EAO 304

The Ethics Commission does not have jurisdiction to determine whether a public university has either statutory or constitutional authority to provide meeting facilities, food, transportation, or lodging to a legislative caucus. There is nothing in the laws under the jurisdiction of the Ethics Commission that would prohibit a legislative caucus from accepting meeting facilities, food, transportation, and lodging as an in-kind contribution from a university as long as they are not accepted during a regular legislative session or during the 30-day period before a regular legislative session. Although individual members of the legislature are subject to restrictions on the acceptance of benefits, they may accept food, transportation, and lodging as a guest of the caucus as long as they comply with any applicable reporting requirements.