What must public officials and employees do if they receive gifts during their tenure?

Public officials and employees are required to disclose gifts they receive during their tenure. This provision is designed to maintain transparency and accountability in public service. The idea behind the disclosure is to prevent potential conflicts of interest and to ensure that officials and employees do not exploit their positions for personal gain by accepting gifts that could influence their decision-making.

Disclosing gifts allows members of the public to be aware of any advantages that may be provided to public officials, thus enhancing public trust and maintaining integrity within the government. The specific guidelines for disclosing such gifts, including the thresholds for reporting and the required processes, are outlined in the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

In contrast, while returning or retaining gifts may appear as reasonable actions, they do not fulfill the legal requirement of disclosing them. Simply reporting or keeping gifts without proper disclosure could fail to address the ethical considerations intended by the law. Thus, the emphasis on disclosure makes it the correct answer in this context.