Subchapter II. Financial Disclosure
TITLE 29
State Government
Public Officers and Employees
CHAPTER 58. LAWS REGULATING THE CONDUCT OF OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE
Subchapter II. Financial Disclosure
§ 5811. Findings.
The General Assembly finds and declares that:
(1) In our democratic form of government, persons serving in state government hold positions of public trust which require rigorous adherence to the highest standards of honesty, integrity and impartiality.
(2) In order to insure propriety and preserve public trust, a public official or employee should refrain from acting in an official capacity on any matter wherein the employee or official has a direct or indirect personal financial interest that might reasonably be expected to impair objectivity or independence of judgment, and should avoid even the appearance of impropriety.
(3) A disclosure of the personal financial interests of public officials will serve to guard against conduct violative of this public trust and to restore the public's faith and confidence in representatives of its government.
64 Del. Laws, c. 110, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.;
§ 5812. Definitions.
(a) "Business enterprise" means corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship or any other individual or organization carrying on a business or profession.
(b) "Capital gain" means capital gains required to be reported to the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to federal internal revenue laws.
(c) "Commission" means the State Public Integrity Commission.
(d) "Constructively controlled" means:
(1) A financial interest in the name of another which is controlled by a public officer by virtue of any relationship of the public officer to another person and which directly benefits the public officer;
(2) Any financial interest of a public officer held jointly with the spouse or child of such public officer;
(3) Any financial interest of the spouse or minor child of a public officer.
(e) "Debt instrument" means bonds, notes, debentures, mortgages or other securities having a fixed yield if not convertible to equity instruments.
(f) "Equity instrument" means any ownership interest in a corporation or other legal entity giving rights to the holder upon liquidation of the entity.
(g) "Fair market value" means, if a security, the quoted price as of January 1 of the year in which the report required by § 5813 of this title is filed, or, if not a security, the price at which the public officer would sell as of January 1 of the year in which the report required by § 5813 of this title is filed.
(h) "Gift" means a payment, subscription, advance, forbearance, rendering or deposit of money, services or anything of value unless consideration of equal or greater value is received. "Gift" shall not include a political contribution otherwise reported as required by law, a commercially reasonable loan made in the ordinary course of business, or a gift received from a spouse or any relative within the 3rd degree of consanguinity of the person or person's spouse or from the spouse of any such relative.
(i) "Honoraria" means fees received for speeches, written articles and participation in discussion groups and similar activities, but does not include reimbursement for expenses.
(j) "Income for services rendered" means income from a single source and includes salary, wages, consulting fees and professional services.
(k) "Instrument of ownership" includes, but is not limited to, common or preferred stock, rights, warrants, articles of partnership, proprietary interest, deeds and debt instruments, if convertible to equity instruments.
(l) "Position of management" means officer, director, partner, proprietor or other managerial position in a business enterprise.
(m) "Professional organization" means an individual engaged in, or an association organized pursuant to, federal or state law for the practice of medicine, law, accounting, engineering or other profession.
(n)(1) "Public officer" shall mean:
a. Any person elected to any state office; and
b. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy in an elective state office; and
c. Any candidate who has filed for any state office; and
d. The Research Director and Controller General of the Legislative Council; and
e. The Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court; and
f. The Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors of the Court of Chancery; and
g. The President Judge and Judges of Superior Court; and
h. The Chief Judge and Judges of Family Court; and
i. The Chief Judge and Judges of the Court of Common Pleas; and
j. The Chief Magistrate and justices of the peace; and
k. The State Court Administrator and the administrators of Superior Court, Family Court, the Court of Common Pleas, and the Justice of the Peace Courts; and
l. The Public Guardian, the Executive Director of the Victims' Compensation Assistance Program, the Executive Director of the Child Placement Review Board; and
m. All Cabinet Secretaries and persons of equivalent rank within the Executive Branch; and
n. All division directors and persons of equivalent rank within the Executive Branch; and
o. The State Election Commissioner and the Directors and Deputy Directors of the Department of Elections; and
p. The State Fire Marshal and the Director of the State Fire School; and
q. The Adjutant General of the Delaware National Guard; and
r. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner and the members of the Appeals Commission, pursuant to 4 Del. C. § 306(c) of Title 4.
(2) For purposes of this subchapter, the term "public officer" does not include elected and appointed officials of political subdivisions of the State, of public school districts of the State, and of state institutions of higher learning.
(o) "Reimbursement for expenditures" means any payments to a public officer for expenses incurred by that public officer.
(p) "Time or demand deposits" means checking and savings account in banks or deposits or share in savings and loan institutions, credit unions or money market funds.
64 Del. Laws, c. 110, § 1; 64 Del. Laws, c. 223, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 418, § 1; 69 Del. Laws, c. 467, § 20; 71 Del. Laws, c. 176, § 35; 72 Del. Laws, c. 190, § 4; 72 Del. Laws, c. 338, § 6; 75 Del. Laws, c. 57, §§ 1-3; 76 Del. Laws, c. 213, §§ 52-55; 77 Del. Laws, c.193, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, 227, § 1.;
§ 5813. Report disclosing financial information.
