The Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics took the following action at its monthly public meeting held on May 7, 2026.

The COE approved one advisory opinion. The full opinion will be available on the COE's website within seven days at: https://www.palmbeachcountyethics.com/coepub/.

RQO 26-010 : A county employee asked if the Palm Beach County Code of Ethics (Code) prohibits a business in which his spouse is a minority owner from performing work as a subcontractor on a county project under a contract held by a county vendor?

COE answer: Section 2-443(d) of the Code prohibits public officials or employees, as well as their outside business or their outside employer, from entering into a contract or other transaction for goods or services, directly or indirectly, with their public employer, unless an exception applies. Because his spouse has a 15% ownership interest in the company, the Code treats the company as his outside business. As a result, the company is prohibited from performing work as a subcontractor on a county project under a contract held by a county vendor, unless an exception applies.

A detailed explanation of all agenda items is available at http://www.palmbeachcountyethics.com/meetings.htm.