{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/2.2-3101.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/2.2-3101.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/2.2-3101.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/2.2-3101.html"}],"law_id":86360,"edition_id":1,"section_id":86360,"structure_id":15976,"section_number":"2.2-3101","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"1987, Sp. Sess., c. 1, \u00a7 2.1-639.2; 1988, c. 536; 1992, c. 865; 1993, c. 303; 1994, cc. 74, 724; 1995, c. 495; 1996, c. 77; 1997, c. 641; 2001, c. 844; 2003, c. 694; 2004, cc. 134, 392; 2012, cc. 345, 771; 2013, c. 475; 2014, cc. 792, 804; 2015, cc. 763, 777; 2016, cc. 773, 774; 2017, cc. 829, 832; 2022, cc. 528, 529.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Advisory agency” means any board, commission, committee or post which does not exercise any sovereign power or duty, but is appointed by a governmental agency or officer or is created by law for the purpose of making studies or recommendations, or advising or consulting with a governmental agency.\n\t\t“Affiliated business entity relationship” means a relationship, other than a parent-subsidiary relationship, that exists when (i) one business entity has a controlling ownership interest in the other business entity, (ii) a controlling owner in one entity is also a controlling owner in the other entity, or (iii) there is shared management or control between the business entities. Factors that may be considered in determining the existence of an affiliated business entity relationship include that the same person or substantially the same person owns or manages the two entities, there are common or commingled funds or assets, the business entities share the use of the same offices or employees, or otherwise share activities, resources or personnel on a regular basis, or there is otherwise a close working relationship between the entities.\n\t\t“Business” means a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, firm, enterprise, franchise, association, trust or foundation, or any other individual or entity carrying on a business or profession, whether or not for profit.\n\t\t“Candidate” means a person who seeks or campaigns for an office of the Commonwealth or one of its governmental units in a general, primary, or special election and who is qualified to have his name placed on the ballot for the office. The candidate shall become subject to the provisions of this chapter upon the filing of a statement of qualification pursuant to \u00a7 24.2-501. The State Board of Elections or general registrar shall notify each such candidate of the provisions of this chapter. Notification made by the general registrar shall consist of information developed by the State Board of Elections.\n\t\t“Contract” means any agreement to which a governmental agency is a party, or any agreement on behalf of a governmental agency that involves the payment of money appropriated by the General Assembly or a political subdivision, whether or not such agreement is executed in the name of the Commonwealth, or some political subdivision thereof. “Contract” includes a subcontract only when the contract of which it is a part is with the officer’s or employee’s own governmental agency.\n\t\t“Council” means the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council established in \u00a7 30-355.\n\t\t“Employee” means all persons employed by a governmental or advisory agency, unless otherwise limited by the context of its use.\n\t\t“Financial institution” means any bank, trust company, savings institution, industrial loan association, consumer finance company, credit union, broker-dealer as defined in subsection A of \u00a7 13.1-501, or investment company or advisor registered under the federal Investment Advisors Act or Investment Company Act of 1940.\n\t\t“Gift” means any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance, or other item having monetary value. It includes services as well as gifts of transportation, local travel, lodgings and meals, whether provided in-kind, by purchase of a ticket, payment in advance or reimbursement after the expense has been incurred.\n\t\t“Gift” does not include (i) any offer of a ticket, coupon, or other admission or pass unless the ticket, coupon, admission, or pass is used; (ii) honorary degrees; (iii) any athletic, merit, or need-based scholarship or any other financial aid awarded by a public or private school, institution of higher education, or other educational program pursuant to such school, institution, or program’s financial aid standards and procedures applicable to the general public; (iv) a campaign contribution properly received and reported pursuant to Chapter 9.3 (\u00a7 24.2-945 et seq.) of Title 24.2; (v) any gift related to the private profession or occupation or volunteer service of an officer or employee or of a member of his immediate family; (vi) food or beverages consumed while attending an event at which the filer is performing official duties related to his public service; (vii) food and beverages received at or registration or attendance fees waived for any event at which the filer is a featured speaker, presenter, or lecturer; (viii) unsolicited awards of appreciation or recognition in the form of a plaque, trophy, wall memento, or similar item that is given in recognition of public, civic, charitable, or professional service; (ix) a devise or inheritance; (x) travel disclosed pursuant to the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act (\u00a7 24.2-945 et seq.); (xi) travel paid for or provided by the government of the United States, any of its territories, or any state or any political subdivision of such state; (xii) travel provided to facilitate attendance by a legislator at a regular or special session of the General Assembly, a meeting of a legislative committee or commission, or a national conference where attendance is approved by the House Committee on Rules or its Chairman or the Senate Committee on Rules or its Chairman; (xiii) travel related to an official meeting of, or any meal provided for attendance at such meeting by, the Commonwealth, its political subdivisions, or any board, commission, authority, or other entity, or any charitable organization established pursuant to \u00a7 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code affiliated with such entity, to which such person has been appointed or elected or is a member by virtue of his office or employment; (xiv) gifts with a value of less than $20; (xv) attendance at a reception or similar function where food, such as hors d’oeuvres, and beverages that can be conveniently consumed by a person while standing or walking are offered; (xvi) tickets or the registration or admission fees to an event that are provided by an agency to its own officers or employees for the purposes of performing official duties related to their public service; or (xvii) gifts from relatives or personal friends.\n\t\tFor the purpose of this definition, “relative” means the donee’s spouse, child, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, or first cousin; a person to whom the donee is engaged to be married; the donee’s or his spouse’s parent, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, step-parent, step-grandparent, step-grandchild, step-brother, or step-sister; or the donee’s brother’s or sister’s spouse or the donee’s son-in-law or daughter-in-law.