No employee of the Department of Mines or any other state employee performing any function or duty under this act shall be directly or indirectly interested in any mining operation, or any contract for purchase of any property or construction or any work for any mining operation. Any person who knowingly violates the provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction shall be punished by incarceration for a period not to exceed one (1) year or a fine not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both.
Laws 1979, c. 249, § 34, emerg. eff. June 1, 1979.