If the Alabama teachers in your life appear to be more in the holiday spirit, it could be because the state has now eased up on a law that capped gifts to educators at $25.
The restriction was due a 2010 ethics law that roped school employees into a provision that required only small gifts to be given to state workers. However, what was meant to be a deterrent to corruption and bribery of state officials, bureaucrats, and staff has been widely detested within classrooms as an unnecessary penalty on teachers. It meant that gifts like turkeys and gift cards could be scrutinized under the law.
That all changed on Wednesday, when the state Ethics Commission lifted the rule. They acknowledged that there has been much confusion surrounding gift-giving, especially during the holidays.
The Commission is now urging school boards to develop holiday gift policies that reflect “specific characteristics of their school community” and local traditions.
The ethics panel still warned that givers should not expect anything in return for their gifts, and issued a strong warning against teachers suggesting or coercing their students into giving gifts.
“Moreover, no public employee or official can solicit a gift from anyone who is his or her ‘subordinate’ or anyone whom they inspect, regulate or supervise in their official capacity or through some act use their position to obtain a gift without violating Sections 5(a) and 5(e),” the Commission’s opinion stated. “In the teacher-student context, this would include soliciting gifts from students in their class or their parents, or initiating the idea of gift giving, which would be a use of official position for personal gain.”
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.