/1998 Use of State Stationery

98-EC-011 06/19/1998 Ballot Question Committee Contributions

98-EC-010 06/19/1998 Federal Campaign Committee Contributions

98-EC-009 05/22/1998 Wedding Gifts

98-EC-008 04/17/1998 Raffle

98-EC-007 04/17/1998 Charitable Donation

98-EC-006 Request Withdrawn

98-EC-005 03/27/1998 Carryover Funds Donations’

98-EC-004 Request Withdrawn

98-EC-003 05/22/1998 Income and Actual Expenses

98-EC-002 02/20/1998 Sources of Income

98-EC-001 02/20/1998 Citizen Complaint

Advisory Opinions issued earlier than 1998 can be found here.