D.C. Mun. Regs. r. 3-3301

Current through Register Vol. 71, No. 24, June 14, 2024
Rule 3-3301 - PROHIBITION ON USE OF GOVERNMENT RESOURCES FOR CAMPAIGN-RELATED PURPOSES
3301.1

No District of Columbia government resources shall be used to support or oppose any of the following:

(a) A candidate for elected office, whether partisan or nonpartisan; or
(b) An initiative, referendum, or recall measure, or a charter amendment referendum.
3301.2

Resources of the District of Columbia government shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) The personal services of employees during their hours of work; and
(b) Nonpersonal services.
3301.3

Nonpersonal services shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) Supplies;
(b) Materials;
(c) Equipment;
(d) Office space;
(e) Facilities;
(f) Utilities, for example, telephone, gas, and electric services; and
(g) District government accounts, including, but not limited to the following:
(1) Email accounts;
(2) Social media accounts;
(3) Webpages; and
(4) Internet domains.
3301.4

Prohibited use, whether intended or unintended, of District government accounts, prescribed under § 3301.3(g), shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) Linking to or sharing a link to an elected candidate's or political group's website, whether partisan or nonpartisan, advocating in support or opposition of the candidate elected for office or political group; or
(b) Tweeting or retweeting a link to an article of a candidate elected for office or political group, whether partisan or nonpartisan, in support or opposition to the candidate elected for office or political group, or
(c) Linking to or sharing a link to a post in a social media account of a candidate elected for office or a political group; and
(d) Posting a picture, photograph, or cartoon to a District government account of a candidate elected for office or political group, in support of opposition of the candidate or political group.
3301.5

With exception to the members of the ANC Commission, prohibition set forth in § 3301.3, shall not apply to the following public officials who may, as part of their official duties, express their views on a District of Columbia election:

(a) The Mayor;
(b) The Chairman of the Council;
(c) Each Member of the Council;
(d) The Attorney General;
(e) The President of the State Board of Education; and
(f) Each Member of the State Board of Education.

D.C. Mun. Regs. r. 3-3301

Final Rulemaking published at 45 DCR 3161, 3191-93 (May 22, 1998); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 3233-3237 (April 21, 2006); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 57 DCR 2263, 2264 (March 19, 2010); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 1402 (February 8, 2013); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 11864 (August 16, 2013); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 65 DCR 6543 (6/15/2018); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 70 DCR 3338 (3/17/2023)
Authority: D.C. Official Code § 1-1001.05(a)(14); in conformity with the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Establishment and Comprehensive Ethics Reform Amendment Act of 2011, enacted February 27, 2012 (D.C. Act 19-318; D.C. Official Code § 1-1161.01 et seq. (2012 Supp.)).