(A) A member, officer or employee may accept an offer of free attendance at a widely attended convention, conference, symposium, forum, panel discussion, dinner, viewing, reception or similar event provided by the sponsor of the event, if:
(1) The member, officer or employee participates in the event as a speaker or a panel participant, by presenting information related to government, or by performing a ceremonial function appropriate to the member’s, officer’s or employee’s official position or employment; or
(2) Attendance at the event is appropriate to the performance of civic affairs in the state or the official duties or representative function of the member, officer or employee.
(B) A member, officer or employee who attends an event described in division (A) above may accept a sponsor’s unsolicited offer of free attendance at the event for an accompanying individual.
(C) A member, officer or employee or the spouse or dependent thereof, may accept a sponsor’s unsolicited offer of free attendance at a charity event; except that, reimbursement for transportation and lodging may not be accepted in connection with the event.
(D) For purposes of this section, the term FREE ATTENDANCE may include waiver of all or part of a conference or other fee, the provision of transportation or the provision of food, refreshments, entertainment and instructional materials furnished to all attendees as an integral part of the event. The term does not include entertainment collateral to the event, nor does it include food or refreshments taken other than as a group setting with all or substantially all other attendees, except as authorized in § 33.37(U) of this chapter.
(2007 Code, § 1-5-4)