Section 314 – Prohibitions against political activities — Penalties.

• (1)
  • (a) An officer, employee, or member of a governing body of a county or a police interlocal entity, whether elected or appointed, may not directly or indirectly coerce, command, or advise a merit system officer to pay, lend, or contribute part of the officer’s salary or compensation or anything else of value to a party, committee, organization, agency, or person for political purpose.
  • (b) A county or police interlocal entity officer, employee, or member of a governing body, whether elected or appointed, may not make or attempt to make a merit system officer’s personnel status dependent upon the officer’s support or lack of support for a political party, committee, organization, agency, or person engaged in a political activity.

• (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to political speeches or use of mass communications media for political purposes by a person where a merit system officer is present, unless the purpose and intent of the speaker is to violate this section with direct respect to those merit system officers.

• (3)
  • (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), a merit system officer may not engage in a political activity or solicit political contributions from merit system officers during the hours of employment, or use employer resources at any time for political purposes.
  • (b) Subsection (3)(a) does not preclude a voluntary contribution by a merit system officer to the party or candidate of the officer’s choice.

Enacted by Chapter 366, 2014 General Session