\n\t\tFor the purpose of this definition, “personal friend” does not include any person that the filer knows or has reason to know is (a) a lobbyist registered pursuant to Article 3 (\u00a7 2.2-418 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 2.2; (b) a lobbyist’s principal as defined in \u00a7 2.2-419; (c) for an officer or employee of a local governmental or advisory agency, a person, organization, or business who is a party to or is seeking to become a party to a contract with the local agency of which he is an officer or an employee; or (d) for an officer or employee of a state governmental or advisory agency, a person, organization, or business who is a party to or is seeking to become a party to a contract with the Commonwealth.\n\t\tFor purposes of this definition, “person, organization, or business” includes individuals who are officers, directors, or owners of or who have a controlling ownership interest in such organization or business.\n\t\t“Governmental agency” means each component part of the legislative, executive or judicial branches of state and local government, including each office, department, authority, post, commission, committee, and each institution or board created by law to exercise some regulatory or sovereign power or duty as distinguished from purely advisory powers or duties. Corporations organized or controlled by the Virginia Retirement System are “governmental agencies” for purposes of this chapter.\n\t\t“Immediate family” means (i) a spouse and (ii) any other person who resides in the same household as the officer or employee and who is a dependent of the officer or employee.\n\t\t“Officer” means any person appointed or elected to any governmental or advisory agency including local school boards, whether or not he receives compensation or other emolument of office. Unless the context requires otherwise, “officer” includes members of the judiciary.\n\t\t“Parent-subsidiary relationship” means a relationship that exists when one corporation directly or indirectly owns shares possessing more than 50 percent of the voting power of another corporation.\n\t\t“Personal interest” means a financial benefit or liability accruing to an officer or employee or to a member of his immediate family. Such interest shall exist by reason of (i) ownership in a business if the ownership interest exceeds three percent of the total equity of the business; (ii) annual income that exceeds, or may reasonably be anticipated to exceed, $5,000 from ownership in real or personal property or a business; (iii) salary, other compensation, fringe benefits, or benefits from the use of property, or any combination thereof, paid or provided by a business or governmental agency that exceeds, or may reasonably be anticipated to exceed, $5,000 annually; (iv) ownership of real or personal property if the interest exceeds $5,000 in value and excluding ownership in a business, income, or salary, other compensation, fringe benefits or benefits from the use of property; (v) personal liability incurred or assumed on behalf of a business if the liability exceeds three percent of the asset value of the business; or (vi) an option for ownership of a business or real or personal property if the ownership interest will consist of clause (i) or (iv).\n\t\t“Personal interest in a contract” means a personal interest that an officer or employee has in a contract with a governmental agency, whether due to his being a party to the contract or due to a personal interest in a business that is a party to the contract.\n\t\t“Personal interest in a transaction” means a personal interest of an officer or employee in any matter considered by his agency. Such personal interest exists when an officer or employee or a member of his immediate family has a personal interest in property or a business or governmental agency, or represents or provides services to any individual or business and such property, business or represented or served individual or business (i) is the subject of the transaction or (ii) may realize a reasonably foreseeable direct or indirect benefit or detriment as a result of the action of the agency considering the transaction. Notwithstanding the above, such personal interest in a transaction shall not be deemed to exist where (a) an elected member of a local governing body serves without remuneration as a member of the board of trustees of a not-for-profit entity and such elected member or member of his immediate family has no personal interest related to the not-for-profit entity or (b) an officer, employee, or elected member of a local governing body is appointed by such local governing body to serve on a governmental agency, or an officer, employee, or elected member of a separate local governmental agency formed by a local governing body is appointed to serve on a governmental agency, and the personal interest in the transaction of the governmental agency is the result of the salary, other compensation, fringe benefits, or benefits provided by the local governing body or the separate governmental agency to the officer, employee, elected member, or member of his immediate family.\n\t\t“State and local government officers and employees” shall not include members of the General Assembly.\n\t\t“State filer” means those officers and employees required to file a disclosure statement of their personal interests pursuant to subsection A or B of \u00a7 2.2-3114.\n\t\t“Transaction” means any matter considered by any governmental or advisory agency, whether in a committee, subcommittee, or other entity of that agency or before the agency itself, on which official action is taken or contemplated.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":309298,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Advisory agency” means any board, commission, committee or post which does not exercise any sovereign power or duty, but is appointed by a governmental agency or officer or is created by law for the purpose of making studies or recommendations, or advising or consulting with a governmental agency.\n\t\t“Affiliated business entity relationship” means a relationship, other than a parent-subsidiary relationship, that exists when (i) one business entity has a controlling ownership interest in the other business entity, (ii) a controlling owner in one entity is also a controlling owner in the other entity, or (iii) there is shared management or control between the business entities. Factors that may be considered in determining the existence of an affiliated business entity relationship include that the same person or substantially the same person owns or manages the two entities, there are common or commingled funds or assets, the business entities share the use of the same offices or employees, or otherwise share activities, resources or personnel on a regular basis, or there is otherwise a close working relationship between the entities.\n\t\t“Business” means a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, firm, enterprise, franchise, association, trust or foundation, or any other individual or entity carrying on a business or profession, whether or not for profit.