ETHICS CODE

Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 12, ch. 6

in effect

Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 12, § 600 Definitions.

Section 600. - Definitions. For purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given herein: Appointing Authority means the office or entity with authority to appoint an individual to a position or office, regulate official conduct, and/or impose discipline or sanctions for violations of this chapter. For purposes of initiating investigations and receiving findings of fact under this chapter, the City Council shall act as the appointing authority for the City Auditor, individual City Councilors, and City Council staff; and the City Auditor shall act as the appointing authority for the Mayor and City Auditor staff. City Official means every currently serving City of Tulsa elected official, officer, employee, or member of a City of Tulsa board, commission, or committee. Financial Interest in an official action exists when the action may result directly or indirectly in a financial gain or loss accruing to the City Official and/or the Official's Immediate Family to a greater extent than could reasonably be expected to accrue to the general public. Immediate Family means any family members within two degrees of affinity or consanguinity, including a City Official's spouse, parent, child, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, stepparent, stepchild, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, grandparent of the Official's spouse, grandchild of the Official's spouse, spouse of the Official's grandparent, or spouse of the Official's grandchild. Brother- and sister-in-law means both the sibling of the Official's spouse and spouse of the Official's sibling. Investigating Authority means the office or person authorized to investigate complaints of violations of this chapter and issue confidential findings of fact. For purposes of this chapter, the City Council shall act as the Investigating Authority for the City Auditor, and the City Auditor shall act as the Investigating Authority for the Mayor and individual City Councilors. Organizational Interest in a company, business, organization, or other entity exists when the City Official is a director or a member of a board which establishes policy and/or makes budgetary decisions for the entity. (Ord. No. 25449, § 1, 11-6-2024)

Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 12, § 601 Prohibitions.

Section 601. - Prohibitions. A. Using or receiving City funds or resources for personal or private purposes. 1. City Officials shall not receive, directly or indirectly, any financial or pecuniary interest, profit, or privilege arising from the use or loan of public funds or monies raised for City purposes, to a greater extent than could reasonably be expected to accrue to the general public, if the City Official also exercises control by appropriating, encumbering, or expending the funds. 2. City Officials shall not use or permit the use of City resources for personal or private purposes, except as provided by rules adopted by the appropriate Appointing Authority to address minor or incidental uses common to an ordinary workplace. B. Participating on Items of Financial or Organizational Interest. Except as otherwise permitted under applicable law, City Officials shall not participate in any City business in which they have a related Financial or Organizational Interest. Such City Official shall not discuss the matter with any City Official who is participating in the action other than to state his or her disqualification. A donation to the City will not conflict with a Financial or Organizational Interest unless the donation requires more than nominal consideration from the City or is intended to influence City policy or operations for the benefit of the donor. C. Soliciting or Receiving Gifts and Favors. 1. City Officials and their Immediate Family shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit or receive gifts, entertainment, or other favors, which may influence or be reasonably perceived as influencing a City Official in the performance of the Official's duties. 2. This subsection does not preclude a City Official from accepting a gift when the gift will not influence or be reasonably perceived as influencing a City Official in the performance of the Official's duties, such as when there are no pending or reasonably foreseeable matters of City business involving the party offering the gift, the City Official has no control or influence over the item of City business involving the party offering the gift, or the gift offered has a value less than $50, individually, or less than $250, collectively with other gifts from the same or related parties, in a calendar year. 3. Campaign contributions shall be permitted as provided by law. D. Using or Disclosing Confidential Information. City Officials shall not disclose or offer to disclose information not an open record or otherwise available to the public and acquired by reason of the Official's position with the City, to any party not entitled to receive such information, nor shall a City Official use such information to benefit the Official's Financial or Organizational Interest. (Ord. No. 25449, § 1, 11-6-2024)

Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 12, § 602 Disclosure of financial or organizational interest.

Section 602. - Disclosure of financial or organizational interest. A. A City Official who is required to refrain from participation in City business pursuant to Section 602.B of this chapter shall disclose the disqualifying interest. B. The disclosure required by this section shall be accomplished by filing a written statement describing the interest being disclosed with the Appointing Authority or the Appointing Authority's designee; the board, commission, or committee on which the Official serves, if applicable; and the City Clerk. A City Official may file a single written disclosure describing the Financial or Organizational Interest and is not required to file a separate written disclosure for each individual circumstance in which the Official states a disqualification. (Ord. No. 25449, § 1, 11-6-2024)

Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 12, § 603 Complaints.

