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BLACKOUT PERIOD: Please note the commission will not accept complaints that allege a candidate or a candidate committee violated the ethics rules during an election cycle. This "Blackout" period begins the first day that the state election board accepts declarations of candidacy, and it ends on the last day of the general election.

Elected State Officers

The Ethics Rules, regarding conflicts of interest, are designed to ensure state officers and employees avoid conflicts between their public duties and private economic interests. Transparency and ethics are the key to making state government work for everyone. When government actions are open and clear, people can see what’s happening and make sure their leaders are doing the right thing.  The Ethics Rules strive to provide answers to common situations involving potential conflicts, appearance of conflicts and actual conflicts.

Important Documents & Information

State Officer & Employee Guide

Download

Financial Disclosure Guide

View Guide

Important Resources

With the exception of the Scholarship Form, all registration and reporting must be done electronically in The Guardian electronic filing system,  including registration and reporting by all committees (state candidate committees, political party committees, political action committees, and special committees) formed or renewed after January 1, 2015; reporting by non-committees making independent expenditures, electioneering communications, or state question communications; out of state PACs that make contributions to Oklahoma candidates or make Independent Expenditures and Electioneering Communications; all active legislative lobbyists, executive lobbyists, and legislative liaisons; and all state officers who are elected or subject to judicial retention who are required to file Personal Financial Disclosure Statements (PFDs).

Local committees (county, municipal, and school board campaign committees and political committees) and individuals at the local level who are required to file a Personal Financial Disclosure Statement (PFD) will file on paper. See the “Local Campaign” section to access the relevant forms and information on where to submit those forms.

State Employees

State officers and employees may accept “a scholarship, similar grant or subsidy” to participate in certain educational or training events that are sponsored by another government, an entity to which the State of Oklahoma pays membership dues, or to a bona fide governmental, professional or business organization. These scholarships may include transportation costs, lodging, meals, refreshments, entertainment, instruction and materials made available to all other participants.  The cost of the scholarship must be reported to the Ethics Commission within 30 days of the last day of the event when the scholarship is provided by a bona fide “governmental, professional or business organization” other than an organization to which the State pays membership dues or a governmental entity.

A legislator or legislative employee may apply to the Commission for a waiver based on a preexisting relationship between the legislator or legislative employee and a legislative liaison or legislative lobbyist. See Ethics Rule 5.25.

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission offers continuing education programs for state officers and employees on a quarterly basis.The programs provide an overview of the Ethics Commission rules as they apply to state officers and employees, as well as examples of common scenarios. Review the applicable guides under the “Resources” tab. Contact the Ethics Commission staff at (405) 521-3451 or ethics@ethics.ok.gov with any questions.

Regularly scheduled education classes are currently suspended.  However, classes may still be offered, but not on a regular schedule and may be via videoconferencing or other electronic means rather than in person.  To sign up for notifications for when classes are offered please click here.

Last Modified on Aug 19, 2024
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