\n\t\t“Candidate” means a person who seeks or campaigns for an office of the Commonwealth or one of its governmental units in a general, primary, or special election and who is qualified to have his name placed on the ballot for the office. The candidate shall become subject to the provisions of this chapter upon the filing of a statement of qualification pursuant to \u00a7 24.2-501. The State Board of Elections or general registrar shall notify each such candidate of the provisions of this chapter. Notification made by the general registrar shall consist of information developed by the State Board of Elections.\n\t\t“Contract” means any agreement to which a governmental agency is a party, or any agreement on behalf of a governmental agency that involves the payment of money appropriated by the General Assembly or a political subdivision, whether or not such agreement is executed in the name of the Commonwealth, or some political subdivision thereof. “Contract” includes a subcontract only when the contract of which it is a part is with the officer’s or employee’s own governmental agency.\n\t\t“Council” means the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council established in \u00a7 30-355.\n\t\t“Employee” means all persons employed by a governmental or advisory agency, unless otherwise limited by the context of its use.\n\t\t“Financial institution” means any bank, trust company, savings institution, industrial loan association, consumer finance company, credit union, broker-dealer as defined in subsection A of \u00a7 13.1-501, or investment company or advisor registered under the federal Investment Advisors Act or Investment Company Act of 1940.\n\t\t“Gift” means any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance, or other item having monetary value. It includes services as well as gifts of transportation, local travel, lodgings and meals, whether provided in-kind, by purchase of a ticket, payment in advance or reimbursement after the expense has been incurred.\n\t\t“Gift” does not include (i) any offer of a ticket, coupon, or other admission or pass unless the ticket, coupon, admission, or pass is used; (ii) honorary degrees; (iii) any athletic, merit, or need-based scholarship or any other financial aid awarded by a public or private school, institution of higher education, or other educational program pursuant to such school, institution, or program’s financial aid standards and procedures applicable to the general public; (iv) a campaign contribution properly received and reported pursuant to Chapter 9.3 (\u00a7 24.2-945 et seq.) of Title 24.2; (v) any gift related to the private profession or occupation or volunteer service of an officer or employee or of a member of his immediate family; (vi) food or beverages consumed while attending an event at which the filer is performing official duties related to his public service; (vii) food and beverages received at or registration or attendance fees waived for any event at which the filer is a featured speaker, presenter, or lecturer; (viii) unsolicited awards of appreciation or recognition in the form of a plaque, trophy, wall memento, or similar item that is given in recognition of public, civic, charitable, or professional service; (ix) a devise or inheritance; (x) travel disclosed pursuant to the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act (\u00a7 24.2-945 et seq.); (xi) travel paid for or provided by the government of the United States, any of its territories, or any state or any political subdivision of such state; (xii) travel provided to facilitate attendance by a legislator at a regular or special session of the General Assembly, a meeting of a legislative committee or commission, or a national conference where attendance is approved by the House Committee on Rules or its Chairman or the Senate Committee on Rules or its Chairman; (xiii) travel related to an official meeting of, or any meal provided for attendance at such meeting by, the Commonwealth, its political subdivisions, or any board, commission, authority, or other entity, or any charitable organization established pursuant to \u00a7 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code affiliated with such entity, to which such person has been appointed or elected or is a member by virtue of his office or employment; (xiv) gifts with a value of less than $20; (xv) attendance at a reception or similar function where food, such as hors d’oeuvres, and beverages that can be conveniently consumed by a person while standing or walking are offered; (xvi) tickets or the registration or admission fees to an event that are provided by an agency to its own officers or employees for the purposes of performing official duties related to their public service; or (xvii) gifts from relatives or personal friends.\n\t\tFor the purpose of this definition, “relative” means the donee’s spouse, child, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, or first cousin; a person to whom the donee is engaged to be married; the donee’s or his spouse’s parent, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, step-parent, step-grandparent, step-grandchild, step-brother, or step-sister; or the donee’s brother’s or sister’s spouse or the donee’s son-in-law or daughter-in-law.\n\t\tFor the purpose of this definition, “personal friend” does not include any person that the filer knows or has reason to know is (a) a lobbyist registered pursuant to Article 3 (\u00a7 2.2-418 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 2.2; (b) a lobbyist’s principal as defined in \u00a7 2.2-419; (c) for an officer or employee of a local governmental or advisory agency, a person, organization, or business who is a party to or is seeking to become a party to a contract with the local agency of which he is an officer or an employee; or (d) for an officer or employee of a state governmental or advisory agency, a person, organization, or business who is a party to or is seeking to become a party to a contract with the Commonwealth.\n\t\tFor purposes of this definition, “person, organization, or business” includes individuals who are officers, directors, or owners of or who have a controlling ownership interest in such organization or business.\n\t\t“Governmental agency” means each component part of the legislative, executive or judicial branches of state and local government, including each office, department, authority, post, commission, committee, and each institution or board created by law to exercise some regulatory or sovereign power or duty as distinguished from purely advisory powers or duties. Corporations organized or controlled by the Virginia Retirement System are “governmental agencies” for purposes of this chapter.\n\t\t“Immediate family” means (i) a spouse and (ii) any other person who resides in the same household as the officer or employee and who is a dependent of the officer or employee.\n\t\t“Officer” means any person appointed or elected to any governmental or advisory agency including local school boards, whether or not he receives compensation or other emolument of office. Unless the context requires otherwise, “officer” includes members of the judiciary.