§12-7-15. Conflicts of interest.

(a) No member of the board or officer, agent or employee thereof shall, in his or her own name or in the name of a nominee, hold an ownership interest of more than seven and one-half percent in any association, trust, corporation, partnership or other entity which is, in its own name or in the name of a nominee, a party to a contract or agreement upon which the member or officer, agent or employee may be called upon to act or vote.

(b) With respect to any direct or any indirect interest, other than an interest prohibited in subsection (a) of this section, in a contract or agreement upon which the member or officer, agent or employee may be called upon to act or vote, the member of the board or officer, agent or employee thereof holding such interest shall disclose the same to the board secretary prior to the taking of final action by the board concerning such contract or agreement and shall disclose the nature and extent of such interest and the date of his or her acquisition thereof, which disclosure shall be publicly acknowledged by the board and entered upon the minutes of the board. If a member of the board or officer, agent or employee thereof holds such an interest, he or she shall refrain from any further involvement on behalf of the board in regard to such contract or agreement, from voting on any matter pertaining to such contract or agreement, and from communicating with other members of the board or its officers, agents and employees concerning said contract or agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any contract or agreement entered into in conformity with this subsection shall not be void or invalid by reason of the interest described in this subsection, nor shall any person so disclosing the interest and refraining from further official involvement as provided in this subsection be guilty of an offense, be removed from office or be subject to any other penalty or legal disability on account of such interest.

(c) Any contract or agreement made in violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall be null and void and shall give rise to no civil or criminal action against the board or any member thereof.