Section 603. - Complaints. A. A complaint asserting a violation of this chapter against a City Official shall be filed in writing with the City Clerk. The City Clerk shall forward the verified complaint to the appropriate Appointing Authority. B. Unless a complaint meets the requirement for an anonymous complaint in subsection C below, a complaint must be signed and show the home or business address of the person who submitted it. The complaint shall include a statement: 1. Declaring that, to the best of the complainant's or inquirer's knowledge, information, and belief; formed after reasonable reflection; the information in the complaint is true; 2. Containing reliable and credible facts, which are independently verifiable, to establish a prima facia case of the violation of this chapter; and 3. Declaring that the complaint is not submitted for any retaliatory, political, or other improper purpose. C. The City Clerk may accept and refer anonymous complaints if, in addition to the statements required in subsection B, the complaint includes a statement describing a reasonable basis for requiring anonymity, such as a reasonable fear of reprisal from the City Official, who is in a position of authority relative to the complainant. D. No complaint shall be accepted or considered which relates to actions alleged to have occurred more than two years prior to the date of filing. (Ord. No. 25449, § 1, 11-6-2024)

Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 12, § 604 Investigations.

Section 604. - Investigations. A. Upon receipt of a complaint, the Appointing Authority shall refer the matter to the appropriate Investigating Authority for prompt, confidential investigation and a report of findings of fact to the Appointing Authority. The Investigating Authority will not make recommendations to the Appointing Authority regarding sanction, disciplinary action, or removal from office. B. The Investigating Authority may recommend summary dismissal of a complaint if the alleged violation, if true, would not constitute a violation of this chapter; if the complaint does not contain reliable and credible facts, which are independently verifiable, to establish a prima facia case of a violation of this chapter; if the complaint is submitted for any retaliatory, political, or other improper purpose; or if the Ethics Advisory Committee has issued an advisory opinion determining that the conduct does not constitute a violation. C. City Officials shall not participate in investigations of their own actions, except to provide information or testimony. D. The appropriate office or agency, including but not limited to the Human Resources Department, Police Department, City Auditor's Office and/or the City Attorney's Office, may assist and participate in investigations involving City Officials. E. City Officials shall respond promptly, fully, and truthfully to inquiries made in the course of official investigations of alleged or potential violations of this chapter. F. All records generated or compiled in response to a complaint, including the initial complaint, shall be released to the public only as required by law or court order. (Ord. No. 25449, § 1, 11-6-2024)

Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 12, § 605 Violations.

Section 605. - Violations. Intentional violation of this chapter by a City Official shall be grounds for sanction, disciplinary action up to and including dismissal, or removal from office, as may be provided by applicable policies, rules, or law. (Ord. No. 25449, § 1, 11-6-2024)

Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 12, § 606 Supplemental policies and guidance.

Section 606. - Supplemental policies and guidance. Appointing Authorities shall create and maintain policies and supplemental guidance for City Officials consistent with the provisions of this chapter and Tulsa's Revised Charter. (Ord. No. 25449, § 1, 11-6-2024)

Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 12, § 607 Ethics Advisory Committee.

Section 607. - Ethics Advisory Committee. A. There shall be created an Ethics Advisory Committee which shall act as a recommending body to the City of Tulsa on ethical issues that may arise under this chapter. B. The committee shall consist of seven (7) individuals, appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. A committee member shall not be a City Official, nor shall a Committee member be Immediate Family of a City Official. Every committee member shall be a resident of the City of Tulsa. Initially, two (2) of the members shall be appointed for a term of office of one (1) year; two (2) members for a term of office of two (2) years; and three (3) for a term of office of three (3) years. Thereafter, terms of office shall be for three (3) years; provided, however, that all members shall hold office until their successors are appointed and qualified. All members shall serve without compensation. Members shall not hold public office nor be candidates for public office. A member who has served three (3) successive terms shall not be eligible for reappointment for a period of two (2) years. C. Any elected official; Charter division or department head; or member of a City of Tulsa board, commission, or committee may request an opinion from the Ethics Advisory Committee on a hypothetical ethical issue arising under this chapter. The Ethics Advisory Committee is not an Investigating Authority and shall not issue findings or opinions on pending complaints. D. The Ethics Advisory Committee may provide recommendations for ethics policies, procedures, or guidelines. (Ord. No. 25449, § 1, 11-6-2024)

Source: City of Tulsa, Revised Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ok/tulsa/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT12INPO_CH6ETCOFetched: 10/28/2026