\n\t\t“Parent-subsidiary relationship” means a relationship that exists when one corporation directly or indirectly owns shares possessing more than 50 percent of the voting power of another corporation.\n\t\t“Personal interest” means a financial benefit or liability accruing to an officer or employee or to a member of his immediate family. Such interest shall exist by reason of (i) ownership in a business if the ownership interest exceeds three percent of the total equity of the business; (ii) annual income that exceeds, or may reasonably be anticipated to exceed, $5,000 from ownership in real or personal property or a business; (iii) salary, other compensation, fringe benefits, or benefits from the use of property, or any combination thereof, paid or provided by a business or governmental agency that exceeds, or may reasonably be anticipated to exceed, $5,000 annually; (iv) ownership of real or personal property if the interest exceeds $5,000 in value and excluding ownership in a business, income, or salary, other compensation, fringe benefits or benefits from the use of property; (v) personal liability incurred or assumed on behalf of a business if the liability exceeds three percent of the asset value of the business; or (vi) an option for ownership of a business or real or personal property if the ownership interest will consist of clause (i) or (iv).\n\t\t“Personal interest in a contract” means a personal interest that an officer or employee has in a contract with a governmental agency, whether due to his being a party to the contract or due to a personal interest in a business that is a party to the contract.\n\t\t“Personal interest in a transaction” means a personal interest of an officer or employee in any matter considered by his agency. Such personal interest exists when an officer or employee or a member of his immediate family has a personal interest in property or a business or governmental agency, or represents or provides services to any individual or business and such property, business or represented or served individual or business (i) is the subject of the transaction or (ii) may realize a reasonably foreseeable direct or indirect benefit or detriment as a result of the action of the agency considering the transaction. Notwithstanding the above, such personal interest in a transaction shall not be deemed to exist where (a) an elected member of a local governing body serves without remuneration as a member of the board of trustees of a not-for-profit entity and such elected member or member of his immediate family has no personal interest related to the not-for-profit entity or (b) an officer, employee, or elected member of a local governing body is appointed by such local governing body to serve on a governmental agency, or an officer, employee, or elected member of a separate local governmental agency formed by a local governing body is appointed to serve on a governmental agency, and the personal interest in the transaction of the governmental agency is the result of the salary, other compensation, fringe benefits, or benefits provided by the local governing body or the separate governmental agency to the officer, employee, elected member, or member of his immediate family.\n\t\t“State and local government officers and employees” shall not include members of the General Assembly.\n\t\t“State filer” means those officers and employees required to file a disclosure statement of their personal interests pursuant to subsection A or B of \u00a7 2.2-3114.\n\t\t“Transaction” means any matter considered by any governmental or advisory agency, whether in a committee, subcommittee, or other entity of that agency or before the agency itself, on which official action is taken or contemplated.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15976,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":5,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14113,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:03:06","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:03:06","permalink":{"id":176025,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15976,"identifier":"1","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/1","url":"\/2.2\/I\/E\/31\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14113,"edition_id":1,"name":"State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act","identifier":"31","label":"chapter","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13049,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:54","permalink":{"id":176023,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14113,"identifier":"31","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31","url":"\/2.2\/I\/E\/31\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13049,"edition_id":1,"name":"State Officers and Employees","identifier":"E","label":"part","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12784,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:11","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:11","permalink":{"id":175733,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13049,"identifier":"E","token":"2.2\/I\/E","url":"\/2.2\/I\/E\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12784,"edition_id":1,"name":"Organization of State Government","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12749,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":171455,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12784,"identifier":"I","token":"2.2\/I","url":"\/2.2\/I\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12749,"edition_id":1,"name":"Administration of Government","identifier":"2.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":171453,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12749,"identifier":"2.2","token":"2.2","url":"\/2.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":71618,"structure_id":15976,"section_number":"2.2-3100","catch_line":"Policy; application; construction","url":"\/2.2-3100\/","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/1\/2.2-3100","metadata":false},{"id":62310,"structure_id":15976,"section_number":"2.2-3100.1","catch_line":"Copy of chapter; review by officers and employees","url":"\/2.2-3100.1\/","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/1\/2.2-3100.1","metadata":false},{"id":86360,"structure_id":15976,"section_number":"2.2-3101","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/2.2-3101\/","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/1\/2.2-3101","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":62310,"structure_id":15976,"section_number":"2.2-3100.1","catch_line":"Copy of chapter; review by officers and employees","url":"\/2.2-3100.1\/","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/1\/2.2-3100.