Advisory Opinion No. 97-67

Re: Joseph R. Le

QUESTION PRESENTED

The Petitioner, a member of the Woonsocket Juvenile Hearing Board, a municipal appointed position, who also is a member of the Governor's Juvenile Justice Reform Task Force and Governor's Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, both state appointed positions, requests an advisory opinion as to whether he is required to file a personal financial disclosure statement.

RESPONSE

It is the opinion of the Rhode Island Ethics Commission that the Petitioner, a member of the Woonsocket Juvenile Hearing Board, a municipal appointed position, who also is a member of the Governor's Juvenile Justice Reform Task Force and Governor's Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, state appointed positions, is required to file a personal financial disclosure statement, notwithstanding the fact that he serves on the Juvenile Hearing Board without compensation. Members of many Commissions serve as volunteers or are not compensated for their public service; however, the General Assembly has deemed that if an official is appointed by the highest governing body of the state or municipality or for a term of office and exercises governmental functions other than in an advisory nature, the public official is required to file a personal financial statement pursuant to the Code of Ethics. In this matter, the Petitioner is a member of three Boards or Committees and is a "state or municipal appointed official" within the meaning of R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-14-4 or §36-14-16, and therefore is required to file a financial statement.

Code Citations:

36-14-4

36-14-16

Keywords:

financial disclosure