Council Code of Ethics

PREAMBLE

(1)         It is essential to the proper conduct and operation of the Florida Masonry Education Council, Inc. (herein “Council”), a direct support organization (“DSO”), that its board members, officers, and employees remain independent and impartial and that their position is not used for private gain.  Therefore, the Florida Legislature, pursuant to sections 112.3251, 112.313, and 112.3143(2), Florida Statutes (2014), requires a DSO to establish a Code of Ethics that protects against conflicts of interest and establishes standards of conduct for DSO board members, officers and employees in situations where conflicts may arise. 

(2)         It is the policy of the state that no DSO board member, officer, or employee shall have any interest, financial or otherwise, direct or indirect, or shall incur any obligation of any nature which is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of his or her duties for the DSO.  To implement this policy and strengthen the faith and confidence of the people in DSOs, there is enacted a Code of Ethics setting forth standards of conduct required of Council board members, officers and employees in the performance of their official duties.

​
STANDARDS

The following standards of conduct are enumerated in Chapter 112, Florida Statutes (2014), and are required by section 112.3251, Florida Statutes, to be observed by DSO board members, officers and employees and shall apply to board members, officers, or employees of the Council:

1.  Prohibition of Solicitation or Acceptance of Gifts
     A DSO board member, officer, or employee shall not solicit or accept anything of value to the recipient, 
     including a gift, loan, and reward, promise of future employment, favor, or service, based upon any
     understanding that the vote, official action, or judgment of the DSO board member, officer or employee would
     be influenced thereby.
 
2.  Prohibition of Accepting Compensation Given to Influence a Vote
     A DSO board member, officer, or employee shall not accept any compensation, payment, or thing of value when
     the person knows, or, with reasonable care, should know that it was given to influence a vote or other action in
     which the DSO board member, officer, or employee was expected to participate in his or her official capacity.
 
3.  Salary and Expenses
     A DSO board member or officer shall not be prohibited from voting on a matter affecting one’s salary, expenses,
     or other compensation as a DSO board member or officer, as provided by law. 
 
4.  Misuse of Public Position
     A DSO board member, officer or employee shall not corruptly use or attempt to use one’s official position or any
     property or resource of the Council which may be within one’s trust, or perform one’s official duties to secure a
     special privilege, benefit, or exemption.
 
5.  Prohibition of Misuse of Privileged Information
     A DSO board member, officer or employee shall not disclose or use information not available to members of the
     general public and gained by reason of one’s official position for one’s personal gain or benefit or for the personal
     gain or benefit of any other person or business entity.
 
6.  Post-Office/Employment Restrictions
     A person who has been elected to any DSO board or office or who is employed by a DSO may not personally   
     represent another person or entity for compensation before the governing body of the DSO of which he or she
     was a board member, officer, or employee for a period of two years after he or she vacates that office or
     employment position.
 
7.  Prohibition of Employees Holding Office
     A person may not be both a DSO employee and a DSO board member at the same time.
 
8.  Requirements to Abstain from Voting
     A DSO board member or officer shall not vote in official capacity upon any measure which would affect his or
     her special private gain or loss, or which he or she knows would affect the special gain or any principal by whom
     the board member or officer is retained.  When abstaining, the DSO board member or officer, prior to the vote
     being taken, shall make every reasonable effort to disclose the nature of his or her interest as a public record in a
     memorandum filed with the person responsible for recording the minutes of the meeting, who shall incorporate
     the memorandum in the minutes.  If it is not possible for the DSO board member or officer to file a
     memorandum before the vote, the memorandum must be filed with the person responsible for recording the
     minutes of the meeting no later than 15 days after the vote.
 
9.  Failure to Observe DSO Code of Ethics
     Failure of a DSO board member, officer, or employee to comply with the Code of Ethics may result in the
     removal of that person from their position.  Further, failure of the DSO to observe the Code of Ethics may result
     in the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity terminating its Agreement with the DSO.
​