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/2.2-3101\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 17 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1988, chapter 536; in 1992, chapter 865; in 1993, chapter 303; in 1994, chapters 74<\/a> and 724<\/a>; in 1995, chapter 495<\/a>; in 1996, chapter 77<\/a>; in 1997, chapter 641<\/a>; in 2001, chapter 844<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 694<\/a>; in 2004, chapters 134<\/a> and 392<\/a>; in 2012, chapters 345<\/a> and 771<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 475<\/a>; in 2014, chapters 792<\/a> and 804<\/a>; in 2015, chapters 763<\/a> and 777<\/a>; in 2016, chapters 773<\/a> and 774<\/a>; in 2017, chapters 829<\/a> and 832<\/a>; in 2022, chapters 528<\/a> and 529<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":71123,"section_number":"2.2-2455","catch_line":"Charitable Gaming Board; membership; terms; quorum; compensation; staff","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-2455\/"},{"id":57870,"section_number":"2.2-435","catch_line":"Prohibition for state party chairman","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-435\/"},{"id":70138,"section_number":"2.2-5205","catch_line":"Community policy and management teams; membership; immunity from liability","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-5205\/"},{"id":77897,"section_number":"2.2-5207","catch_line":"Family assessment and planning team; membership; immunity from liability","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-5207\/"},{"id":86881,"section_number":"29.1-319","catch_line":"Persons entitled to county, city, or state resident licenses","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-319\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":75080,"section_number":"13.1-501","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/13.1-501\/"},{"id":66885,"section_number":"2.2-3114","catch_line":"Disclosure by state officers and employees","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3114\/"},{"id":65157,"section_number":"2.2-418","catch_line":"Statement of intent and purposes","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-418\/"},{"id":73913,"section_number":"2.2-419","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-419\/"},{"id":65999,"section_number":"24.2-501","catch_line":"Statement of qualification as requirement of candidacy","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-501\/"},{"id":82970,"section_number":"24.2-945","catch_line":"Elections to which chapter applicable; chapter exclusive","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-945\/"},{"id":82694,"section_number":"30-355","catch_line":"Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council; membership; terms; quorum; expenses","order_by":null,"url":"\/30-355\/"}],"permalink":{"id":176035,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86360,"identifier":"2.2-3101","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/1\/2.2-3101","url":"\/2.2-3101\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/2.2-3101\/","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/1\/2.2-3101","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 2.2-3101","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Advisory agency<\/span>” means any board, commission, committee or post which does not exercise any sovereign power or duty, but is appointed by a governmental agency<\/span> or officer<\/span> or is created by law<\/span> for the purpose of making studies or recommendations, or advising or consulting with a governmental agency<\/span>.\n\t\t“Affiliated business entity relationship<\/span>” means a relationship, other than a parent-subsidiary relationship<\/span>, that exists when (i) one business entity has a controlling ownership interest in the other business entity, (ii) a controlling owner in one entity is also a controlling owner in the other entity, or (iii) there is shared management or control between the business entities. Factors that may be considered in determining the existence of an affiliated business entity relationship<\/span> include that the same person or substantially the same person owns or manages the two entities, there are common or commingled funds or assets<\/span>, the business entities share the use of the same offices or employees<\/span>, or otherwise share activities, resources or personnel on a regular basis, or there is otherwise a close working relationship between the entities.\n\t\t“Business” means a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, firm, enterprise, franchise, association, trust or foundation, or any other individual or entity carrying on a business or profession, whether or not for profit.\n\t\t“Candidate<\/span>” means a person who seeks or campaigns for an office of the Commonwealth or one of its governmental units in a general, primary, or special election and who is qualified to have his name placed on the ballot for the office. The candidate<\/span> shall become subject to the provisions of this chapter upon the filing of a statement of qualification pursuant to \u00a7 24.2-501<\/a>. The State Board of Elections or general registrar shall notify each such candidate<\/span> of the provisions of this chapter. Notification made by the general registrar shall consist of information developed by the State Board of Elections.\n\t\t“Contract” means any agreement to which a governmental agency<\/span> is a party<\/span>, or any agreement on behalf of a governmental agency<\/span> that involves the payment of money appropriated by the General Assembly or a political subdivision, whether or not such agreement is executed in the name of the Commonwealth, or some political subdivision thereof. “Contract” includes a subcontract only when the contract of which it is a part is with the officer<\/span>’s or employee<\/span>’s own governmental agency<\/span>.\n\t\t“Council<\/span>” means the Virginia Conflict of Interest<\/span> and Ethics Advisory Council<\/span> established in \u00a7 30-355<\/a>.\n\t\t“Employee<\/span>” means all persons employed by a governmental or advisory agency<\/span>, unless otherwise limited by the context of its use.\n\t\t“Financial institution<\/span>” means any bank, trust company, savings institution, industrial loan association, consumer finance company, credit union, broker-dealer as defined in subsection A of \u00a7 13.1-501<\/a>, or investment company or advisor registered under the federal Investment Advisors Act or Investment Company Act of 1940.\n\t\t“Gift<\/span>” means any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance, or other item having monetary value. It includes services as well as gifts<\/span> of transportation, local travel, lodgings and meals, whether provided in-kind, by purchase of a ticket, payment in advance or reimbursement after the expense has been incurred.