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Trainer outlines when officials must recuse: 'If it is reasonably foreseeable... you have a conflict'
Summary
Rhode Island Ethics Commission staff described the code’s 'reasonably foreseeable' conflict standard, the scope of family and business-associate definitions, and advised that recusal requires stepping out of discussion as well as the vote.
The presenter described the Code of Ethics standard that bars participation when it is "reasonably foreseeable" that an official, family member, household member, or business associate will derive a direct monetary gain or loss from the official’s action. As the trainer put it, "If it is reasonably foreseeable that you... any person within your family... or any business by which you are employed... will derive a direct monetary gain or even suffer a direct monetary loss by reason of your participation, you have a conflict of interest, you can't take part, you need to recuse."
She clarified that recusal means leaving participation in the conversation that leads to a decision as well as abstaining from the vote: "Doesn't mean you can stay part of the discussion and then just abstain from the vote. If you are out, you are out from the discussion through the vote." The trainer also detailed the required recusal paperwork and encouraged filing a one-page recusal form and sending a copy to the commission for record-keeping.
