§ 160A-169. City employee political activity.
§ 160A‑169. City employee political activity.
(a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to ensure that cityemployees are not subjected to political or partisan coercion while performingtheir job duties, to ensure that employees are not restricted from politicalactivities while off duty, and to ensure that public funds are not used forpolitical or partisan activities.
It is not the purpose of this section to allow infringement upon therights of employees to engage in free speech and free association. Every cityemployee has a civic responsibility to support good government by everyavailable means and in every appropriate manner. Employees shall not berestricted from affiliating with civic organizations of a partisan or politicalnature, nor shall employees, while off duty, be restricted from attendingpolitical meetings, or advocating and supporting the principles or policies ofcivic or political organizations, or supporting partisan or nonpartisancandidates of their choice in accordance with the Constitution and laws of theState and the Constitution and laws of the United States of America.
(b) Definitions. For the purposes of this section:
(1) "City employee" or ""employee"means any person employed by a city or any department or program thereof thatis supported, in whole or in part, by city funds;
(2) "On duty" means that time period when an employeeis engaged in the duties of his or her employment; and
(3) "Workplace" means any place where an employeeengages in his or her job duties.
(c) No employee while on duty or in the workplace may:
(1) Use his or her official authority or influence for thepurpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election ornomination for political office; or
(2) Coerce, solicit, or compel contributions for political orpartisan purposes by another employee.
(d) No employee may be required as a duty or condition ofemployment, promotion, or tenure of office to contribute funds for political orpartisan purposes.
(e) No employee may use city funds, supplies, or equipment forpartisan purposes, or for political purposes except where such political usesare otherwise permitted by law.
(f) To the extent that this section conflicts with theprovisions of any local act, city charter, local ordinance, resolution, orpolicy, this section prevails to the extent of the conflict. (1991, c. 619, s. 2; 1993, c. 298, s. 2.)