\n\t\t“Gift<\/span>” does not include (i) any offer of a ticket, coupon, or other admission or pass unless the ticket, coupon, admission, or pass is used; (ii) honorary degrees; (iii) any athletic, merit, or need-based scholarship or any other financial aid awarded by a public or private school, institution of higher education, or other educational program pursuant to such school, institution, or program’s financial aid standards and procedures applicable to the general public; (iv) a campaign contribution properly received and reported pursuant to Chapter 9.3 (\u00a7 24.2-945<\/a> et seq.) of Title 24.2; (v) any gift<\/span> related to the private profession or occupation or volunteer service of an officer<\/span> or employee<\/span> or of a member of his immediate family<\/span>; (vi) food or beverages consumed while attending an event at which the filer is performing official duties related to his public service; (vii) food and beverages received at or registration or attendance fees waived for any event at which the filer is a featured speaker, presenter, or lecturer; (viii) unsolicited awards of appreciation or recognition in the form of a plaque, trophy, wall memento, or similar item that is given in recognition of public, civic, charitable, or professional service; (ix) a devise or inheritance; (x) travel disclosed pursuant to the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act (\u00a7 24.2-945<\/a> et seq.); (xi) travel paid for or provided by the government of the United States, any of its territories, or any state or any political subdivision of such state; (xii) travel provided to facilitate attendance by a legislator at a regular or special session of the General Assembly, a meeting of a legislative committee or commission, or a national conference where attendance is approved by the House Committee on Rules or its Chairman or the Senate Committee on Rules or its Chairman; (xiii) travel related to an official meeting of, or any meal provided for attendance at such meeting by, the Commonwealth, its political subdivisions, or any board, commission, authority, or other entity, or any charitable organization established pursuant to \u00a7 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code affiliated with such entity, to which such person has been appointed or elected or is a member by virtue of his office or employment; (xiv) gifts<\/span> with a value of less than $20; (xv) attendance at a reception or similar function where food, such as hors d’oeuvres, and beverages that can be conveniently consumed by a person while standing or walking are offered; (xvi) tickets or the registration or admission fees to an event that are provided by an agency to its own officers<\/span> or employees<\/span> for the purposes of performing official duties related to their public service; or (xvii) gifts<\/span> from relatives<\/span> or personal friends.\n\t\tFor the purpose of this definition, “relative<\/span>” means the donee’s spouse, child, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, or first cousin; a person to whom the donee is engaged to be married; the donee’s or his spouse’s parent, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, step-parent, step-grandparent, step-grandchild, step-brother, or step-sister; or the donee’s brother’s or sister’s spouse or the donee’s son-in-law<\/span> or daughter-in-law<\/span>.\n\t\tFor the purpose of this definition, “personal friend” does not include any person that the filer knows or has reason to know is (a) a lobbyist registered pursuant to Article 3 (\u00a7 2.2-418<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 2.2; (b) a lobbyist’s principal as defined in \u00a7 2.2-419<\/a>; (c) for an officer<\/span> or employee<\/span> of a local governmental or advisory agency<\/span>, a person, organization, or business<\/span> who is a party<\/span> to or is seeking to become a party<\/span> to a contract with the local agency of which he is an officer<\/span> or an employee<\/span>; or (d) for an officer<\/span> or employee<\/span> of a state governmental or advisory agency<\/span>, a person, organization, or business<\/span> who is a party<\/span> to or is seeking to become a party<\/span> to a contract with the Commonwealth.\n\t\tFor purposes of this definition, “person, organization, or business<\/span>” includes individuals who are officers<\/span>, directors, or owners of or who have a controlling ownership interest in such organization or business.\n\t\t“Governmental agency<\/span>” means each component part of the legislative, executive or judicial branches of state and local government, including each office, department, authority, post, commission, committee, and each institution or board created by law<\/span> to exercise some regulatory or sovereign power or duty as distinguished from purely advisory powers or duties. Corporations organized or controlled by the Virginia Retirement System are “governmental agencies<\/span>” for purposes of this chapter.\n\t\t“Immediate family<\/span>” means (i) a spouse and (ii) any other person who resides in the same household as the officer<\/span> or employee<\/span> and who is a dependent of the officer<\/span> or employee<\/span>.\n\t\t“Officer<\/span>” means any person appointed or elected to any governmental or advisory agency<\/span> including local school boards, whether or not he receives compensation or other emolument of office. Unless the context requires otherwise, “officer<\/span>” includes members of the judiciary.\n\t\t“Parent-subsidiary relationship<\/span>” means a relationship that exists when one corporation directly or indirectly owns shares possessing more than 50 percent of the voting power of another corporation.\n\t\t“Personal interest” means a financial benefit or liability accruing to an officer<\/span> or employee<\/span> or to a member of his immediate family<\/span>. Such interest shall exist by reason of (i) ownership in a business if the ownership interest exceeds three percent of the total equity<\/span> of the business; (ii) annual income that exceeds, or may reasonably be anticipated to exceed, $5,000 from ownership in real or personal property or a business; (iii) salary, other compensation, fringe benefits, or benefits from the use of property, or any combination thereof, paid or provided by a business or governmental agency<\/span> that exceeds, or may reasonably be anticipated to exceed, $5,000 annually; (iv) ownership of real or personal property if the interest exceeds $5,000 in value and excluding ownership in a business, income, or salary, other compensation, fringe benefits or benefits from the use of property; (v) personal liability incurred or assumed on behalf of a business if the liability exceeds three percent of the asset value of the business; or (vi) an option for ownership of a business or real or personal property if the ownership interest will consist of clause (i) or (iv).\n\t\t“Personal interest in a contract<\/span>” means a personal interest that an officer<\/span> or employee<\/span> has in a contract with a governmental agency<\/span>, whether due to his being a party<\/span> to the contract or due to a personal interest in a business that is a party<\/span> to the contract.