Page 20 - The EDGE Winter 2022

Arizona School District Conflict-of-Interest Statutes in Title 15

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“O. Any person or vendor that has secured or “P. Any person or vendor convicted under
has taken steps to secure a contract, purchase, subsection O of this section may be suspended for
payment, claim or financial transaction with a up to six months or barred for up to three years by
school district or school purchasing cooperative the director of the Department of Administration
that offers, confers or agrees to confer any from doing business with school districts and
personal gift or benefit with a value of $300 or school purchasing cooperatives. The director of
more on a person who supervises or participates the Department of Administration shall adopt
in contracts, purchases, payments, claims or rules, including administrative procedures, to
other financial transactions, or on a person suspend or bar any person from consideration
who supervises or participates in planning, for award of contracts pursuant to this section.”
recommending, selecting or contracting for
materials, services, goods, construction or Those vendors who submit bids and proposals
construction services of a school district or must certify that they have taken steps and
school purchasing cooperative, is guilty of a exercised due diligence to ensure that no
class 6 felony. Offering, conferring or agreeing violation of A.R.S. § 15-213(O) has occurred.
to confer any personal gift or benefit with a It is therefore important for vendors to be aware
value of less than $300 is a class 1 misdemeanor. of this paragraph in statute.
A gift or benefit does not include an item of
nominal value such as a greeting card, t-shirt, It is my sincere hope that this extremely brief
mug or pen.” glimpse into Arizona School District conflict-of-
interest statutes helps to answer more questions
than it created. Please email me if you have any
questions or need further clarifications. But do
not hold it against me if I direct you to your
legal counsel. As always, I wish that all your
procurement dreams can come true!

Bill Munch, CPPO, CPPB is the Procurement Compliance
and Training Officer for Valley Schools Management Group,
recipient of the 2018 AASBO Bill Lovett Award and the 2016
NIGP National Purchasing Manager of the Year. He serves
as Vendor Representative on the AASBO Board of Directors
and provides consultation on public procurement matters for
school districts and vendors across the state of Arizona and
across the country. He may be reached at: bmunch@vsit.org.

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20 THE EDGE WINTER 2022