Advisory Opinion No. 97-82

Re: Captain James Redden

QUESTION PRESENTED

Spectrum Health Systems, Inc., a contractor for the Department of Corrections asks on behalf of the Petitioner, a Department of Corrections Captain, a state employee position, as to whether any conflicts will exist if Spectrum hires the Petitioner's spouse as a transcriptionist given that he works in security.

RESPONSE

It is the opinion of the Rhode Island Ethics Commission that the Petitioner, a Department of Corrections Captain, a state employee position, does not have any inherent conflicts by virtue of his spouse being employed as a transcriptionist for a Department of Corrections contractor. This opinion is based on representations that the Captain does not have any involvement with the contract and does not supervise the contractor's staff. However, if any matter comes before the Petitioner concerning his spouse or her employer that could directly affect his spouse, he should recuse himself and file a Section 6 notice in accordance with the Code of Ethics.

Code Citations:

36-14-5(a)

36-14-7(a)

36-14-5005

Related Advisory Opinions:

94-22

95-12

96-7

96-105

96-110

96-113

96-118

Keywords:

family: private employment