\n\t\t“Personal interest in a transaction<\/span>” means a personal interest of an officer<\/span> or employee<\/span> in any matter considered by his agency. Such personal interest exists when an officer<\/span> or employee<\/span> or a member of his immediate family<\/span> has a personal interest in property or a business or governmental agency<\/span>, or represents or provides services to any individual or business and such property, business or represented or served individual or business (i) is the subject of the transaction or (ii) may realize a reasonably foreseeable direct or indirect benefit or detriment as a result of the action of the agency considering the transaction. Notwithstanding the above, such personal interest in a transaction<\/span> shall not be deemed to exist where (a) an elected member of a local governing body serves without remuneration as a member of the board of trustees of a not-for-profit entity and such elected member or member of his immediate family<\/span> has no personal interest related to the not-for-profit entity or (b) an officer<\/span>, employee<\/span>, or elected member of a local governing body is appointed by such local governing body to serve on a governmental agency<\/span>, or an officer<\/span>, employee<\/span>, or elected member of a separate local governmental agency<\/span> formed by a local governing body is appointed to serve on a governmental agency<\/span>, and the personal interest in the transaction of the governmental agency<\/span> is the result of the salary, other compensation, fringe benefits, or benefits provided by the local governing body or the separate governmental agency<\/span> to the officer<\/span>, employee<\/span>, elected member, or member of his immediate family<\/span>.\n\t\t“State and local government officers<\/span> and employees<\/span>” shall not include members of the General Assembly.\n\t\t“State filer<\/span>” means those officers<\/span> and employees<\/span> required to file a disclosure statement<\/span> of their personal interests<\/span> pursuant to subsection A or B of \u00a7 2.2-3114<\/a>.\n\t\t“Transaction” means any matter considered by any governmental or advisory agency<\/span>, whether in a committee, subcommittee, or other entity of that agency or before the agency itself, on which official action is taken or contemplated.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 2.2-3101)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Advisory agency” means any board, commission, committee or post\nwhich does not exercise any sovereign power or duty, but is appointed by a\ngovernmental agency or officer or is created by law for the purpose of making\nstudies or recommendations, or advising or consulting with a governmental\nagency.\n\t\t“Affiliated business entity relationship” means a relationship,\nother than a parent-subsidiary relationship, that exists when (i) one business\nentity has a controlling ownership interest in the other business entity, (ii) a\ncontrolling owner in one entity is also a controlling owner in the other entity,\nor (iii) there is shared management or control between the business entities.\nFactors that may be considered in determining the existence of an affiliated\nbusiness entity relationship include that the same person or substantially the\nsame person owns or manages the two entities, there are common or commingled\nfunds or assets, the business entities share the use of the same offices or\nemployees, or otherwise share activities, resources or personnel on a regular\nbasis, or there is otherwise a close working relationship between the entities.\n\t\t“Business” means a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship,\nfirm, enterprise, franchise, association, trust or foundation, or any other\nindividual or entity carrying on a business or profession, whether or not for\nprofit.\n\t\t“Candidate” means a person who seeks or campaigns for an office of\nthe Commonwealth or one of its governmental units in a general, primary, or\nspecial election and who is qualified to have his name placed on the ballot for\nthe office. The candidate shall become subject to the provisions of this chapter\nupon the filing of a statement of qualification pursuant to \u00a7 24.2-501. The\nState Board of Elections or general registrar shall notify each such candidate\nof the provisions of this chapter. Notification made by the general registrar\nshall consist of information developed by the State Board of Elections.\n\t\t“Contract” means any agreement to which a governmental agency is a\nparty, or any agreement on behalf of a governmental agency that involves the\npayment of money appropriated by the General Assembly or a political\nsubdivision, whether or not such agreement is executed in the name of the\nCommonwealth, or some political subdivision thereof. “Contract”\nincludes a subcontract only when the contract of which it is a part is with the\nofficer’s or employee’s own governmental agency.\n\t\t“Council” means the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics\nAdvisory Council established in \u00a7 30-355.\n\t\t“Employee” means all persons employed by a governmental or\nadvisory agency, unless otherwise limited by the context of its use.\n\t\t“Financial institution” means any bank, trust company, savings\ninstitution, industrial loan association, consumer finance company, credit\nunion, broker-dealer as defined in subsection A of \u00a7 13.1-501, or investment\ncompany or advisor registered under the federal Investment Advisors Act or\nInvestment Company Act of 1940.\n\t\t“Gift” means any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment,\nhospitality, loan, forbearance, or other item having monetary value. It includes\nservices as well as gifts of transportation, local travel, lodgings and meals,\nwhether provided in-kind, by purchase of a ticket, payment in advance or\nreimbursement after the expense has been incurred.\n\t\t“Gift” does not include (i) any offer of a ticket, coupon, or\nother admission or pass unless the ticket, coupon, admission, or pass is used;\n(ii) honorary degrees; (iii) any athletic, merit, or need-based scholarship or\nany other financial aid awarded by a public or private school, institution of\nhigher education, or other educational program pursuant to such school,\ninstitution, or program’s financial aid standards and procedures\napplicable to the general public; (iv) a campaign contribution properly received\nand reported pursuant to Chapter 9.3 (\u00a7 24.2-945 et seq.) of Title 24.2; (v)\nany gift related to the private profession or occupation or volunteer service of\nan officer or employee or of a member of his immediate family; (vi) food or\nbeverages consumed while attending an event at which the filer is performing\nofficial duties related to his public service; (vii) food and beverages received\nat or registration or attendance fees waived for any event at which the filer is\na featured speaker, presenter, or lecturer; (viii) unsolicited awards of\nappreciation or recognition in the form of a plaque, trophy, wall memento, or\nsimilar item that is given in recognition of public, civic, charitable, or\nprofessional service; (ix) a devise or inheritance; (x) travel disclosed\npursuant to the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act (\u00a7 24.2-945 et seq.); (xi)\ntravel paid for or provided by the government of the United States, any of its\nterritories, or any state or any political subdivision of such state; (xii)\ntravel provided to facilitate attendance by a legislator at a regular or special\nsession of the General Assembly, a meeting of a legislative committee or\ncommission, or a national conference where attendance is approved by the House\nCommittee on Rules or its Chairman or the Senate Committee on Rules or its\nChairman; (xiii) travel related to an official meeting of, or any meal provided\nfor attendance at such meeting by, the Commonwealth, its political subdivisions,\nor any board, commission, authority, or other entity, or any charitable\norganization established pursuant to \u00a7 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code\naffiliated with such entity, to which such person has been appointed or elected\nor is a member by virtue of his office or employment; (xiv) gifts with a value\nof less than $20; (xv) attendance at a reception or similar function where food,\nsuch as hors d’oeuvres, and beverages that can be conveniently consumed by\na person while standing or walking are offered; (xvi) tickets or the\nregistration or admission fees to an event that are provided by an agency to its\nown officers or employees for the purposes of performing official duties related\nto their public service; or (xvii) gifts from relatives or personal friends.