The new policy adds transparency requirements for county-owned stadium suite.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Erie County legislators approved new rules governing who can use the county’s hospitality suite inside the new Buffalo Bills stadium.

The County Legislature approved amendments to an original policy draft that added additional transparency requirements to the process.

Under the amended policy, the suite cannot be used for political purposes or events, meaning county officials cannot attend regular season or postseason games for free.

The policy also establishes a lottery system that will distribute game tickets to charitable organizations that apply for access.

In an effort to increase transparency, the policy requires the names of all formal suite guests to be provided to the legislature within 30 days.

The policy does not include a complete ban on county or state officials from entering the suite.

Some lawmakers argued elected officials should not have access to the suite under any circumstances.

“I really think not being able to vote on an amendment that simply says this suite will not be used for elected officials is shameful. We should all be able to come together and say, ‘This isn’t our suite, this is the people’s suite,’ but that’s not what happened today,” Legislator Lindsay Lorigo said.

Supporters of the policy said elected officials would still be required to personally pay for tickets if invited by an organization using the suite.

“If an organization wants to invite a legislator to it. They can’t just go and sit for free. In the policy, they have to pay the organization the value of that ticket. So let’s say that game is, I don’t know we’re against the rams, and the tickets are $1,000 from that box, that legislator has to write $1,000 from their personal account to that nonprofit before even sitting there. Plus they have to pay for their food that they take,” Erie County Legislator Taisha St. Jean Tard said.

The new policy was approved in an 8-3 vote, with three of four Republicans voting against it.

Legislators said the policy can be amended at any time if changes are needed.