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Policy DKAC - Nepotism

Policy DKAC - Nepotism (PDF)

Issue Date: June 21, 2017

Updated: October 23, 2024

Definition

As used in this policy:

“appointee” means an employee whose salary, wages, pay, or compensation is paid from public funds;

 “relative” means father, mother, husband, wife, son, daughter, sister, brother, grandfather, grandmother, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, grandson, granddaughter, first cousin, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law.

“household member” means a person who resides in the same residence.

Utah Code § 52-3-1(1)(c), (d) (2023)

Prohibited Appointment

No Board Member or employee of the District may employ, appoint, or vote for or recommend the appointment of a relative or household member in or to any position or employment, when the appointee will be directly supervised by a relative or household member, unless:

  1. The appointee will be compensated from funds designated for vocational training;

  2. The appointee will be employed for a period of 12 weeks or less;

  3. The appointee is a volunteer as defined by the District; or

  4. The Superintendent determines that the appointee is the only or best person available or qualified or eligible for the position.  

Utah Code Ann. § 52-3-1(2)(a) (2023)

 Prohibited Supervision

No Board Member or District employee may directly supervise an appointee who is a relative or household member of the member or employee unless:

  1. The appointee was appointed or employed before the member or district employee assumed his or her supervisory position, if the appointee’s appointment was not unlawful at the time of the appointee’s appointment;

  2. The appointee will be compensated from funds designated for vocational training;

  3. The appointee will be employed for a period of 12 weeks or less;

  4. The appointee is a volunteer as defined by the District;

  5. The appointee is the only person available, qualified or eligible for the position; or

  1. The Superintendent determines that the Board member or employee is the only person available or best qualified to perform supervisory functions for the appointee.

When a District employee supervises a relative or household member, the employee shall make a complete written disclosure of the employee’s relationship with the relative or household member in a sorn statement provided to the Board of Education. When a Board member directly supervises a relative or household member, the member shall make a complete written disclosure of the member’s relationship with the relative or household member in a sworn statement provided to the Board of Education and the Superintendent. The member or district employee may not evaluate the relative's job performance or recommend salary increases for the relative.

Utah Code Ann. § 52-3-1(2)(b), (c) (2023)

Utah Code § 67-16-7(2) (2024)

Acceptance of Employment

No appointee may accept or retain employment in the District if the appointee is under the direct supervision of a relative or household member, unless:

  1. The relative or household member was appointed or employed before the appointee assumed the appointee’s position, if the appointment of the relative or household member was not unlawful at the time of appointment;

  2. The appointee will be compensated from funds designated for vocational training;

  3. The appointee will be employed for a period of 12 weeks or less;

  4. The appointee is a volunteer as defined by the District;

  5. The appointee is the only person available, qualified, or eligible for the position;

  1. The Superintendent determines that the appointee’s relative or household member is the only person available or qualified to supervise the appointee.

Utah Code § 52-3-1(3) (2023)

 Federal Funds

The rules against nepotism apply to employees paid with public funds regardless of the source of those funds, including employee paid with funds from a federal grant.

 Limited Exception for Towns

Within a town, as defined by Utah Code Ann. §10-1-104, this policy on nepotism shall not apply to the employment of uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, or cousins.

Utah Code § 52-3-4 (1998)

General Exceptions

This policy on nepotism shall not apply to the employment of a relative if the following criteria are established:

  1. Fewer than 3,000 people live within 40 miles of the primary place of employment, measured over all-weather public roads;

  2. The job opening has had reasonable public notice; and

  3. The relative is the best-qualified candidate for the position.

If an appointee is to be hired under this exception, the District shall make a written record of the proceedings in which it was established that the appointee met the criteria of this exception, which record shall include a written statement by the hiring officer certifying that the appointee satisfies the exception, all of which shall be retained in the personnel file of the appointee.

Utah Code Ann. § 52-3-4 (1998)