Code of Ethics

Disclosure Documents

On January 2, 2012 an ordinance of Broward County entitled "The Broward County Elected Official Code of Ethics," took effect. The code governs the conduct of members of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners and all of the elected officials in Broward's 31 municipalities, including the City of Miramar. This will be the first time that county and municipal elected officials are governed by 1 uniform code of ethics. Enforcement of the Code of Ethics is the responsibility of the Broward County Office of Inspector General.

A summary of some of the provisions within the code are as follows:

• The creation of venues (such as this website section) for easy public inspection of lobbyist interaction with elected officials, and certain activities of elected officials.
• Prohibition of elected officials from receiving any personal economic or financial benefit resulting from their public service aside from their public salaries.
• Restrictions on elected officials' acceptance of gifts, outside/concurrent employment, fundraising, and procurement.
• Requirement for elected official's disclosure of remuneration received from outside or concurrent employment.
• Prohibition of elected officials, their spouse or registered domestic partner, certain relatives, and office staff from accepting any gifts from a registered lobbyist, vendor or contractor doing business with the governmental entity they serve.
• Prohibition of elected officials, their spouses or registered domestic partners and immediate family members, from working as lobbyists or engaging in lobbying activities with other Broward County local government agencies, including taxing authorities, quasi-judicial boards, appointed boards and commissions.
• Requirement for lobbyist's registration with the county or the municipality that they are lobbying, and the completion of a contact log when visiting an elected official at the elected officials offices or elsewhere on the local government's premises.
• Requirement of elected officials to document any communication with a lobbyist when that communication takes place outside of their governmental offices/premises whether the communication is in person, by telephone or electronic media.
• Requirement of elected officials to document any fundraising for a charity or other person seeking elected office.
• Requirement of elected officials to undergo a minimum of 4 hours of ethics training within 6 months of being elected and receive 8 hours of continuing education on public service ethics on an annual basis.