SECTION 1.145. Conflicts of Interest

(a) If an Architect has any business association or financial interest which might reasonably appear to influence the Architect's judgment in connection with the performance of a professional service and thereby jeopardize an interest of the Architect's current or prospective client or employer, the Architect shall promptly inform the client or employer in writing of the circumstances of the business association or financial interest.

(b) An Architect shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any financial or other valuable consideration, material favor, or other benefit of any substantial nature, financial or otherwise, from more than one party in connection with a single project or assignment unless the circumstances are fully disclosed in writing to all parties.

(c) An Architect shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any financial or other valuable consideration, material favor, or other benefit of any substantial nature from any supplier of materials or equipment or from any contractor or any consultant in connection with any project on which the Architect is performing or has contracted to perform architectural services unless the circumstances are fully disclosed in writing to all parties.

(d) The phrase "benefit of any substantial nature" is defined to mean any act, article, money, or other material consideration which is of such value or proportion that its acceptance creates an obligation or the appearance of an obligation on the part of the Architect or otherwise could adversely affect the Architect's ability to exercise his/her own judgment without regard to such benefit.

Source Note: The provisions of this §1.145 adopted to be effective March 1, 2001, 26 TexReg 1712; amended to be effective March 29, 2007, 32 TexReg 1741