Prohibitions against political activities -- Penalties

(1) (a) An officer, employee, or member of a governing body of a county or a police interlocal entity, whether elected or appointed, may not directly or indirectly coerce, command, or advise a merit system officer to pay, lend, or contribute part of the merit system officer's salary or compensation or anything else of value to a party, committee, organization, agency, or person for political purpose. (b) A county or police interlocal entity officer, employee, or member of a governing body, whether elected or appointed, may not make or attempt to make a merit system officer's personnel status dependent upon the merit system officer's support or lack of support for a political party, committee, organization, agency, or person engaged in a political activity. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to political speeches or use of mass communications media for political purposes by an individual where a merit system officer is present, unless the purpose and intent of the speaker is to violate this section with direct respect to those merit system officers. (3) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), a merit system officer may not engage in a political activity or solicit political contributions from merit system officers during the hours of employment, or use employer resources at any time for political purposes. (b) Subsection (3)(a) does not preclude a voluntary contribution by a merit system officer to the party or candidate of the merit system officer's choice.