Summary of the Honoraria Rule
Don't accept money for any activity that is considered to be part of your job.
Examples of the Rule
- You are an employee of the Department of Natural Resources and have been asked to speak at an event on hunting and fishing in Indiana. Because this may be considered part of your official duties, you may not personally accept the $250 offered by the organizer for your appearance. However, you may accept the money on behalf of the state which must then be remitted to the Treasurer of State.
- You are a Department of Correction's (DOC) employee who restores vintage automobiles as a hobby. You may accept the $100 offered to you to participate in a panel at a car show to discuss the restoration process since the activity is unrelated to your official duties and is not done on state time or with state resources.
- You are a Deputy Commissioner at DOC. Your duties include visiting various correctional facilities and giving speeches. At one of the facilities, the warden offers to pay you $100 for your speech. You may not accept the money.
- You are a Director of a Department at the Governor’s Office. Your duties include making appearances at events on behalf of the Governor. At one of these events, an organizer offers you $100 for appearing for the Governor. You may not accept the money.
Past Advisory Opinions on the Honoraria Rule
The Rule: 42 IAC 1-5-3 Honoraria
An employee shall not personally accept an honorarium for any activity that may be considered part of the state employee's official duties. However, a state employee may accept an honorarium on behalf of the state. The employee accepting the honorarium shall remit to the treasurer of state any amount received. The treasurer of state shall quietus such funds into the general fund. An employee may personally accept an honorarium for activities not done in connection with the employee's official duties and that are prepared on the employee's own time and without the use of state resources. However, in no case may an employee accept an honorarium from an executive branch lobbyist or a person who has a business relationship or seeks to influence an official action with the employee's agency.