Section 460. Conflict of interest

A. Authorized retailer management shall seek to ensure that no conflict of interest exists between any retailer personnel employed by the retailer and any local, state, or federal WIC agency. The prohibition against conflict of interest applies to retailer employees, retailer owners, or relatives of retail employees or owners who are also employees of a local, state, or federal WIC agency.

B. WIC participants, caretakers, or proxies who are employed at an authorized retailer shall not accept or transact food instruments issued to themselves or relatives as a function of their duties at the retail location. Authorized retailer management shall ensure all retailer employees adhere to this integrity requirement.

C. Authorized retailer management shall notify the state agency in writing when a conflict of interest exists.

D. When an employee of an authorized retailer or an employee's relative is employed by a local, state, or federal WIC agency, the employee shall:

1. Notify retailer ownership or management of his or his relative's employment;

2. Not show favoritism towards any authorized retailer including the retailer where he is employed.

E. Employees of an authorized retailer shall not in their professional capacity provide any gratuities, including cash, food, coupons, or gift cards, to employees of local, state, or federal WIC agencies.

F. Authorized retailer management shall seek to ensure its employees comply with the conflict of interest requirements listed in this section and review them with retailer personnel annually.

G. Additional conflict of interest regulations may be found in 12VAC5-195-230.

H. This section is not meant to replace or abrogate the Virginia State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act, Chapter 31 (§ 2.2-3100 et seq.) of Title 2.2 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 24, Issue 19, eff. May 26, 2008; amended, Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 22, eff. July 6, 2009; Volume 29, Issue 12, eff. March 13, 2013.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-12 of the Code of Virginia; 7 CFR Part 246.