4VAC25-130-705.25: Gifts and gratuities

(a) Except as provided in Paragraph (b) of this section, employees shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or other similar item of monetary value, from a coal company which:

(1) Conducts or is seeking to conduct, operations or activities that are regulated under the Act; or

(2) Has interests that may be substantially affected by the performance or non-performance of the employee's official duty.

(b) The prohibitions in Paragraph (a) of this section do not apply in the context of obvious family or personal relationships, such as those between the parents, children, or spouse of the employee and the employee, when the circumstances make it clear that it is those relationships rather than the business of the persons concerned which are the motivating factors. An employee may accept:

(1) Food and refreshments of nominal value on infrequent occasions in the ordinary course of a luncheon, dinner, or other meeting where an employee may properly be in attendance; and

(2) Unsolicited advertising or promotional material, such as pens, pencils, note pads, calendars and other items of nominal value.

(c) Any employee who violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to dismissal, demotion or suspension from his position of employment, and to such fines and punishments as may be provided by law. An employee may appeal a dismissal, demotion or suspension under this Subsection in accordance with the State Grievance Procedure.