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RELEVANT LINKS: <br />Minn. Stat. § 10A.04. <br />Minn. Stat. § IOh01, subd. <br />21. <br />Minn. Stat. § 10A.07I, subd. <br />1(b). <br />Section [11, Gifts. <br />Minn. Stat. § 10A.071, subd. <br />2. <br />Minn. Stat. § 10A.071, subd. <br />3. <br />Minn. Stat. § 10A.01, subd. <br />11. <br />c. City advocates <br />City employees and non -elected city officials who spend more than 50 <br />hours in any month on lobbying activities must also register and submit <br />expense reports with the Board. <br />B. Gift ban <br />A "gift" is defined as money, property (real or personal), a service, a loan, <br />the forbearance or forgiveness of debt, or a promise of future employment, <br />given and received without the giver receiving equal or greater value in <br />return. <br />1. Prohibition <br />A lobbyist or principal may not give gifts, or request that others give gifts <br />to officials, and officials may not accepts gifts from lobbyists or principals. <br />2. Exceptions <br />The following types of gifts are permitted under exceptions to the general <br />ban: <br />• Contributions to a political committee, political fund, principal <br />campaign committee, or party unit. <br />• Services to assist an official in the performance of official duties. Such <br />services can include advice, consultation, information, and <br />communication in connection with legislation and services to <br />constituents. <br />• Services of insignificant monetary value. <br />• A plaque with a resale value of $5 or less. <br />• A trinket or memento costing $5 or less. <br />• Informational material with a resale value of $5 or less. <br />• Food or beverage given at a reception, meal or meeting. This exception <br />applies if the recipient is making a speech or answering questions as <br />part of a program that is located away from the recipient's place of <br />work. This exception also applies if the recipient is a member or <br />employee of the legislature and an invitation to attend was given to all <br />members of the legislature at least five days before the date of the <br />event. <br />• Gifts received because of membership in a group. This exception does <br />not apply if the majority of group members are officials. In addition, <br />an equivalent gift must also be offered to the other members of the <br />group. <br />• Gifts between family members. However, the gift may not be given on <br />behalf of someone who is not a member of the family. <br />League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: 10/17/2014 <br />Official Conflict of Interest Page 31 <br />