OFFICE
OF

ATTORNEY GENERAL
TOM HORNE

Public Service Orientation
A Guidebook for Statewide Elected Officials
and State Agency Heads

Revised 2010
984319

Public Service Orientation
for Public Officials
PREVENTING LEGAL AND ETHICAL VIOLATIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART ONE: GENERAL INFORMATION
PAGE
I.
II.
III.
IV.

State of Arizona Ethics Policy
Procedures: Getting Started
Accountability: Penalties and Sanctions
After Leaving State Service

1
1
2
3

PART TWO: PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY
I.
II.

Public Records
Open Meeting Law

4
8

PART THREE: PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.

Conflict of Interest
Confidential and False Information
Financial Prohibitions and Restrictions (Including Gifts)
Incompatible Employment, Nepotism and Whistleblowing
Discrimination and Harassment
Prohibited Political Activities

14
17
19
21
23
25

PART FOUR: RESOURCE ACCOUNTABILITY
I.
II.

Procurement
Appropriate Uses of State Resources

27
30

Dear State Official:
I am pleased to present the new, updated, and expanded Public Service Orientation
Guidebook to assist you in performing your stewardship responsibilities. This Public Service
Orientation Guidebook is developed to give public officers an overview of Arizona’s laws
concerning ethical standards. We’ve developed the Guidebook to comprehensively meet your
needs. Please note that there may be special ethical standards that are not covered by this
Guidebook. These specialized provisions, unique to each public body, may be found in the
constitution, statutes, rules, and court decisions that address the operation of your office. I
request that you consult with the Assistant Attorney General assigned to your agency who will
assist you to locate the standards applicable to your agency and explain any specialized
provisions not covered in this Guidebook.
Please be aware that although the Attorney General’s Office offers this Guidebook and a
training program to assist you, the Office also is responsible to investigate and prosecute
violations of public service laws. Accordingly, it is important that public officers understand that
they are each responsible for complying with the law. It is not possible for this Guidebook to
include every legal prohibition or requirement that applies to public officers. When in doubt
regarding your obligations under these laws, please consult the Assistant Attorney General
assigned to your agency.
The Attorney General’s Office regularly revises and updates the Guidebook. We
appreciate your suggestions and comments. Please provide your comments to Mary Jo Foster,
Special Counsel for Ethics and Training.
Sincerely,

Tom Horne
Attorney General
984315