\n\t\tFor the purpose of this definition, “relative” means the\ndonee’s spouse, child, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, or first cousin; a\nperson to whom the donee is engaged to be married; the donee’s or his\nspouse’s parent, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, step-parent,\nstep-grandparent, step-grandchild, step-brother, or step-sister; or the\ndonee’s brother’s or sister’s spouse or the donee’s\nson-in-law or daughter-in-law.\n\t\tFor the purpose of this definition, “personal friend” does not\ninclude any person that the filer knows or has reason to know is (a) a lobbyist\nregistered pursuant to Article 3 (\u00a7 2.2-418 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 2.2;\n(b) a lobbyist’s principal as defined in \u00a7 2.2-419; (c) for an officer or\nemployee of a local governmental or advisory agency, a person, organization, or\nbusiness who is a party to or is seeking to become a party to a contract with\nthe local agency of which he is an officer or an employee; or (d) for an officer\nor employee of a state governmental or advisory agency, a person, organization,\nor business who is a party to or is seeking to become a party to a contract with\nthe Commonwealth.\n\t\tFor purposes of this definition, “person, organization, or\nbusiness” includes individuals who are officers, directors, or owners of\nor who have a controlling ownership interest in such organization or business.\n\t\t“Governmental agency” means each component part of the\nlegislative, executive or judicial branches of state and local government,\nincluding each office, department, authority, post, commission, committee, and\neach institution or board created by law to exercise some regulatory or\nsovereign power or duty as distinguished from purely advisory powers or duties.\nCorporations organized or controlled by the Virginia Retirement System are\n“governmental agencies” for purposes of this chapter.\n\t\t“Immediate family” means (i) a spouse and (ii) any other person\nwho resides in the same household as the officer or employee and who is a\ndependent of the officer or employee.\n\t\t“Officer” means any person appointed or elected to any\ngovernmental or advisory agency including local school boards, whether or not he\nreceives compensation or other emolument of office. Unless the context requires\notherwise, “officer” includes members of the judiciary.\n\t\t“Parent-subsidiary relationship” means a relationship that exists\nwhen one corporation directly or indirectly owns shares possessing more than 50\npercent of the voting power of another corporation.\n\t\t“Personal interest” means a financial benefit or liability\naccruing to an officer or employee or to a member of his immediate family. Such\ninterest shall exist by reason of (i) ownership in a business if the ownership\ninterest exceeds three percent of the total equity of the business; (ii) annual\nincome that exceeds, or may reasonably be anticipated to exceed, $5,000 from\nownership in real or personal property or a business; (iii) salary, other\ncompensation, fringe benefits, or benefits from the use of property, or any\ncombination thereof, paid or provided by a business or governmental agency that\nexceeds, or may reasonably be anticipated to exceed, $5,000 annually; (iv)\nownership of real or personal property if the interest exceeds $5,000 in value\nand excluding ownership in a business, income, or salary, other compensation,\nfringe benefits or benefits from the use of property; (v) personal liability\nincurred or assumed on behalf of a business if the liability exceeds three\npercent of the asset value of the business; or (vi) an option for ownership of a\nbusiness or real or personal property if the ownership interest will consist of\nclause (i) or (iv).\n\t\t“Personal interest in a contract” means a personal interest that\nan officer or employee has in a contract with a governmental agency, whether due\nto his being a party to the contract or due to a personal interest in a business\nthat is a party to the contract.\n\t\t“Personal interest in a transaction” means a personal interest of\nan officer or employee in any matter considered by his agency. Such personal\ninterest exists when an officer or employee or a member of his immediate family\nhas a personal interest in property or a business or governmental agency, or\nrepresents or provides services to any individual or business and such property,\nbusiness or represented or served individual or business (i) is the subject of\nthe transaction or (ii) may realize a reasonably foreseeable direct or indirect\nbenefit or detriment as a result of the action of the agency considering the\ntransaction. Notwithstanding the above, such personal interest in a transaction\nshall not be deemed to exist where (a) an elected member of a local governing\nbody serves without remuneration as a member of the board of trustees of a\nnot-for-profit entity and such elected member or member of his immediate family\nhas no personal interest related to the not-for-profit entity or (b) an officer,\nemployee, or elected member of a local governing body is appointed by such local\ngoverning body to serve on a governmental agency, or an officer, employee, or\nelected member of a separate local governmental agency formed by a local\ngoverning body is appointed to serve on a governmental agency, and the personal\ninterest in the transaction of the governmental agency is the result of the\nsalary, other compensation, fringe benefits, or benefits provided by the local\ngoverning body or the separate governmental agency to the officer, employee,\nelected member, or member of his immediate family.\n\t\t“State and local government officers and employees” shall not\ninclude members of the General Assembly.\n\t\t“State filer” means those officers and employees required to file\na disclosure statement of their personal interests pursuant to subsection A or B\nof \u00a7 2.2-3114.\n\t\t“Transaction” means any matter considered by any governmental or\nadvisory agency, whether in a committee, subcommittee, or other entity of that\nagency or before the agency itself, on which official action is taken or\ncontemplated.\n\nHISTORY: 1987, Sp. Sess., c. 1, \u00a7 2.1-639.2; 1988, c. 536; 1992, c. 865; 1993,\nc. 303; 1994, cc. 74, 724; 1995, c. 495; 1996, c. 77; 1997, c. 641; 2001, c.\n844; 2003, c. 694; 2004, cc. 134, 392; 2012, cc. 345, 771; 2013, c. 475; 2014,\ncc. 792, 804; 2015, cc. 763, 777; 2016, cc. 773, 774; 2017, cc. 829, 832; 2022,\ncc. 528, 529.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}