(a) Every public officer as defined in § 5812 of this title shall file a report disclosing financial interests, as hereinafter provided. Each report shall be on a form prescribed by the Commission, shall be signed by the public officer and shall include at least the following information:
(1) The name and position of the public officer; and
(2) The name, instrument and nature of ownership, and any position of management held by, or constructively controlled by, the public officer in any business enterprise in which legal or equitable ownership is in excess of $5,000 fair market value or from which income of more than $5,000 was either derived during the preceding calendar year or might reasonably be expected to be derived during the current calendar year. Time or demand deposits in a financial institution, or any debt instrument having a fixed yield shall not be listed unless convertible to an equity instrument; and
(3) The name, address and type of practice, without reference to the identity of any individual clients served, of any professional organization in which the public officer is the sole practitioner, officer, director or partner, or serves in any advisory capacity, or which is constructively controlled by the public officer, from which income of more than $5,000 was either derived during the preceding year or might reasonably be expected to be derived during the current calendar year; provided, however, that any such organization construed as a business enterprise and reported pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection need not be reported under this subsection; and
(4) The source of each of the following items received during the preceding calendar year, or reasonably expected to be received during the current calendar year:
a. Any income derived for services rendered exceeding $1,000 from a single source, unless such income is otherwise identified pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of this subsection; or
b. Any capital gain exceeding $1,000 from a single source other than from the sale of a residence occupied by the public officer; or
c. Any reimbursement for expenditures exceeding $1,000 from a single source; or
d. Any honoraria; or
e. Any gift with a value in excess of $250 received from any person, identifying also in each case the amount of each such gift. For purposes of compliance with this gift reporting obligation, the recipient may rely in good faith upon the representation of the source of the gift as to the gift's value; and
(5) Each creditor to whom the public officer was indebted for a period of 90 consecutive days or more during the preceding calendar year in an aggregate amount in excess of $1,000.
(b) Each report required by this section shall contain a certification by the public officer that the officer has read the report, and that to the best of the officer's knowledge and belief it is true, correct and complete, and that the officer has not and will not transfer any assets, interests or property for the purpose of concealing it from disclosure while retaining an equitable interest therein.
(c) Not later than 14 days after becoming a public officer as defined in § 5812 of this title, the report required by this subchapter shall be filed. Thereafter, the report shall be filed on March 15 of each year.
(d) Each report required by this section shall be filed with the Commission.
64 Del. Laws, c. 110, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 418, § 2; 69 Del. Laws, c. 467, §§ 21-23; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 57, §§ 4, 5; 77 Del. Laws, c. 353, § 1.;
§ 5813A. Report disclosing council or board membership [Effective Jan. 8, 2011]
(a) Every person elected to a state office or appointed to fill a vacancy in an elective state office, or who has filed as a candidate for an elective state office shall disclose in writing to the Commission, and the Commission shall record in its public officer docket, the name and address of every nonprofit organization, excluding religious organizations, civic association, community association, foundation, maintenance organization, or trade group incorporated in the State or having activities in the State, or both, of which the person is a council member or board member.
(b) The disclosure required by subsection (a) of this section must be submitted along with, or as part of, the financial disclosure information required to be provided to the Commission pursuant to § 5813 of this title.
77 Del. Laws, c. 349, § 1.;
§ 5814. Retention of reports.
(a) The Commission shall keep the reports required by this subchapter on file for so long as the person submitting such report is a public officer of this State, as defined in § 5812 of this title, and for at least 5 years thereafter. All reports on file with agencies other than the Commission as of January 15, 1995 shall be transferred to the Commission by April 15, 1995.
(b) The reports filed pursuant to this subchapter shall be made available at reasonable hours for public inspection and copying pursuant to Chapter 100 of this title.
64 Del. Laws, c. 110, § 1; 69 Del. Laws, c. 467, § 24.;
§ 5815. Violations; penalties; jurisdiction of Superior Court [Effective until Jan. 8, 2011]
(a) Any public officer who willfully fails to file a report in violation of § 5813 of this title shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
(b) Any public officer who knowingly files any report required by § 5813 of this title that is false in any material respect shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
(c) The Commission may refer to the Commission Counsel for investigation and/or may refer any suspected violation of this subchapter to the Attorney General for investigation and prosecution; provided however, that the Commission shall refer any suspected violation of this subchapter by a member of the General Assembly or the Judiciary to the Attorney General, who shall have the exclusive authority to investigate and prosecute or otherwise recommend remedies or sanctions for such suspected violation.
(d) Superior Court shall have jurisdiction over all offenses under this subchapter.
64 Del. Laws, c. 110, § 1; 69 Del. Laws, c. 467, § 25.;
§ 5815. Violations; penalties; jurisdiction of Superior Court [Effective Jan. 8, 2011]
(a) Any public officer who willfully fails to file a report in violation of §§ 5813, 5813A of this title shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
(b) Any public officer who knowingly files any report required by §§ 5813, 5813A of this title that is false in any material respect shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
(c) The Commission may refer to the Commission Counsel for investigation and/or may refer any suspected violation of this subchapter to the Attorney General for investigation and prosecution; provided however, that the Commission shall refer any suspected violation of this subchapter by a member of the General Assembly or the Judiciary to the Attorney General, who shall have the exclusive authority to investigate and prosecute or otherwise recommend remedies or sanctions for such suspected violation.
(d) Superior Court shall have jurisdiction over all offenses under this subchapter.
64 Del. Laws, c. 110, § 1; 69 Del. Laws, c. 467, § 25; 77 Del. Laws, c. 349, § 2.;
§ 5816. Protection of confidentiality.
Nothing contained in this subchapter shall be construed as requiring the disclosure of any fact the confidentiality of which is protected by any applicable federal or state law.
64 Del. Laws, c. 110, § 1.;