CEO 83-31 -- June 16, 1983

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

STATE REPRESENTATIVE EMPLOYED BY CORPORATION SPONSORED BY CORPORATION RECEIVING STATE FUNDS

To: (Name withheld at the person's request.)

SUMMARY:

No prohibited conflict of interest would be created were a State Representative to be employed as a sales representative for a corporation which is sponsored by a community development corporation that receives an administrative grant from the State. Previous opinion CEO 82-92 is referenced.

QUESTION:

Would a prohibited conflict of interest be created were you, a State Representative, to be employed as a sales representative for a corporation which is sponsored by a community development corporation that receives an administrative grant from the State?

Your question is answered in the negative.

In your letter of inquiry you advise that you serve as a member of the Florida House of Representatives. You question whether you may be employed as a sales representative with a corporation sponsored by a community development corporation. You advise that the community development corporation receives an administrative grant from the State of Florida through the Community Development Support and Assistance Program.

In a previous opinion, CEO 82-92, we advised that no prohibited conflict of interest existed where a State Representative was employed as executive director of a nonprofit corporation receiving State and county funding. This being the case, we find no prohibited conflict of interest in your proposed employment, especially where your employment is not directly with the corporation receiving a State grant, but with a separate venture sponsored by that corporation.